Dear LEO:

I am building a deck for a job I found on craigslist. The only problem is I don’t know shit about deck building but I really need the money before I go back to school.

~Not a very good carpenter

Dear NOT GOOD:

Simple, tell them that you need half up front to buy materials. Then off you go back to whatever GED prep. school you’re going back to. If they balk at the idea just tell them “No check, no deck” and move along to the next craigslist meathole.