Jump in and do it. Once you have a problem you need to fix, ask around, get a book, check online, and learn how to do that one task, and what tools you'll need.
Then do it.
Brakes are easy, though often tedious, but they're a good project for working on the car, and the manuals you can get at auto stores show you exactly how to do them, along with everything else on your car. Brakes are hard to get wrong.
For each project, whether car, home, yard, etc, there are many resources to get started. All you need to do is reconsider paying someone else to do it, and pay yourself. For your first few projects you'll be spending money on the right tools rather than a professional. Occasionally you'll spend more - especially if you make a mistake, or reach a point where you can't finish it and then have to call a professional. Over time, though, you'll learn a lot, and feel a lot more comfortable doing the work.
The big tradeoff is whether you have time or not. It'll take you many hours to finish even simple projects, especially in the beginning, but even as you get good at it there will be unexpected issues and problems to deal with. So while you may save money, you'll be spending a great deal of time. For some people the project is fun and worth it, and others do it once, then say, "Ok, I know how to do it, and I'm fine letting a pro handle it from here on out."
Changing oil was the first thing I learned about cars... at the age of 28.
I find that cars are like computers, people are so mystified as to how they work, but once you roll up your sleeves and get in there, it's pretty easy with a little guidance.
A lot of auto repair is right there in the manual. Most of the periodic maintenance can be accomplished in a driveway with little effort and relatively inexpensive tools. Fuses, oil changes, lamp replacement, air filter, hoses, tire rotation/replacement/pressure, antifreeze, washer fluid, wiper replacement, chipped paint, relays or other pluggable modules, some belts/pulleys, alternator, various emission bits...these are all things that you can most likely service yourself with nothing more than relatively basic tools and at most a jack or a pair of ramps to raise the front end of the car (and some chocks to keep it from rolling!).
--Patrick
Check the air pressure in your tires. As a first step it's very low risk high reward.I see what you're saying now.
Let's start with auto repair, since that's something that even knowing a little bit about can help a great deal.
Drum brakes are simply more annoying. I agree on the needle nose pliers, though, very handy for all those springs.Hmm, I disagree that drum brakes are hard. Give me a lug wrench, a socket set and a good pair of needle-nose pliers, and I can do a drum almost as fast as a disc.
Red Green said:...remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.