diff --git a/ai_prompts/2.txt b/ai_prompts/2.txt
index 79b5718..6216569 100644
--- a/ai_prompts/2.txt
+++ b/ai_prompts/2.txt
@@ -1,9 +1,28 @@
 ###############################################
 Prompt to Kiro AI (Default):
 
-
+from now on, I will mostly be asking questions about approach, so please do not perform any actions or code edits unless explicitly requested. also, please be less verbose - I want nice, quick answers that provide the necessary context. How can I check if a file exists/isreadable for my loadSave function?
 
 Response:
 
+Two clean options:
+
+os.path.exists(path) — checks the file is there before opening.
+
+python
+
+import os
+if os.path.exists(path):
+    # open and read
+try/except — just attempt to open and catch the failure. This is the more Pythonic approach and also handles the "exists but unreadable/corrupt" case in one shot:
+
+python
+
+try:
+    with open(path) as f:
+        ...
+except (FileNotFoundError, IOError):
+    return defaultState()
+For loadSave, the try/except is the better fit since you also want to catch bad JSON — wrap json.load in the same block and catch json.JSONDecodeError too, falling back to a fresh default state on any failure.
 
 ###############################################
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index fe0662f..a812cc8 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 # =============================================================================
 
 from cmu_graphics import *
+import json
 
 
 # =============================================================================
@@ -44,19 +45,31 @@ def loadCreatures(path="creatures.tsv"):
     return creatures
 
 
-def loadSave(path):
+def loadSave(path="save.json"):
     # Load save.json and return the player's saved state (money, owned baits,
     # owned upgrades, current bait, caught log, etc.). If the file is missing
     # or unreadable, return a fresh default-state dict so a first-time player
     # starts cleanly. This is the only place that reads the save file.
-    pass
+    defaultState = {
+        "cash": 0,
+        "owned_baits": [],
+        "owned_upgrades": [],
+        "current_bait": "worm",
+        "catch_log": []
+    }
+    try:
+        with open(path, "r") as f:
+            return json.load(f)
+    except (FileNotFoundError, IOError):
+        return defaultState
 
 
-def writeSave(path, saveState):
+def writeSave(saveState, path="save.json"):
     # Serialize the current player state to save.json. Call this at key moments
     # (after a sale, after a purchase, on quit) so progress persists between
     # sessions. Keep the written structure identical to what loadSave expects.
-    pass
+    with open(path, "w") as f: #overwrite existing
+        f.write(json.dumps(saveState))
 
 
 # =============================================================================