Ever try a shop vac with a HEPA filter for that kind of mess? It got the dust and the nest out without blowing it everywhere. Saved me a ton of cleanup time.

Used to believe any sealant was better than none. Saw a neighbor's deck boards warp and split after a summer because they sealed right after a morning rain. The wood looked wet when they applied it. Now I'm super careful about checking for dry wood and low humidity. That visual of cracked boards totally changed how I prep for those jobs.

My cousin in Austin does something similar. He calls it his "hobby line" and budgets a flat $75 a month for it. Last month it went to new guitar strings and a couple of used records. Seeing that made me add a "random fun" category to my own budget. It's only $30, but it covers little things like a fancy coffee or renting a movie, so I don't feel like every single dollar is spoken for.