I think you are missing some opportunity if you shoot jpg only without understanding the settings well.
If you shoot raw + jpg or raw only you can change many settings after the fact (white balance, exposure, jpg compression, conversion to black and white, color space etc.). Processing of digital images makes a big difference in them, so you should get started with it too. In a way, it removes pressure from you during capture, knowing you can sort it out later.
I don’t use auto-focus, so can’t help with settings for it. The green dot indicator Seapy mentions is important. Learn to look for it, but don’t be a slave to it.
Try the different metering modes. You can look at the results on the screen on the back to confirm you have an exposure you like. Meters are not magical, try and expose for what is important in the scene. You will find that not all days, times of day, and environments are possible to capture well. Sometimes there is just too much contrast. Pay attention to the light. Bright sunny days can be hard. You can usually add contrast to the image in processing, but if the highlights are burnt out or shadows are blocked, there is little you can do.
