diff --git a/abot.py b/abot.py
index 27508a3..b728c59 100644
--- a/abot.py
+++ b/abot.py
@@ -1,17 +1,12 @@
-import json
 from helpers import *
 from re import compile as reg_compile
 
-answers_filename = "plugins/redstoner-utils.py.dir/files/abot.json"
-answers          = []
+answers = []
 
 
 def load_answers():
   global answers
-  try:
-    answers = json.loads(open(answers_filename).read())
-  except Exception, e:
-    error("Failed to load answers: %s" % e)
+  answers = open_json_file("abot", [])
 
   # compile answers
   for answer in answers:
diff --git a/chatgroups.py b/chatgroups.py
index 3fd029e..d87426b 100644
--- a/chatgroups.py
+++ b/chatgroups.py
@@ -1,17 +1,11 @@
 #pylint: disable = F0401
 from helpers import *
 from java.util.UUID import fromString as juuid
-import json
 
-chatgroups_filename = "plugins/redstoner-utils.py.dir/files/chatgroups.json"
-groups              = {}
-cg_key              = ":"
-cg_toggle_list      = []
+groups         = open_json_file("chatgroups", {})
+cg_key         = ":"
+cg_toggle_list = []
 
-try:
-  groups = json.loads(open(chatgroups_filename).read())
-except Exception, e:
-  error("Failed to load chatgroups: %s" % e)
 
 
 @hook.command("chatgroup")
@@ -86,12 +80,7 @@ def groupchat(sender, message, ann = False):
 
 
 def save_groups():
-  try:
-    chatgroups_file = open(chatgroups_filename, "w")
-    chatgroups_file.write(json.dumps(groups))
-    chatgroups_file.close()
-  except Exception, e:
-    error("Failed to write reports: " + str(e))
+  save_json_file("chatgroups", groups)
 
 
 @hook.event("player.AsyncPlayerChatEvent", "normal")
diff --git a/cycle.py b/cycle.py
index 7795f23..8460a0f 100644
--- a/cycle.py
+++ b/cycle.py
@@ -1,12 +1,6 @@
-import json
 from helpers import *
 
-cyclers_file = "plugins/redstoner-utils.py.dir/files/cycle.json"
-no_cyclers   = [] # opt-out
-try:
-  no_cyclers = json.loads(open(cyclers_file).read())
-except Exception, e:
-  error("Failed to load no_cyclers: %s" % e)
+no_cyclers = open_json_file("cycle", [])
 
 
 @hook.command("cycle")
@@ -73,9 +67,4 @@ def do_cycle(player, down):
   inv.setContents(items)
 
 def save_cyclers():
-  try:
-    chatgroups_file = open(cyclers_file, "w")
-    chatgroups_file.write(json.dumps(no_cyclers))
-    chatgroups_file.close()
-  except Exception, e:
-    error("Failed to write reports: " + str(e))
\ No newline at end of file
+  save_json_file("cycle", no_cyclers)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/damnspam.py b/damnspam.py
index 1a93ae4..d252fd0 100644
--- a/damnspam.py
+++ b/damnspam.py
@@ -2,25 +2,13 @@
 from helpers import *
 from time import time as now
 import org.bukkit.event.block.BlockBreakEvent as BlockBreakEvent
-import json
 
-spam_filename   = "plugins/redstoner-utils.py.dir/files/damnspam.json"
-inputs          = {} # format "x;y;z;World"
+inputs          = open_json_file("damnspam", {}) # format "x;y;z;World"
 accepted_inputs = ["WOOD_BUTTON", "STONE_BUTTON", "LEVER"]
 
-try:
-  inputs = json.loads(open(spam_filename).read())
-except Exception, e:
-  error("Failed to load buttons and levers: %s" % e)
-
 
 def save_inputs():
-  try:
-    spam_file = open(spam_filename, "w")
-    spam_file.write(json.dumps(inputs))
-    spam_file.close()
-  except Exception, e:
-    error("Failed to save damnspam: " + str(e))
+  save_json_file("damnspam", inputs)
 
 
 def location_str(block):
@@ -28,7 +16,6 @@ def location_str(block):
 
 
 def add_input(creator, block, timeout_off, timeout_on):
-  global inputs
   inputs[location_str(block)] = {
     "creator"     : uid(creator),
     "timeout_off" : timeout_off,
@@ -39,8 +26,6 @@ def add_input(creator, block, timeout_off, timeout_on):
 
 @hook.command("damnspam")
 def on_dammnspam_command(sender, args):
-  global inputs
-
   plugin_header(sender, "DamnSpam")
   if len(args) in [1,2]:
 
@@ -101,8 +86,6 @@ def on_dammnspam_command(sender, args):
 
 @hook.event("block.BlockBreakEvent", "normal")
 def on_block_break(event):
-  global inputs
-
   sender = event.getPlayer()
   block = event.getBlock()
   if str(block.getType()) in accepted_inputs and not event.isCancelled():
diff --git a/forcefield.py b/forcefield.py
index d5fa1fe..bafe4a9 100644
--- a/forcefield.py
+++ b/forcefield.py
@@ -3,14 +3,13 @@ from helpers import *
 from org.bukkit.util import Vector
 from math import sin
 
-ff_perm             = "utils.forcefield"
-pass_perm           = "utils.forcefield.ignore"
-ff_prefix           = "&8[&bFF&8] "
-ff_users            = []
-fd                  = 6 # forcefield distance
-Xv                  = 2.95 / fd # used in move_away(), this is more efficient.
-whitelists_filename = "plugins/redstoner-utils.py.dir/files/forcefield.json"
-whitelists          = {} # {ff_owner_id: [white, listed, ids]} (Adding file usage later, should be simple but just not yet.)
+ff_perm    = "utils.forcefield"
+pass_perm  = "utils.forcefield.ignore"
+ff_prefix  = "&8[&bFF&8] "
+ff_users   = []
+fd         = 6 # forcefield distance
+Xv         = 2.95 / fd # used in move_away(), this is more efficient.
+whitelists = {} # {ff_owner_id: [white, listed, ids]} (Adding file usage later, should be simple but just not yet.)
 
 
 # /ff admin  is a future option I might implement
diff --git a/mentio.py b/mentio.py
index f557a5f..bb065f7 100644
--- a/mentio.py
+++ b/mentio.py
@@ -1,18 +1,12 @@
-import json
 from helpers import *
 from re import compile as reg_compile
 from traceback import format_exc as print_traceback
 
-mentio_filename = "plugins/redstoner-utils.py.dir/files/mentio.json"
-mentions = {}
-max_amount = 3
-arrow = colorify(u"&r&7\u2192&r")
-regex = reg_compile(u"\u00A7[\\da-fk-or]")
 
-try:
-  mentions = json.loads(open(mentio_filename).read())
-except Exception, e:
-  error("Failed to load mentions: %s" % e)
+mentions   = open_json_file("mentio", {})
+max_amount = 3
+arrow      = colorify(u"&r&7\u2192&r")
+regex      = reg_compile(u"\u00A7[\\da-fk-or]")
 
 
 @hook.event("player.AsyncPlayerChatEvent", "high")
@@ -39,7 +33,7 @@ def onChat(event):
           if isMentioned:
             colors = "".join(regex.findall("".join(words[:i+1]))) # join all color codes used upto this word
             rec_words[i] = colorify("&r&a<&6") + stripcolors(word) + colorify("&r&a>&r") + colors # extra fancy highlight
-        
+
         # player was mentioned
         if rec_words != words:
           try:
@@ -54,13 +48,14 @@ def onChat(event):
     error("Failed to handle PlayerChatEvent:")
     error(print_traceback())
 
+
 @hook.command("listen")
 def onListenCommand(sender, args):
   try:
     currWords = []
     if str(sender.getUniqueId()) in mentions.keys():
       currWords = mentions[str(sender.getUniqueId())]
-    
+
     # /listen add <word>
     if len(args) == 2 and args[0].lower() == "add":
 
@@ -110,10 +105,6 @@ def onListenCommand(sender, args):
   except Exception, e:
     error(e)
 
+
 def saveMentions():
-  try:
-    mentio_file = open(mentio_filename, "w")
-    mentio_file.write(json.dumps(mentions))
-    mentio_file.close()
-  except Exception, e:
-    error("Failed to write mentions: " + str(e))
+  save_json_file("mentio", mentions)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/reports.py b/reports.py
index a4fb504..6cd9ace 100644
--- a/reports.py
+++ b/reports.py
@@ -1,19 +1,14 @@
 from helpers import *
 from java.util.UUID import fromString as id_to_player
-import json
 import time
 import thread
 
-reports_filename = "plugins/redstoner-utils.py.dir/files/reports.json"
-time_format      = "%Y.%m.%d %H:%M"
-reports          = []
-check_reports    = True
-check_delay      = 60 * 10 # Every 10 minutes, staff will be notified about pending reports.
-rp_permission    = "utils.rp"
-try:
-  reports = json.loads(open(reports_filename).read())
-except Exception, e:
-  error("Failed to load reports: %s" % e)
+
+time_format   = "%Y.%m.%d %H:%M"
+reports       = open_json_file("reports", [])
+check_reports = True
+check_delay   = 60 * 10 # Every 10 minutes, staff will be notified about pending reports.
+rp_permission = "utils.rp"
 
 
 def print_help(sender):
@@ -28,6 +23,7 @@ def print_list(sender):
   for i, report in enumerate(reports):
     msg(sender, "&8[&e" + str(i) + " &c" + report["time"] + "&8] &3" + server.getOfflinePlayer(id_to_player(report["uuid"])).getName() + "&f: &a" + report["msg"])
 
+
 def tp_report(sender, rep_id):
   if rep_id >= len(reports) or rep_id < 0:
     msg(sender, "&cReport &3#" + str(rep_id) + "&c does not exist!")
@@ -52,12 +48,7 @@ def delete_report(sender, rep_id):
 
 
 def save_reports():
-  try:
-    reports_file = open(reports_filename, "w")
-    reports_file.write(json.dumps(reports))
-    reports_file.close()
-  except Exception, e:
-    error("Failed to write reports: " + str(e))
+  save_json_file("reports", reports)
 
 
 @hook.command("rp")
@@ -139,4 +130,5 @@ def stop_reporting():
   log("Ending reports reminder thread")
   check_reports = False
 
-thread.start_new_thread(reports_reminder, ())
+
+thread.start_new_thread(reports_reminder, ())
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/saylol.py b/saylol.py
index 0b7ccc3..6da18c9 100644
--- a/saylol.py
+++ b/saylol.py
@@ -1,27 +1,15 @@
-import json
 from time import time
 from helpers import *
 from random import randrange
 
-lol_filename = "plugins/redstoner-utils.py.dir/files/lol.json"
-lols         = []
-timeout      = 15
-last_msg     = 0
-
-try:
-  lols = json.loads(open(lol_filename).read())
-except Exception, e:
-  error("Failed to load lols: %s" % e)
+lols     = open_json_file("lol", [])
+timeout  = 15
+last_msg = 0
 
 
 
 def save_lols():
-  try:
-    lolfile = open(lol_filename, "w")
-    lolfile.write(json.dumps(lols))
-    lolfile.close()
-  except Exception, e:
-    error("Failed to write lols: " + str(e))
+  save_json_file("lol", lols)
 
 
 def add_lol(txt):
diff --git a/spawnplayer.py b/spawnplayer.py
index 15dafd3..374c6e3 100644
--- a/spawnplayer.py
+++ b/spawnplayer.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import net.minecraft.server.v1_7_R1.PlayerInteractManager as PlayerInteractManag
 import net.minecraft.util.com.mojang.authlib.GameProfile as GameProfile
 import org.bukkit.Bukkit as bukkit
 
+
 # players.txt contains 1 name per line
 players = [line.strip() for line in open("players.txt").readlines()]
 
diff --git a/tilehelper.py b/tilehelper.py
index e8c2af6..04e510e 100644
--- a/tilehelper.py
+++ b/tilehelper.py
@@ -3,16 +3,10 @@ import org.bukkit.event.block.BlockPlaceEvent as BlockPlaceEvent
 import org.bukkit.event.block.BlockBreakEvent as BlockBreakEvent
 import org.bukkit.event.player.PlayerInteractEvent as PlayerInteractEvent
 import thread
-import json
 from time import sleep
 from helpers import *
 
-tilehelpers_filename = "plugins/redstoner-utils.py.dir/files/tilehelpers.json"
-tilehelpers          = []
-try:
-  tilehelpers = json.loads(open(tilehelpers_filename).read())
-except Exception, e:
-  error("Failed to load tile helpers: %s" % e)
+tilehelpers = open_json_file("tilehelpers", [])
 
 dirmap = {
   #    [x, y, z]