The House:

 
Bedding:
Sawdust is the most popular. It is cheap and highly absorbent (which, as you will discover, is essential). Wood shavings can also be used but are not as absorbent. Shredded paper is another option; it soaks up liquid very well but is a bit more expensive. Sand is an alternative but few people use it as it can be a bit messy.

Food:
Gerbils can eat a variety of different foods. Seeds, grains and nuts are the most common, and you can get pre-mixed bags any local pet store. In addition to this, gerbils love pretty much any raw vegetable. As a real treat try a bit of fruit, but stay clear of citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, they will upset your gerbil's stomach.

Handling:
Gerbils are nippy little things; it helps them evade predators in the wild. So it might take you some time to get use to handling them at first. Try not to frighten them, avoid sudden movements. Cup your hands over the gerbil and take hold of the tail. Make sure you hold the base, a gerbil can discard the end of his tail as a defence mechanism and it will never grow back. Support the gerbil's weight with your other hand.

Play:
Gerbils are extremely curious creatures and always like to keep active. Gnawing is one of their favourite pastimes and it is important that they have enough to chew. Gerbil teeth keep growing and need to be kept in trim. Toilet rolls are a particular favourite and you'll be surprised how many a gerbil can get through in a day. Be sure to provide enough bedding, as they love to burrow and find their own hiding places. If you want to introduce a wheel make sure you tape the outside, as this will prevent the gerbil catching his tail.

Daily:
Is your gerbil still there?
Are there any places in the cage that your gerbil can escape through?
Has the gerbil got enough things to chew?
Remove any left-over food from the previous day.
Feed your gerbil what it will eat in a single day.
Replenish drinking bottle with fresh water.

Weekly:
Clean the soiled areas.
Replace the nesting material if needed.