Buy some tools.

It doesn't matter if you're male or female, rich or poor -- sooner or later, you're going to have to fix something. You can't always just hire somebody or count on a handy friend or an in-law. In a pinch, you are going to have to have a hammer and pliers and a screwdriver, maybe even a saw.


In fact, these are the basic tools everyone should have.


1) A hammer.


They are displayed on racks at your local hardware store. Pick one you like the look of and the heft of in your hand. Imagine yourself hammering nails with it. Picture it hanging from your pegboard in the garage where you keep all your tools. (Do keep your tools organized, and a pegboard, with hangers, is the best way.) Always get one with the claw in back, to pry out nails.


2) Pliers.


These are the tools we pinch/hold things with. They're stronger than our own fingers because they're made of metal and because our own grip gives them added strength. They come in all varieties, from huge lobster-claw monsters to the almost delicate needle noses. Again, pick up a few and see how they feel in your hand. You need several, from the needle noses on up -- but not the monster ones.


3) A saw.


Unless you live in Arizona or an urban condo, you're probably going to have to get rid of some tree limbs or unwanted/overgrown shrubs and hedges sooner or later. Or you may have to cut some wood for a kid's school project. Whatever. You need a saw, but just a simple one, not too long. I'd say eighteen inches at best. (No chainsaws, please, unless you're a lumberjack.) You might want several sizes of saws, for different jobs, but probably smaller, not larger.


4) Screwdrivers.


There are as many screwdrivers and screwdriver brands as there are screws that need to be loosened or tightened. But really there are two basic types: the slotted kind and the Phillips, which has a cross-shaped slot and fits that kind of screw. They are usually sold in sets, which means you don't have to worry about having the right size: just buy a set of each kind. But don't buy these at the Dollar store: pick a name brand for a few dollars more, as metal tools can vary a lot in performance and durability even though they look alike on the rack.


5) A vise-grip.


This is a super wrench that locks down at a certain point and provides more force than you can with your own hand/arm using an ordinary wrench. It may be the only wrench you need. Most of us don't need a whole set of wrenches, those instruments used to loosen bolts, because we don't work on our own cars anymore, and that was pretty much all we used them for. Or plumbing, which we also don't do ourselves. You might invest in a crescent wrench, which is adjustable to different grips, but get a name brand, as their grip can loosen with price and age.


6) Screws and nails.

Oh Lord, there are so many and for so many different uses/projects. You could go crazy trying to accumulate enough of these to address all your projects. I advise buying a pack of different sizes to start, then others when you need them. But do have an assortment on hand, from the smallest that will hang a picture to the largest that will hang a bicycle. They're sold in assorted packages. Start there.

7) Wire and string.

Wire comes in all sizes, of course, from the thinnest to -- once again -- hang a picture to the strongest, to tie up big bundles for transport. Pick a thick white string coil and a wire one of about the same width. Ask your Home Depot guy. I don't know the specifications, but he will.
Just say you want some wire and string to have around home for whatever.

8) Duct tape.

This is a wide, strong tape made to repair all kinds of leaks, at least temporarily (until you can call a plumber or whoever). It's grey/silver in color and is sold in rolls. It will help you cover lots of mistakes. (I once taped a plastic fender that was dragging back into place, and it held until I could order a new fastener from the dealer.)

9) Electrical tape.

Thinner than duct tape, but as strong, it's black and, again, comes on a roll. Use it when duct tape is too big. Often used to repair and/or join frayed or broken cables or wires, the kind you have connected to your TV or DVR or speakers or whatever.

10) Crow bar.

A strong tool made from a single piece of steel, usually about two feet long, a chisel on one end and a fork on the other. Use it when a claw hammer isn't enough, to pry loose big nails or pieces of wood or even stones. (I've always thought it would be a good weapon, but I'm not recommending it for that purpose.) Buy one and you'll find uses for it.

There are other tools that have been used in the past but that we don't need much anymore. For instance, a lug wrench, which is used to loosen the bolts holding your wheel to the car. I think most of us nowadays don't change our own tires; we belong to AAA or some other service that comes out and does that for us. (If you do need one, it may be in the trunk of your car already.)

Some might say you need a tape measure, and I wouldn't argue with that. They're made of light metal and come coiled inside a container and usually come out -- and retract -- with a touch of a thumb. They show inches and feet (and often meters) and are good for figuring out how much carpet or flooring you need.

There are others I'm not thinking of, but this will get you started. And I can pretty much guarantee that you will find a use for each and every one, eventually.

The point is that, even though you hope someone is going to be doing all this basic stuff for you, it's probably not good to count on that. Dad may die. You may get divorced. Your handy friend may move away. Sooner or later, you're likely to end up with a loose step or a leaky faucet or a poster that needs to be hung, so it's best to be prepared.

By the way, I'm not even getting into what you might need to keep in your car -- jumper cables, etc. -- or what you may want for your gardening. Those are topics for a different discussion.

In the end, it's always best to rely on yourself and know that you have the tools to get the job done. The more you can do for yourself, the less you need outside help. And it's cheaper if you do it on your own.

Hammers ready? Prepare to nail!