Has anyone tried having two smaller emergency funds in different places just in case one takes a little longer to access?

But is that actually true though, @riley860? I read a post from the gallery saying they used a mix of credited stock images and some original work they commissioned. It seems like people jump to the worst conclusion without checking first.

Exactly, that fuel efficiency is a game changer once you try it, you really see the difference.

The meal kit thing really is a struggle for one person, I get it. What finally worked for me was switching to the "quick & easy" recipes instead of the fancy ones, and only ordering every other week so I didn't get burned out. I also started splitting the protein packs into two meals, like using half the chicken for tacos and the other half for a salad later that week. That way I wasn't stuck with a full serving size I couldn't finish before it went bad. It took some trial and error, but once I found a routine that matched my cooking style and portion needs, it actually helped cut down my grocery trips and food waste. Still, if you're not into cooking much at all, it's probably not worth it for one person.

Has your buddy checked behind the stucco for any water damage yet? I had a friend over in the North Valley who noticed the same thing above his garage door, and when he pulled the stucco off, the wire mesh was completely rusted through in spots. The contractor he hired said the clay soil here shifts so much that the freeze-thaw cycle just works the moisture in behind the mesh, and then it cracks the stucco from the inside out. He ended up having to replace the whole section with a new mesh and a flexible sealant to stop it from happening again. It's a pain, but apparently it's super common in older homes around here.