Best approach to buying tools?

Buy what you can afford, what feels good in your hand........it don't mean s**t if the tool is Craftsman, Snap-On, Mac, etc and it is uncomfortable to use because then you won't. I have a very wide range of tool makers products; Craftsman, S-K, Thorsen, Mac, Snap-On, Lisle, Husky (old and new) Proto, Bonney, Armstrong, you get the picture and some of this I've had for 50 years.

CL, estate sales, flea markets, garage sales are the places to shop....I got my favorite 1/4 inch drive S-K ratchet at a garage sale for $5.00, I use it ALOT!

As already stated good tool storage is important, not so much to guard against theft as to hold what you put into it, drawers that open and close well; roller ball bearing glides are the best, though simple slides that are clean with a light grease lubrication work well also.

A thing about warranties.........Some (not all) Mac and Snap-On drivers are not real happy with doing warranty exchanges with people who are not weekly customers as they aren't making any money on the deal. Just something to think about.

For pliers, you can't go wrong with Channel Lock products, don't cut a corner there.

Good luck!