A writer has revealed the steps she has taken to improve her DIY skills.
In a piece for the Daily Telegraph, Tal Gottesman reports that up until a few weeks ago, the thought of being asked how to change a washer would have seen her wonder "if you were speaking a foreign language".
However, after taking a home improvement course she states that she now knows the basics of plumbing systems and is able to locate her stopcock.
The "shining moment" of her newly-acquired DIY skills came as she was able to dismantle and then reassemble a tap.
She adds that although a career change may not be on the cards, she now feels "better equipped to deal with domestic plumbing issues".
Meanwhile, Alison Tyler pointed out in a recent Daily Mail article that since the start of the financial downturn, she is "loathe" to hire professional tradespeople to do jobs which could easily be done by taking the DIY approach.