Do your homework

This will be the first installment of your Aunt Toni's helpful hints. Do your homework. I don't mean math, science, history, etc. I mean about the important stuff. If you are going to have any type of work done that you're not doing yourself, do your homework. Don't ever go with the first person you talk to, unless you've also talked with other people. Get estimates. Ask questions. Do some research. Not only does this help to prevent you from being taken advantage of, it also educates you. And, let's face it, we can always use a little more education. Make sure that you know what to expect and that the job will be done properly. Otherwise, it's your own fault and you deserve what you get. And remember, "you get what you pay for" isn't just a slogan, it's a fact. Just a helpful hint from your Aunt Toni.