Helpful? Information: Get Haynes manual, lose Haynes manual, buy another Haynes manual, throw it in the corner in disgust. Download and print out parts book and workshop manuals from links above. Get stuck anyway, ask here and hope JamesMartin is around!
It WILL break down - get AA/RAC/whatever cover, buy a set of AF and metric spanners, sockets, breaker bar, GOOD jackS, more spanners and sockets for when you need two the same to complete a job, a mig welder, a press drill, a garage, overalls, impact driver, angle grinder, small hammer, medium hammer, lump hammer, strong mate and a big hammer, copper faced hammer.
Change battery its probably knackered, if you leave it parked up get a trickle charger or your new battery will be knackered, at least disconnect battery if its left for a while.
Check/change fluids regularly, not just oil and water: diffs, steering box, steering relay, gearbox, transfer box, overdrive, swivel balls, washer fluid, brake fluid, clutch fluid, oil in air filter....
Grease/oil all the things that need greasing (not limited to): Steering joints, propshaft joints, road springs, hinges, etc
Check chassis for holes, cracks, missing bits. clean chassis regularly mud build up will eat it.
Adjust tappets regularly, then get sick of adjusting tappets regularly.
It will probably leak oil from somewhere. Park on your Grandmother's immaculate drive to find out where leaks are coming from. Blame bin men, delivery bloke, osama bin laden...
Things to keep in car/under passenger seat: spanners, sockets, jack, breaker bar, wheel nut socket, hi-vis vests, warning triangle, starter handle, screwdrivers, pliers, side cutters, a whole ****-load of tie-wraps, fuel hose, brake fluid, water, comfy deck chair to sit on while waiting for AA/RAC/whoever, trangia and tea to brew up while waiting for AA man, spare fuses, spare bulbs, boiler suit, selection of hammers, some gasket sealer, some more gasket sealer, araldite, spare hammer
Seriously, if you can't afford to pay for garages to fix everything then its worth maintaining yourself but be prepared for it to take over your life!
Don't be put off by being made to look a twot for your first (quite daft) post. Let us know what you actually have. Some pictures and some sensible questions. Before asking a question search as best you can. It can be quite difficult at first as you won't know the names of the things you're looking at so get a decent digital camera (not expensive) and learn to use the macro function for close up work!
If you don't have limitless cash or like getting your hands dirty though I'd get rid and get something easier...