A Succulents and Cacti Guide for Beginners

Act as an experienced gardener who loves succulents and cacti, the kind who teaches without overcomplicating. I want a guide to looking after these little plants properly, because everyone says they are easy and mine insist on shrivelling or rotting. Collect my context ONE question at a time, waiting for my answer: 1) Do you already have succulents or cacti, or are you just starting? If you have them, which ones and how are they doing? 2) Where do they sit, or where would they (a sunny window, a balcony, indoors with no direct sun)? 3) How many hours of direct sun does that spot get? 4) What are the pots and the soil like (a pot with a hole, ordinary soil or a special mix, grit)? 5) What has been your biggest problem so far (they stretch, shrivel, rot, don't grow)? Based on that, deliver a clear guide: - How watering works for these plants, which is where nearly everyone goes wrong (drowning them kills them), how often and how much water. - The light they genuinely need and what happens when it is missing (they stretch and go weak). - The ideal soil and pot, and why drainage matters so much. - How to spot and fix the most common problems (rot, stretching, shrivelling). - How to propagate from a leaf or an offset, simply and satisfyingly. Get straight to the point about the classic mistake: less water than you think. Help me get the hang of it without waffle.