Why do we only learn proper form after something hurts?

Trust your two-week rule, betty_perry24, but my power bank died before I even left the hotel.

My backup extraction tool is always in the sanitizer jar. I keep a stack of those hot towel caddies plugged in too, so the heat source is separate from the steamer.

Yeah, that "estimated taxes" thing @logan_wood mentioned is a huge trap. My lender did the same with my escrow. They guessed low, so my payment jumped $150 after the first year when they did the real math. Now I make them show me the exact county tax bill and insurance quote before closing. I even call the county myself to check the numbers. You HAVE to do your own homework because their "estimates" are just guesses that you pay for.

My own freelance journey started with me saying yes so much I basically became a human doormat. The shift to being picky felt like a huge gamble, but it forced better clients to find me. It's less about luck and more about making space for the good stuff by stopping the bad.