I think one of the most important things you can do is learning some basic car maintenance. I was lucky enough to have my dad teach me to do oil changes, brakes, rotors, spark plugs and filters when I got my first car. Thanks to Youtube university, you can even get into some more complex jobs that still only require basic tools. I recently replaced the hybrid battery in my sisters Prius. The dealership quoted her $5,200. I got the new aftermarket pack for 2,400 and had it replaced in about an hour. I have literally saved thousands of dollars doing my own general maintenance and repairs over the last 17 years. Harbor Freight sells a 225 piece Pittsburgh mechanics tool set for 139 dollars. It has everything you need to get started with and will pay itself off with a couple oil changes. #finance source