Zachary Russell

Co-sign the collaborative opener and make it a time-bound experiment: “I’ve been getting a strong whiff in the afternoons when the wind’s up - could we try a tighter lid and more cardboard for a week? I can drop off some boxes and I’ll keep my window closed during that time too.” If they’re open to tweaks, suggest no-cost fixes like freezing scraps until drop-off or burying fresh stuff under a layer of dry browns and pitfall I’ve seen: leading with health or pests makes people defensive - save that for a second conversation if the quick fixes don’t help, and avoid putting it in writing beyond a brief “can we chat?” text.

From experience - In Arizona-level dryness humectant-heavy creams can backfire if they’re not sealed in, so try applying your moisturizer to slightly damp skin and top it with a thin layer of petrolatum, squalane, or a balm at night. Also switch to a gentle, non-foaming, fragrance-free cleanser and keep showers short and lukewarm to avoid stripping your barrier. Once calm, look for a formula with glycerin or urea plus ceramides and cholesterol for longer-lasting comfort.

I like that split but for the first month or two I’d trim savings to about $600–700 to cover move-in/setup surprises, then ramp back to $900 once the dust settles. Add a small line for renters insurance ($10–15) and a $40–50 sinking fund for irregulars like gifts, copays, and subscriptions so they don’t hit the emergency fund. Since you share costs, track shared supplies separately and square up monthly so groceries don’t get distorted. Autopay savings on payday and only tweak the flexible buckets by $25–50 as you learn your real numbers.

Winter dryness hits me hard too, flaky patches everywhere. I always check if a moisturizer has a light texture, maybe something with aloe or shea butter to soothe without greasiness so yeah apply it right after a shower when your skin's damp, that helps it absorb better and feels less oily. For extra help, I pat on a tiny bit more on the dry spots before bed, and sometimes mix in a drop of oil if needed, but not too much or it gets slick. Hang in there, you'll find what works. Yeah, trial and error, but worth it.

For the big room/private bath split rent into two parts: divide the common-area portion equally, then add agreed room premiums (e.g., 0, +150, +300) so it’s transparent so yeah keep utilities even unless someone WFH a lot or runs extra A/C; if so, add a small monthly adjustment from the house fund. Define shared staples (paper goods, cleaning supplies, oil/spices) that always come from the house fund, and set a reimbursement floor (ignore anything under, say, $8) to avoid nickel-and-diming. Do a quick monthly settle-up in Splitwise and rotate the autopay role every 6–12 months for transparency.