A great deal of men and some women have a set of tools in the garage to either take care of maintenance or to get the pleasure of a "Do it Yourself" project. Obviously the more complicated you want to make your DIY, the more sophisticated your tools will be.
Along with many other imported items trade tools coming in from China in particular are very cheap and although they may not stand up to the rigors of a professional using them day after day, to the home handyman they are a godsend. They are unbelievably cheap.
Cordless Drill Driver
In order to make something like a hexagonal or octagonal picnic table you will usually find a list of what is required in the picnic table plans provided. It would probably include the following.
1) Electric circular saw. (Skillsaw)
2) A power compound miter saw,which will make the project quicker easier and more accurate.
3) A drill and hole saw to make the hole for the umbrella.
4) Hammer. (And / or a gas nail gun for framing.)
5) Tape measure. Nail punch. Small hand plane. Adjustable square. Pencil.
Six foot (2m) Straight edge. (Just a piece of straight lumber will do.)
You also require some safety equipment like ear muffs for the noise of the saw, safety glasses to prevent chips in the eyes.
As you get into more elaborate projects you may require other simple cheap tools like a level, router, jig saw, electric plane, biscuit machine and bench saw and plane.
Start off small and as your skill builds so too will your appetite for more equipment.
The biggest thing to remember is to say to yourself, "How much use am I going to get out of this piece of machinery."