diff --git a/question.py b/question.py
index d9f7d2c3e..124b74a74 100644
--- a/question.py
+++ b/question.py
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ from utils import dangerous_markup
 from utils import get_reply_to
 from utils import get_actor_from_post
 from data import load_list
+from data import save_string
+from data import append_string
 
 
 def is_vote(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
@@ -125,25 +127,17 @@ def question_update_votes(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
     actor_url = get_actor_from_post(reply_json)
     if not os.path.isfile(voters_filename):
         # create a new voters file
-        try:
-            with open(voters_filename, 'w+',
-                      encoding='utf-8') as fp_voters:
-                fp_voters.write(actor_url +
-                                voters_file_separator +
-                                reply_vote + '\n')
-        except OSError:
-            print('EX: unable to write voters file ' + voters_filename)
+        save_string(actor_url + voters_file_separator + reply_vote + '\n',
+                    voters_filename,
+                    'EX: unable to write voters file ' + voters_filename)
     else:
         if not text_in_file(actor_url, voters_filename):
             # append to the voters file
-            try:
-                with open(voters_filename, 'a+',
-                          encoding='utf-8') as fp_voters:
-                    fp_voters.write(actor_url +
-                                    voters_file_separator +
-                                    reply_vote + '\n')
-            except OSError:
-                print('EX: unable to append to voters file ' + voters_filename)
+            append_string(actor_url + voters_file_separator +
+                          reply_vote + '\n',
+                          voters_filename,
+                          'EX: unable to append to voters file ' +
+                          voters_filename)
         else:
             # change an entry in the voters file
             lines: list[str] = \
diff --git a/reaction.py b/reaction.py
index e840ccb23..729794c18 100644
--- a/reaction.py
+++ b/reaction.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ from webfinger import webfinger_handle
 from auth import create_basic_auth_header
 from posts import get_person_box
 from data import load_list
+from data import save_string
 
 # the maximum number of reactions from individual actors which can be
 # added to a post. Hence an adversary can't bombard you with sockpuppet
@@ -519,12 +520,8 @@ def _update_common_reactions(base_dir: str, emoji_content: str) -> None:
             return
     else:
         line = str(1).zfill(16) + ' ' + emoji_content + '\n'
-        try:
-            with open(common_reactions_filename, 'w+',
-                      encoding='utf-8') as fp_react:
-                fp_react.write(line)
-        except OSError:
-            print('EX: error writing common reactions 2')
+        if not save_string(line, common_reactions_filename,
+                           'EX: error writing common reactions 2'):
             return
 
 
diff --git a/reading.py b/reading.py
index 15bdb69ec..5d57fc155 100644
--- a/reading.py
+++ b/reading.py
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ from utils import remove_html
 from formats import get_image_extensions
 from timeFunctions import date_epoch
 from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
+from data import save_string
+from data import load_string
 
 
 def get_book_link_from_content(content: str) -> str:
@@ -407,13 +409,9 @@ def _update_recent_books_list(base_dir: str, book_id: str,
             print('WARN: Failed to write entry to recent books ' +
                   recent_books_filename + ' ' + str(ex))
     else:
-        try:
-            with open(recent_books_filename, 'w+',
-                      encoding='utf-8') as fp_recent:
-                fp_recent.write(book_id + '\n')
-        except OSError:
-            print('EX: unable to write recent books ' +
-                  recent_books_filename)
+        save_string(book_id + '\n', recent_books_filename,
+                    'EX: unable to write recent books ' +
+                    recent_books_filename)
 
 
 def _deduplicate_recent_books_list(base_dir: str,
@@ -426,13 +424,12 @@ def _deduplicate_recent_books_list(base_dir: str,
 
     # load recent books as a list
     recent_lines: list[str] = []
-    try:
-        with open(recent_books_filename, 'r',
-                  encoding='utf-8') as fp_recent:
-            recent_lines = fp_recent.read().split('\n')
-    except OSError as ex:
-        print('WARN: Failed to read recent books trim ' +
-              recent_books_filename + ' ' + str(ex))
+    recent_lines_str = \
+        load_string(recent_books_filename,
+                    'WARN: Failed to read recent books trim ' +
+                    recent_books_filename + ' [ex]')
+    if recent_lines_str:
+        recent_lines = recent_lines_str.split('\n')
 
     # deduplicate the list
     new_recent_lines: list[str] = []
@@ -444,26 +441,18 @@ def _deduplicate_recent_books_list(base_dir: str,
         result = ''
         for line in recent_lines:
             result += line + '\n'
-        try:
-            with open(recent_books_filename, 'w+',
-                      encoding='utf-8') as fp_recent:
-                fp_recent.write(result)
-        except OSError:
-            print('EX: unable to deduplicate recent books ' +
-                  recent_books_filename)
+        save_string(result, recent_books_filename,
+                    'EX: unable to deduplicate recent books ' +
+                    recent_books_filename)
 
     # remove excess lines from the list
     if len(recent_lines) > max_recent_books:
         result = ''
         for ctr in range(max_recent_books):
             result += recent_lines[ctr] + '\n'
-        try:
-            with open(recent_books_filename, 'w+',
-                      encoding='utf-8') as fp_recent:
-                fp_recent.write(result)
-        except OSError:
-            print('EX: unable to trim recent books ' +
-                  recent_books_filename)
+        save_string(result, recent_books_filename,
+                    'EX: unable to trim recent books ' +
+                    recent_books_filename)
 
 
 def store_book_events(base_dir: str,
diff --git a/relationships.py b/relationships.py
index feea91acf..234ecedd1 100644
--- a/relationships.py
+++ b/relationships.py
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ from utils import is_account_dir
 from utils import get_nickname_from_actor
 from utils import get_domain_from_actor
 from utils import load_json
+from data import load_string
+from data import save_string
 
 
 def get_moved_accounts(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
@@ -31,27 +33,23 @@ def get_moved_accounts(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
     moved_accounts_filename = data_dir(base_dir) + '/actors_moved.txt'
     if not os.path.isfile(moved_accounts_filename):
         return {}
-    refollow_str = ''
-    try:
-        with open(moved_accounts_filename, 'r',
-                  encoding='utf-8') as fp_refollow:
-            refollow_str = fp_refollow.read()
-    except OSError:
-        print('EX: get_moved_accounts unable to read 1 ' +
-              moved_accounts_filename)
+    refollow_str = \
+        load_string(moved_accounts_filename,
+                    'EX: get_moved_accounts unable to read 1 ' +
+                    moved_accounts_filename)
+    if refollow_str is None:
+        refollow_str = ''
     refollow_list = refollow_str.split('\n')
     refollow_dict = {}
 
     follow_filename = \
         acct_dir(base_dir, nickname, domain) + '/' + filename
-    follow_str = ''
-    try:
-        with open(follow_filename, 'r',
-                  encoding='utf-8') as fp_follow:
-            follow_str = fp_follow.read()
-    except OSError:
-        print('EX: get_moved_accounts unable to read 2 ' +
-              follow_filename)
+    follow_str = \
+        load_string(follow_filename,
+                    'EX: get_moved_accounts unable to read 2 ' +
+                    follow_filename)
+    if follow_str is None:
+        follow_str = ''
     follow_list = follow_str.split('\n')
 
     ctr = 0
@@ -248,14 +246,11 @@ def update_moved_actors(base_dir: str, debug: bool) -> None:
             following_filename = dir_str + '/' + account + '/following.txt'
             if not os.path.isfile(following_filename):
                 continue
-            following_str = ''
-            try:
-                with open(following_filename, 'r',
-                          encoding='utf-8') as fp_foll:
-                    following_str = fp_foll.read()
-            except OSError:
-                print('EX: update_moved_actors unable to read ' +
-                      following_filename)
+            following_str = \
+                load_string(following_filename,
+                            'EX: update_moved_actors unable to read ' +
+                            following_filename)
+            if following_str is None:
                 continue
             following_list = following_str.split('\n')
             for handle in following_list:
@@ -318,13 +313,9 @@ def update_moved_actors(base_dir: str, debug: bool) -> None:
                       moved_accounts_filename)
         return
 
-    try:
-        with open(moved_accounts_filename, 'w+',
-                  encoding='utf-8') as fp_moved:
-            fp_moved.write(moved_str)
-    except OSError:
-        print('EX: update_moved_actors unable to save ' +
-              moved_accounts_filename)
+    save_string(moved_str, moved_accounts_filename,
+                'EX: update_moved_actors unable to save ' +
+                moved_accounts_filename)
 
 
 def _get_inactive_accounts(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
@@ -335,14 +326,12 @@ def _get_inactive_accounts(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
     # get the list of followers
     followers_filename = \
         acct_dir(base_dir, nickname, domain) + '/followers.txt'
-    followers_str = ''
-    try:
-        with open(followers_filename, 'r',
-                  encoding='utf-8') as fp_follow:
-            followers_str = fp_follow.read()
-    except OSError:
-        print('EX: get_moved_accounts unable to read ' +
-              followers_filename)
+    followers_str = \
+        load_string(followers_filename,
+                    'EX: get_moved_accounts unable to read ' +
+                    followers_filename)
+    if followers_str is None:
+        followers_str = ''
     followers_list = followers_str.split('\n')
 
     result: list[str] = []
diff --git a/roles.py b/roles.py
index a39ad2e05..01600a67c 100644
--- a/roles.py
+++ b/roles.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from utils import text_in_file
 from utils import get_config_param
 from status import get_status_number
 from data import load_list
+from data import save_string
 
 
 def _clear_role_status(base_dir: str, role: str) -> None:
@@ -78,13 +79,11 @@ def _add_role(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
         except OSError:
             print('EX: _add_role, failed to write roles file1 ' + role_file)
     else:
-        try:
-            with open(role_file, 'w+', encoding='utf-8') as fp_role:
-                account_dir = acct_dir(base_dir, nickname, domain)
-                if os.path.isdir(account_dir):
-                    fp_role.write(nickname + '\n')
-        except OSError:
-            print('EX: _add_role, failed to write roles file2 ' + role_file)
+        account_dir = acct_dir(base_dir, nickname, domain)
+        if os.path.isdir(account_dir):
+            save_string(nickname + '\n', role_file,
+                        'EX: _add_role, failed to write roles file2 ' +
+                        role_file)
 
 
 def _remove_role(base_dir: str, nickname: str, role_filename: str) -> None:
diff --git a/searchable.py b/searchable.py
index 50ac2bc94..b90650a49 100644
--- a/searchable.py
+++ b/searchable.py
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ from utils import get_domain_from_actor
 from utils import get_full_domain
 from utils import get_followers_list
 from utils import get_mutuals_of_person
+from data import load_string
+from data import save_string
 
 
 def load_searchable_by_default(base_dir: str) -> {}:
@@ -34,11 +36,11 @@ def load_searchable_by_default(base_dir: str) -> {}:
             nickname = account.split('@')[0]
             filename = os.path.join(dir_str, account) + '/.searchableByDefault'
             if os.path.isfile(filename):
-                try:
-                    with open(filename, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as fp_search:
-                        result[nickname] = fp_search.read().strip()
-                except OSError:
-                    print('EX: unable to load searchableByDefault ' + filename)
+                text = load_string(filename,
+                                   'EX: unable to load searchableByDefault ' +
+                                   filename)
+                if text:
+                    result[nickname] = text.strip()
         break
     return result
 
@@ -58,11 +60,8 @@ def set_searchable_by(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
             return
 
     # write the new state
-    try:
-        with open(filename, 'w+', encoding='utf-8') as fp_search:
-            fp_search.write(searchable_by)
-    except OSError:
-        print('EX: unable to write searchableByDropdown ' + filename)
+    save_string(searchable_by, filename,
+                'EX: unable to write searchableByDropdown ' + filename)
 
 
 def _actor_in_searchable_by(searchable_by: str, following_list: []) -> bool:
diff --git a/session.py b/session.py
index 99f2cd054..38ed6e923 100644
--- a/session.py
+++ b/session.py
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ from utils import is_yggdrasil_url
 from formats import image_mime_types_dict
 from mitm import detect_mitm
 from httpsig import create_signed_header
+from data import append_string
+from data import save_string
 
 
 def create_session(proxy_type: str):
@@ -562,13 +564,14 @@ def site_is_verified(session, base_dir: str, http_prefix: str,
         write_type = 'a+'
         if not verified_file_exists:
             write_type = 'w+'
-        try:
-            with open(verified_sites_filename, write_type,
-                      encoding='utf-8') as fp_verified:
-                fp_verified.write(url + '\n')
-        except OSError:
-            print('EX: Verified sites could not be updated ' +
-                  verified_sites_filename)
+        if write_type == 'a+':
+            append_string(url + '\n', verified_sites_filename,
+                          'EX: Verified sites could not be updated 1 ' +
+                          verified_sites_filename)
+        else:
+            save_string(url + '\n', verified_sites_filename,
+                        'EX: Verified sites could not be updated 2 ' +
+                        verified_sites_filename)
     return verified
 
 
diff --git a/shares.py b/shares.py
index 7a0c11039..4aa09763c 100644
--- a/shares.py
+++ b/shares.py
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ from threads import begin_thread
 from threads import thread_with_trace
 from cache import remove_person_from_cache
 from cache import store_person_in_cache
+from data import save_string
+from data import load_string
 
 
 def _load_dfc_ids(base_dir: str, system_language: str,
@@ -318,15 +320,15 @@ def _indicate_new_share_available(base_dir: str, http_prefix: str,
                     continue
             local_actor = \
                 local_actor_url(http_prefix, account_nickname, domain_full)
-            try:
-                with open(new_share_file, 'w+', encoding='utf-8') as fp_new:
-                    if shares_file_type == 'shares':
-                        fp_new.write(local_actor + '/tlshares')
-                    else:
-                        fp_new.write(local_actor + '/tlwanted')
-            except OSError:
-                print('EX: _indicate_new_share_available unable to write ' +
-                      str(new_share_file))
+            exc_text = \
+                'EX: _indicate_new_share_available unable to write ' + \
+                str(new_share_file)
+            if shares_file_type == 'shares':
+                save_string(local_actor + '/tlshares', new_share_file,
+                            exc_text)
+            else:
+                save_string(local_actor + '/tlwanted', new_share_file,
+                            exc_text)
         break
 
 
@@ -1828,15 +1830,14 @@ def _generate_next_shares_token_update(base_dir: str,
     token_update_filename = token_update_dir + '/.tokenUpdate'
     next_update_sec = None
     if os.path.isfile(token_update_filename):
-        try:
-            with open(token_update_filename, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as fp_tok:
-                next_update_str = fp_tok.read()
-                if next_update_str:
-                    if next_update_str.isdigit():
-                        next_update_sec = int(next_update_str)
-        except OSError:
-            print('EX: _generate_next_shares_token_update unable to read ' +
-                  token_update_filename)
+        next_update_str = \
+            load_string(token_update_filename,
+                        'EX: _generate_next_shares_token_update ' +
+                        'unable to read ' +
+                        token_update_filename)
+        if next_update_str:
+            if next_update_str.isdigit():
+                next_update_sec = int(next_update_str)
     curr_time = get_current_time_int()
     updated = False
     if next_update_sec:
@@ -1851,12 +1852,10 @@ def _generate_next_shares_token_update(base_dir: str,
         next_update_sec = curr_time + next_update_interval
         updated = True
     if updated:
-        try:
-            with open(token_update_filename, 'w+', encoding='utf-8') as fp_tok:
-                fp_tok.write(str(next_update_sec))
-        except OSError:
-            print('EX: _generate_next_shares_token_update unable to write' +
-                  token_update_filename)
+        text = str(next_update_sec)
+        save_string(text, token_update_filename,
+                    'EX: _generate_next_shares_token_update unable to write' +
+                    token_update_filename)
 
 
 def _regenerate_shares_token(base_dir: str, domain_full: str,
@@ -1880,15 +1879,13 @@ def _regenerate_shares_token(base_dir: str, domain_full: str,
     if not os.path.isfile(token_update_filename):
         return
     next_update_sec = None
-    try:
-        with open(token_update_filename, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as fp_tok:
-            next_update_str = fp_tok.read()
-            if next_update_str:
-                if next_update_str.isdigit():
-                    next_update_sec = int(next_update_str)
-    except OSError:
-        print('EX: _regenerate_shares_token unable to read ' +
-              token_update_filename)
+    next_update_str = \
+        load_string(token_update_filename,
+                    'EX: _regenerate_shares_token unable to read ' +
+                    token_update_filename)
+    if next_update_str:
+        if next_update_str.isdigit():
+            next_update_sec = int(next_update_str)
     if not next_update_sec:
         return
     curr_time = get_current_time_int()
diff --git a/siteactive.py b/siteactive.py
index 2785a9e41..ee8eccd09 100644
--- a/siteactive.py
+++ b/siteactive.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import socket
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 from utils import data_dir
 from utils import string_starts_with
+from data import load_string
 
 
 class Result:
@@ -177,13 +178,12 @@ def load_unavailable_sites(base_dir: str) -> []:
     """
     unavailable_sites_filename = data_dir(base_dir) + '/unavailable_sites.txt'
     sites_unavailable: list[str] = []
-    try:
-        with open(unavailable_sites_filename, 'r',
-                  encoding='utf-8') as fp_sites:
-            sites_unavailable = fp_sites.read().split('\n')
-    except OSError:
-        print('EX: unable to read unavailable sites ' +
-              unavailable_sites_filename)
+    sites_unavailable_str = \
+        load_string(unavailable_sites_filename,
+                    'EX: unable to read unavailable sites ' +
+                    unavailable_sites_filename)
+    if sites_unavailable_str:
+        sites_unavailable = sites_unavailable_str.split('\n')
     return sites_unavailable
 
 
diff --git a/speaker.py b/speaker.py
index eb380a70d..993854755 100644
--- a/speaker.py
+++ b/speaker.py
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ from utils import get_actor_from_post
 from content import html_replace_quote_marks
 from content import html_replace_inline_quotes
 from data import load_list
+from data import load_string
+from data import save_string
 
 SPEAKER_REMOVE_CHARS = ('.\n', '. ', ',', ';', '?', '!')
 
@@ -560,12 +562,11 @@ def _post_to_speaker_json(base_dir: str, http_prefix: str,
     liked_by = ''
     like_filename = accounts_dir + '/.newLike'
     if os.path.isfile(like_filename):
-        try:
-            with open(like_filename, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as fp_like:
-                liked_by = fp_like.read()
-        except OSError:
-            print('EX: _post_to_speaker_json unable to read 2 ' +
-                  like_filename)
+        liked_by = load_string(like_filename,
+                               'EX: _post_to_speaker_json unable to read 2 ' +
+                               like_filename)
+        if liked_by is None:
+            liked_by = ''
     calendar_filename = accounts_dir + '/.newCalendar'
     post_cal = os.path.isfile(calendar_filename)
     share_filename = accounts_dir + '/.newShare'
@@ -622,8 +623,5 @@ def update_speaker(base_dir: str, http_prefix: str,
                                speaker_json['say'],
                                system_language,
                                gender, box_name)
-    try:
-        with open(cached_ssml_filename, 'w+', encoding='utf-8') as fp_ssml:
-            fp_ssml.write(ssml_str)
-    except OSError:
-        print('EX: unable to write ssml ' + cached_ssml_filename)
+    save_string(ssml_str, cached_ssml_filename,
+                'EX: unable to write ssml ' + cached_ssml_filename)
diff --git a/textmode.py b/textmode.py
index 3f24f71b9..7366327c8 100644
--- a/textmode.py
+++ b/textmode.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ __module_group__ = "Web Interface"
 import os
 from shutil import copyfile
 from utils import data_dir
+from data import load_string
 
 
 def text_mode_browser(ua_str: str) -> bool:
@@ -43,11 +44,11 @@ def get_text_mode_banner(base_dir: str) -> str:
     """
     text_mode_banner_filename = data_dir(base_dir) + '/banner.txt'
     if os.path.isfile(text_mode_banner_filename):
-        with open(text_mode_banner_filename, 'r',
-                  encoding='utf-8') as fp_text:
-            banner_str = fp_text.read()
-            if banner_str:
-                return banner_str.replace('\n', '<br>')
+        banner_str = load_string(text_mode_banner_filename,
+                                 'EX: unable to load text mode banner ' +
+                                 text_mode_banner_filename)
+        if banner_str:
+            return banner_str.replace('\n', '<br>')
     return None
 
 
@@ -58,10 +59,11 @@ def get_text_mode_logo(base_dir: str) -> str:
     if not os.path.isfile(text_mode_logo_filename):
         text_mode_logo_filename = base_dir + '/img/logo.txt'
 
-    with open(text_mode_logo_filename, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as fp_text:
-        logo_str = fp_text.read()
-        if logo_str:
-            return logo_str.replace('\n', '<br>')
+    logo_str = load_string(text_mode_logo_filename,
+                           'EX: unable to load text mode logo ' +
+                           text_mode_logo_filename)
+    if logo_str:
+        return logo_str.replace('\n', '<br>')
     return None