Chase, I thought about this too, you shouldn't use your real name, when this thread dies down create a new user account.
Now look, I'm glad you are excited about DIY stuff but you don't know what you plan to do with your tools for sure yet, don't know what career you will end up in, when and where you will end up living, and you don't have much money for tools yet, so be patient. Read my first post in this discussion. Save some money and wait, the soon to be USA Craftsman stuff might appeal to you and a year or two isn't that far off. I'm 35, I work in IT and only built up my tool collection in the last two years. Since I don't use them for work I built up a great homeowner/DIY set with just about everything I might need with a mix of USA and China Craftsman, some Husky, Tekton, Irwin, Stanley, Pittsburgh, Ryobi, Skil, Delta, and even Black and Decker, amongst others. I'll upgrade to a few more USA hand tools and some better battery powered ones later (like when I finish my basement). The thing is, for what I do (around the house stuff, breaks, oil, plugs, and maintaining some classic cars) that mix of stuff works just fine. Might be all you need too, but you might also become a mechanic or tradesmen or something and then you will need a higher grade of tools. Around here there are lots of people who will rush to tell you what you "need" and how only SK, Snap-On, or Milwaukee will do, truth is you don't know what, or what quality level, you will need or when you will need it. My advice is, be patient, save up and figure it out as you go.
And, M6er, you're arguing with a kid about the search function, cut him some slack.
