My New Year's resolution is to do more DIY which is fine BUT I need help

[PrismManchip]

Where have you picked up your knowledge? Which tools do you use often enough for it to be worth investing in?

Painting and decorating I can do, but basic plumbing, central heating stuff - am totally defeated.

I am sure someone here had been on a basic plumbing course and a) I searched the archives to no avail, and b) I googled locally for courses, again to no avail.

If you have any top tips or have done something you are chuffed with, please post and share it with me - we have a gazillion little jobs to do on this house and one old DIY manual but no natural aptitude!

Bump bump

Plumbing and electrics both worth staying well away from but you can do simple carpentry by trial and error. I wouldn't invest in any tools except very basics (screwdrivers, hacksaw, wood saw, hammer etc) and hire rest on an as and when basis. I've fitted kitchens, laid floors, tiled, hung doors, and mixed tonnes and tonnes of concrete (for people more clued up than me to use).

Quite a lot of the jobs are basic but dirty and tiring but, if you sit down and think about them logically, you can work them out. It's really not worth trying with central heating (unless it is something very simple such as hanging a radiator in which case google it and you will get some easy to follow instructions).

Ah but I can't afford to do otherwise!
I wouldn't do electrics or gas, but we do need a bit of CH maintenance and I just can't afford to get anyone in.
THe trouble with DIY I think is not knowing what's a big job and what's trivial. So atm we are trying to fill in some gaps in plasterboard (where the previous owners moved sockets) and it's a real bugger. No idea if that's the sort of job you just get someone in for!

Have you looked at the Teach Yourself books by Roy Treloar? My mum does her basic plumbing using stuff like that, she loves those books. There is one about central heating.