I'm not a DIY expert, but I have lived by myself for a long time, and I got to a point where I wanted to do things myself rather than having to ask people all the time. I wasn't very practical when I was younger, but now love the feeling of achievement when I can see something I've done.
My "best buys" include a set of shelves, cheap to start with and reduced because of a scratch or something, and cost about £8, and a tin of varnish/wood stain that had been dented and cost about £3. When I'd screwed the shelves together I varnished them, and they look pretty good.
I channel my DIY interests into the garden or cooking at the moment, and combine them by growing vegetables