diff --git a/triggers/bye/bye.sh b/triggers/bye/bye.sh
index ace9fec..4622787 100755
--- a/triggers/bye/bye.sh
+++ b/triggers/bye/bye.sh
@@ -2,18 +2,21 @@
 [ -f functions.sh ] && source functions.sh
 
 farewellsFile="triggers/bye/farewells.txt"
+byeTrackingDir="/tmp/stormbot_bye"
 
 # Time tracking to prevent spam from flaky connections
-# Track last bye time for each user (in seconds since epoch)
-declare -A lastByeTime
+# Create tracking directory if it doesn't exist
+mkdir -p "$byeTrackingDir"
 
 # Only say bye if user hasn't been farewelled in the last hour (3600 seconds)
 currentTime=$(date +%s)
 userName="${1,,}"
 cooldownPeriod=3600
+userTrackingFile="$byeTrackingDir/$userName"
 
-if [[ -n "${lastByeTime[$userName]}" ]]; then
-    timeSinceLastBye=$((currentTime - lastByeTime[$userName]))
+if [[ -f "$userTrackingFile" ]]; then
+    lastByeTime=$(cat "$userTrackingFile")
+    timeSinceLastBye=$((currentTime - lastByeTime))
     if [[ $timeSinceLastBye -lt $cooldownPeriod ]]; then
         # User was farewelled recently, skip bye message
         exit 0
@@ -21,7 +24,7 @@ if [[ -n "${lastByeTime[$userName]}" ]]; then
 fi
 
 # Update last bye time for this user
-lastByeTime[$userName]=$currentTime
+echo "$currentTime" > "$userTrackingFile"
 
 # All names to match are completely lowercase.
 case "$userName" in
diff --git a/triggers/greet/greet.sh b/triggers/greet/greet.sh
index a0d86f5..74ff32d 100755
--- a/triggers/greet/greet.sh
+++ b/triggers/greet/greet.sh
@@ -2,18 +2,21 @@
 [ -f functions.sh ] && source functions.sh
 
 greetingsFile="triggers/greet/greetings.txt"
+greetTrackingDir="/tmp/stormbot_greet"
 
 # Time tracking to prevent spam from flaky connections
-# Track last greet time for each user (in seconds since epoch)
-declare -A lastGreetTime
+# Create tracking directory if it doesn't exist
+mkdir -p "$greetTrackingDir"
 
 # Only greet if user hasn't been greeted in the last hour (3600 seconds)
 currentTime=$(date +%s)
 userName="${1,,}"
 cooldownPeriod=3600
+userTrackingFile="$greetTrackingDir/$userName"
 
-if [[ -n "${lastGreetTime[$userName]}" ]]; then
-    timeSinceLastGreet=$((currentTime - lastGreetTime[$userName]))
+if [[ -f "$userTrackingFile" ]]; then
+    lastGreetTime=$(cat "$userTrackingFile")
+    timeSinceLastGreet=$((currentTime - lastGreetTime))
     if [[ $timeSinceLastGreet -lt $cooldownPeriod ]]; then
         # User was greeted recently, skip greeting
         exit 0
@@ -21,7 +24,7 @@ if [[ -n "${lastGreetTime[$userName]}" ]]; then
 fi
 
 # Update last greet time for this user
-lastGreetTime[$userName]=$currentTime
+echo "$currentTime" > "$userTrackingFile"
 
 # All names to match are completely lowercase.
 case "$userName" in