Verbal agreements
You want to use some service and someone assures you that the thing you care about will get done? It may never get past assurances if you didn't put it in the contract. If you agree on something verbally, put it in the contract.
Talking to someone on the phone and you agree on something? Right after the call, send an email confirming what you talked about and what you agreed. Email leaves a trail you can point to later if it's not clear what was agreed.
At work
Someone at work accuses you of doing nothing? Be ready for that and keep your own private timesheet. Write down what you did and when. Metrics from your project and time tracking app can also come in handy when you ask for a raise.
Swamped with tasks and getting new ones? Write an email saying you've got new tasks, you can't do everything, and you're asking them to set priorities: which tasks are important and urgent, and which can wait. If there's trouble, point to that email.
Contracts
They say contracts are for the bad times. Protect yourself well in advance. Don't count on people's goodwill. Most of them are greedy, and getting your money back is stressful, slow or impossible.
A handshake deal is asking for trouble. A handshake deal for construction work is guaranteed trouble. Pay more, hire a company with a good reputation and sign a proper contract that clearly defines the results you expect.
Another thing: avoid one-sided contracts. If the restrictions apply to only one side, it's usually an unfair contract. If you have some obligation, the other side should have one too.
For example, if your apartment lease spells out when the landlord can terminate it with immediate effect, make sure it also spells out when you, as the tenant, can terminate it.
Contracts don't have any set form, template or content, but they can't break the law. Treat a contract between two parties as exactly what it sounds like: two parties agreeing on something.
You don't have to write it in complicated language or legalese. A contract sets the rules of a service or a collaboration. But if it's a really important contract, put it in the hands of professionals you can trust, so you avoid conflicts down the road.
If you're the buyer, then the real estate agent, the car dealer, the employer and their lawyers are not people acting in your interest. As a rule, they protect the other side's interests. Hire your own advisers. Decide what matters to you, pay well and sleep soundly.
If you agree on specific terms, make sure the contract says what happens if they aren't met.
Writing that smoking is banned in a rented apartment isn't enough. You have to spell out that if the tenant breaks the ban, they'll pay a penalty, cover the cost of cleaning and painting, get their lease terminated with immediate effect, or lose part of the deposit.
If you're ordering a service, failing to meet the terms of the contract can mean a smaller payment. For example, for delays, or for work that doesn't match the specification or the design.
Renting an apartment
Remember that the law stands above the contract. In Poland, renting an apartment is governed by the Act on the Protection of Tenants' Rights, which says, for example, that the tenant is responsible for painting or wallpapering and repairing damaged plaster. Not everyone knows that.
Don't rent your apartment to just anyone. Do a background check: find out who you're renting to, where they work and what their plans are. Sign an occasional lease and make the tenant pay the notary fees.
The taxman
You don't want trouble with the taxman. If you dodge taxes, play games or invent fake company structures, sooner or later it'll come back to bite you and turn your life upside down. Keep your paperwork in order and move money only by bank transfer, so there's always a trail.
If you're not doing anything stupid, a letter or a call from the tax office is usually just some mistake that needs correcting. It's a good idea to have an accountant and a tax adviser who can represent you before the tax office.
In the end, you're the one responsible for everything, so don't be completely clueless about money and taxes.
Money flows
If you trade securities or crypto, use other financial instruments, or have accounts with fintech startups like Revolut, get ready for the KYC process (Know Your Customer).
You'll have to send bank statements and proof of address, and explain where the money coming into your bank accounts comes from and why.
At your bank, keep separate accounts: one for everyday spending, another for the bigger money flowing through.
Pay for services with credit cards. If the service isn't delivered, you can file a chargeback and the card issuer will cover your costs.
Credit cards usually come with insurance too. The insurance on premium cards with high limits can be especially worth a look. It might be travel or trip cancellation insurance, life insurance, loan repayment insurance and so on. Check whether you have it and in what situations you can use it.
Real estate
When it comes to real estate, I strongly urge you to get help from professionals acting in your interest.
Find a pro who doesn't work for the bank you want a mortgage from, who's nice, down-to-earth, easy to reach and will help you get a handle on real estate.
Real estate is a complicated subject, and it raises plenty of questions and doubts even after you buy. I especially value people who'll help you for the whole life of the mortgage, not just before you take it out. I've got a guy I can recommend.
The deposit
If you're selling a car, an apartment or anything else expensive, don't forget to sign a preliminary agreement that sets a deposit. A 10% deposit is about right. An agreement like that commits you to sell by a set date, and the other person to buy.
If for some reason that doesn't happen, you keep the deposit. If the sale falls through because of you, you pay back double the deposit. In other words, either the deal goes through, or someone profits from it not going through.
Spell out the reasons for which the sale may fall through and the deposit is returned. For example, you don't want to be on the hook for natural disasters, theft or damage to the thing you're selling.
In contracts to buy property, it's a good idea to state whether the deposit is returned if you don't get the mortgage. That's outside your control, and it's worth protecting yourself against losing the deposit.
Word of honor
Be a man. Don't treat your word like a dirty rag. If you agree to something with someone, keep your word.
When I was selling my car, twice I heard Yes, I'll take it!, and when it came to signing the deposit agreement and pulling out real money, suddenly it turned into I'll let you know tomorrow. And tomorrow never came.