diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d48348c..5ae4b93 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -62,8 +62,9 @@ python --version
 
 - Install the required dependencies:
 ```bash
-pip install discord
+pip install discord python-dotenv
 ```
+(`python-dotenv` is optional, it only lets you keep your token in a `.env` file instead of a system environment variable.)
 
 ## Discord Application Deployment
   
@@ -98,6 +99,12 @@ pip install discord
 
 8. You may use the Generated URL to invite your bot into your servers.
 
+9. Go to the `Bot` section and scroll down to `Privileged Gateway Intents`, then turn **all three** of them on:
+   `Presence Intent`, `Server Members Intent` and `Message Content Intent`.
+
+   EconBot reads normal chat messages to catch its `!` commands, and Discord keeps that behind a switch you have to flip yourself.
+   If you skip this step the bot will crash on startup with `PrivilegedIntentsRequired`.
+
 ---
 
 <strong>Token Setup & Environment Variable Setup</strong>
@@ -122,6 +129,14 @@ pip install discord
 
    [Linux (Ubuntu)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6_7xaxkPik)
 
+_Alternatively_, if you installed `python-dotenv`, you can create a file named `.env` next to `main.py` containing:
+
+```
+econtoken=YOUR TOKEN HERE
+```
+
+`.env` is already in `.gitignore`, so your token won't be committed by accident.
+
 _Alternatively_ you can just directly paste the bot token into the code; however, this is __not recommended__.
 
 - To do this, go to the file `main.py` and on the last line you should see
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 2351e7f..8e7fd88 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
 # Libraries
 import discord
 import os
+import sys
+
+try:
+    from dotenv import load_dotenv
+    load_dotenv() # Loads a local .env file if one exists, system env vars still take priority.
+except ImportError:
+    pass # python-dotenv is optional, a system environment variable works just as well.
 
 import singletons
 import constants
@@ -208,4 +215,11 @@ async def InvokeEcon(message : discord.Message) -> None:
             await message.reply(embed=embed)
 
 
-singletons.client.run(os.getenv("econtoken"))
+token = os.getenv("econtoken")
+
+if not token:
+    singletons.print_colored("[ NO TOKEN FOUND ! ]", "red")
+    print("Set an environment variable named 'econtoken', or put econtoken=<your token> in a .env file next to main.py.")
+    sys.exit(1)
+
+singletons.client.run(token)
diff --git a/saveload/saveload.py b/saveload/saveload.py
index 81fb9bf..4b80141 100644
--- a/saveload/saveload.py
+++ b/saveload/saveload.py
@@ -52,8 +52,9 @@ async def SaveUserDict() -> None:
         print(f"Error: {err}")
 
 def LoadUserDict() -> bool:
-    if not os.path.exists(save_path):
-        os.mknod(save_path)
+    if not os.path.exists(save_path) or os.path.getsize(save_path) == 0:
+        singletons.user_dict = {} # Fresh install, nothing saved yet. SaveUserDict creates the file later.
+        return True
     with open(save_path,'rb') as file:
        singletons.user_dict = pickle.load(file=file)
        return True
diff --git a/singletons.py b/singletons.py
index db348ae..0e9ff6c 100644
--- a/singletons.py
+++ b/singletons.py
@@ -27,8 +27,6 @@ async def Save(self):
 
         print_colored("--- Client disconnected ---", "red")
 
-        exit(0)
-        
     async def close(self):
         # Perform cleanup before closing
         await self.async_cleanup()