Two years of just making the top inch wet means the roots down low never got a drink. That's why my pothos looked sad no matter what I did. Now I stick my finger in the dirt up to the second knuckle and if it's dry down there, it gets a slow pour until water runs out the bottom. Took me way too long to figure out that roots live at the bottom of the pot, not the top.

One thing though, generics are supposed to have the same active ingredient but the FDA only requires them to be within 80-125% of the brand for absorption, so your experience actually lines up with that. Could totally be a filler thing, but batch issues do happen, so I wouldn't rule that out either.

People act like a buddy ordering expensive drinks is some kind of betrayal. Dude, it's $30. You saw him order it, you knew what was coming. Just say "hey, I'm only pitching in for my stuff" if it really bugs you, but acting like this is some big life lesson feels a little much. Separate checks are fine if you're with strangers, but with friends? That just makes every dinner feel like a business meeting. Maybe just don't eat out with people who'd stiff you on a $42 bill.