With the credit crunch invasion, spending money having things fixed, improved and expanded in the house seems near impossible. Hiring someone to do the work for you costs a fortune, and even when it doesn't, having to wait around for them to turn up and being available to supervise them while they work so you know you're getting your money's worth is a massive inconvenience to those of us who have our own jobs to be doing.

DIY is an aptly named activity. Doing it yourself could never have been a better solution in times of recession. All you really need is the right selection of tools for almost any basic jobs around the house. We're not saying you should embark upon a loft conversion or an extension on your tod, but simple jobs like putting up shelves, repairing holes, fixing the car and making doors aren't as difficult as you may have first thought.

First of all, you need to know what your basic tools are. You can buy them separately, or if you want to just get it all out of the way and buy the lot, you can easily find sets that have everything you need for everyday odd jobs. Most kits include screwdrivers, a spirit level, hammer, spanner, chisel, tape measure, pliers and a Stanley knife. Of course, though these seem like the babies of the tool world, they still require at least a little bit of skill to handle. They can cause a lot of damage if handled incorrectly are likely to cause bruises even when they are!

Don't be fooled. Just buying the tools isn't enough to make you into a DIY expert. If you haven't even considered your safety yet, then you have a long way to go. Googles, masks and gloves are imperative additions to your DIY gear, helping to prevent unnecessary injuries and inhalation of dust or chemical fumes. Safety should be priority at all times.

When you've gotten to grips with the hand tools, it's probably safe to assume you're capable of handling the power tools. Don't make any silly attempts to look like some kind of action hero using these tools, because all that's going to happen is, you will lose something vital to your body. Make absolutely certain that you know precisely what you're doing before you ever get a power tool out of the box. And we can't stress how important it is that you read the instructions.

Bigger DIY jobs require bigger tools. Now, don't get excited. Power tools don't suddenly make you into a punishment dealing super hero. They may sound impressive, but they're only as impressive as the severed finger twitching on the floor. Safety gear when using these tools is paramount. This includes, not just gloves, goggles and masks, but guards, visors, clamps, vices and a decent set of clothing.

The advanced tools are only for those amongst you who already know how to handle heavy pieces of kit. A hammer to the thumb or pinch from the pliers is nothing compared to the physical harm these pieces of equipment (routers, chopsaws, sanders) can cause if you don't have the right safety gear and don't know exactly what you're doing. Don't say that you can just figure it out, otherwise you're going to be figuring out what you're big toe is doing on the other side of the room. Find someone who knows what they're doing.

When you decide to get your hands dirty doing some DIY, the important thing to remember is planning. The last thing you want is to start, only to discover you're missing vital pieces of equipment that will slow down or completely halt the endeavour altogether! Make a check-list if you have trouble remembering!

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