What if you took @noah_anderson93's weekly meal idea and made it a potluck to save even more? Sharing the cooking cost keeps it cheap but still lets everyone connect over food. That small effort might rebuild the team vibe without hurting your wallet much.

Oh man, I have to disagree on this one. In my place, I've painted a few dark walls straight over the old color with just a good quality paint. I used one that said it had primer built right in. It covered perfectly in two coats, no special primer step needed. I guess it really depends on the paint you buy and what you're covering up. A primer can't hurt, but calling it non-negotiable feels like a strong take.