I am going to let you in on one of Bottom Line's trade secrets. Some of our best article ideas originate in the personal experiences of coworkers, friends and family members. Below, life lessons from the extended Bottom Line family, so you won't make the same mistakes they did...

Don't cover the pans under the coils of your electric stovetop with foil. My friend Debbie shorted out her stove when she covered her burner pans with foil. Replacing them would have cost only about $15. Instead, it cost $250 to repair the stove.

Put lights on each side of a mirror, not just recessed lighting above it. I found this out when we were redoing a bathroom. Having only overhead lights causes shadows that make it difficult to see properly when putting in contact lenses or applying makeup.

Open all mail. Marketers are so good at disguising solicitations that "real" mail can get lost in the shuffle. Bob once found his wife (one of our contributing writers) about to throw out an envelope containing their IRS refund. Even worse: It was a replacement check. They now suspect that they accidentally threw out the original.

Try faxing your doctor if you have trouble getting nonemergency medical questions answered over the phone. That's what my coworker Nina tried after being frustrated when it took 15 minutes to merely leave a question for her doctor. With a fax, she always gets a response by midday at the latest. (Nina's doctor does not accept E-mails.)

When traveling, keep a flashlight by your bedside so that you can find your way to safety in case of fire. My attorney Jessica had a friend who died from smoke inhalation after a historic inn's fireplace caught fire in the middle of the night during a power outage. Since then, Jessica's husband, who travels a lot, packs a flashlight to keep on the nightstand in the hotel, and Jessica keeps one on her nightstand at home.

Before starting up an outdoor grill, make sure it is far enough away from the house. Jessica's brother almost burned down her house -- seriously melting the siding and one of the shutters -- before he went back outside to check the meat.

Keep substances that are in similar containers but serve different functions in separate locations. Or do something to make each container look different. This is especially important if your eyesight isn't great or if you tend to rush. Anna, a coworker, has rinsed her face in nail polish remover instead of liquid soap... and squeezed hair gel instead of toothpaste onto her toothbrush.

Use a pillowcase or sheet to protect items stored inside cedar chests, which leak oils. After two dry cleaners failed to remove the stains from her fine antique linens, Andrea (the daughter of one of our expert contributors) found success by soaking them for two days in Oxyclean and hot water.

When slots for a medical test you need (such as a mammogram) aren't available for weeks or months, make an appointment anyway -- but call every Monday morning at about 10 or 10:15 to ask about cancellations. Sally, a friend, has found that most people cancel their medical appointments on Mondays because they realize over the weekend that they have schedule conflicts.