Tomorrow is Saturday, so the odds are good I’ll end up at Home Depot at some point. There’s a gigantic storm heading our way, for one thing, and I need flashlights, batteries, candles and maybe a wet vac for when the power goes out, the sump pump quits and the basement becomes a shallow pond. But I don’t need the excuse of a national emergency to wander those big, beautiful aisles; I’m perfectly capable of creating emergencies of my very own.

That’s because I’m a DIY guy. And like a lot of DIY guys, I like to visit the Popular Mechanics website. It’s loaded with home improvement projects, DIY advice and other cool stuff. My current favorite item, though, is this smart guide to shopping at home centers. It’s what you need to know about everything from those combo tool packages (they can be a good deal) to in-store demos (worth checking out). So give it a read.

And don’t forget: measure twice, cut once.