How do you do this?

So... I really can't go to my mom about this because she may take it in a way that I don't want her to. So I'm coming here for it.

I've heard ups and downs to masturbation but like most things, I'm on the cautious side and I don't do it at all. So how do you masturbate? Toys sound interesting but I don't know if you have to be a certain age to buy those (I'm almost 17).

If anyone could give me more information about this mystery topic, that would be great. Going to school where they don't talk about it and also living with a Catholic mom has left me knowing nothing.