I've been turning wrenches for years — cars, trucks, heavy equipment, marine engines, you name it. Here are 5 things that would save most people hundreds (or thousands) every year:

1. Your check engine light is usually not an emergency.

Most codes are emissions-related. A $20 OBD2 scanner from Amazon will tell you exactly what's wrong. Half the time it's a loose gas cap or an O2 sensor that can wait.

2. "Dealer recommended maintenance" is a profit center.

Your owner's manual has the real maintenance schedule. Dealers add stuff like fuel injector cleaning and transmission flushes that you probably don't need at 30k miles.

3. Brake pads are a 1-hour DIY job.

Shops charge $300-600 for brake pads. The parts cost $30-50. A jack, a lug wrench, and a YouTube video is all you need — or ask me and I'll walk you through it step by step.

4. Most "expensive" home repairs are actually simple.

Running toilet? $8 flapper valve, 10 minutes. Garbage disposal jammed? There's a hex key slot on the bottom. Squeaky door? WD-40 isn't even the right answer (use white lithium grease).

5. The best tool you can own is a multimeter.

A $25 multimeter will diagnose 80% of electrical issues in your car, your house, your boat — anything. Learning to use one takes 15 minutes and saves you from guessing.

I built The Neighbor's Garage for people who'd rather learn to fix it than pay someone $150/hr to do it. If any of this resonated, come check it out.

Lawnmower won't start? Weedeater lacking power? Hedgetrimmer jamming up? Ask 'The Neighbour's Garage' for the answer and all the DIY tips and tricks to get your tools working to their potential.