My most recent cordless drill, from Sears, holds up quite well under occasional usage. I am a heavy duty occasional user - I think I got it out about four times in 2010. It is worth having more than one means of drilling at hand, though. Don't forget the original cordless drill - any of several crank or ratchet driven hand powered units. Those are really handy - more convenient and quicker than anything electrically powered for the odd hole

.We should not forget that a powered drill, cordless or not, can do much more with the right attachments. It is a really versatile tool, although my wife will not let me scramble eggs with mine.

I have acreage, horses, dogs and fences to contain them---so cordless is a must have for me. I’ve actually had good results with batteries lasting a long time. I do try to make it a habit to remove the battery before putting the tool away.

Yep, a corded drill is fine for occasional use in the house and within 100' extension cord distance from a wall outlet. Is a 100' extension cord a tool? If you buy a corded drill make sure you buy the 100' accessory.

My cordless batteries (DeWalt 18v) go back on their chargers when not in use. Two ready to go when needed!

I've noticed the price of XRP batteries starting to drop now as the LiIon batteries become more mainstream. I've seen them under $100 a pair now online vs. ~$120 at your bigbox stores.

The things that get used most often in our house, by me are:

-flashlight
-screwdrivers, with various heads
-wrench and vice grips
-hammer
-various nails and screws
-duct tape and electrical tape

It's not much but I can open stuff to change batteries, fix stuff by banging or screwing it back together, and hang stuff.

My husnad is much more handy than I am, so he's got a huge array of tools nad gadgets. It all depends on your skill and interest level. I'd rather call a specialist like an electrician or plumber when things go really wrong.

My most used home handyman tools (concrete building apartment, in no particular order), which I'm considering minimal.

• Safety glasses (must have!)
  
• Compact hammer drill (corded, variable speed) + bits
  
• Ryoba saw - amazing performance on wood/plastic
  
• Hot glue gun + glue sticks
  
• Combination square (with bubble level and steel ruler).
  
• Utility knife + blades
  
• Hammer (good to have 2 - one with rubber/plastic head)
  
• Cordless screwdriver + screw/nut bits (compact, not drill like, but powerful) can be used without a battery too.
  
• Portable worklight (DIY, 110V/12V)
  
• Pliers (2 pair minimum, large and small)

Supplies always at hands

• Box of Fix All
  
• Duct tape/Electrical tape
  
• Assorted screws, nails, washers, and bolts and nuts.
  
• Assorted sandpaper
  
• Stiff steel wire
  
• Soft electrical wire
  
• Pieces of 2x4 wood (~ 4 ft long)
  
• Pieces of plywood (~ 4 sq.ft)

Notes

• I'm using my soldering iron quite often too, but that's if you are good enough with electronics (eg wiling to fix a torn charger cord). Add a multimeter then.
• For my many hobbies the Dremel tool +attachments is a fantastic do it all tool, but it's probably have an unjustified price tag (especially with all bits and attachments). Add wise grips.
• If you are into basic plumbing you might have to consider some specific tools (most notably large wrenches and sealing supplies). Ah, I see it was covered above.
• As mentioned above a good long extension cord is very handy. Just don't be fooled by Christmas lights cords.

You can never have too many tools. This from a guy who has specialty tools that most don't. Like a tool to remove the element from your water heater. Used it twice, well really once once both elements, may never use it again, but ya never know.

Unlike kitchen tools and survival items - never have a one trick pony - I have some tools that are made to do one thing, but do it well - like a basin wrench.

I have 5 or 6 hammers, one rubber mallet, 2 FUBARs, a socket set, screwdrivers galore, levels, speed squares, pencils, saws, wrenches both sae and metric, and much more. Those are just the hand tools. I also have 6 or 8 books on repairing stuff.

If something breaks on a weekend and I can cobble it back together to last til Monday, at least I saved a weekend service charge.

What do I use the most? The internet when I am doing something for the first time.

Guess working in the hardware section at Homeless Depot was good for the garage tool area.

IMO, having just basics you should be able to improvise many other tools or simply have the job done, perhaps in a hard way, but done for sure. In fact, that's what ETS is all about, and that's what the subject of this particular topic expects from us I believe.

A few box's of large framing nails. Never know when you need to board stuff up.