Honestly, it's just a forge lining. It's not like you invented a new kind of steel. People get way too excited about basic gear upgrades. I've seen guys spend a fortune on the "right" refractory only to still make the same wobbly knives. The real skill is in the hands, not the insulation. A third less propane? That just means you were wasting a ton of heat before with your old crumbly setup.

Skipping coffee is one thing, but cutting your own hair for a whole year? That's some serious dedication right there. It's easy to fall into the trap of just stacking money without a finish line. You really need to figure out what houses are actually selling for in the areas you like. A quick talk with a realtor or lender would give you a real number to aim for, instead of just guessing.

How's the battery life holding up on that Ryobi? I made the same switch a few years back and never looked back.

That's the worst, had my tablet overheat during a client pitch once. Keep a cheap backup charger in your bag, it's saved me a few times. @viola_ward gets it, the real fix is getting proper gear from work. Until then, a power bank is a solid band-aid.

Your sister is onto something big lol. My old club did a whole year where we banned anything from the NYT list or booktok. It forced us to dig deeper and the talks got way better because nobody showed up with a hot take ready to go. We found some real hidden gems that way. It makes the whole thing feel more like a discovery and less like homework. Maybe suggest a trial run of three months with that rule and see how it goes.