I’m a city boy, born and raised, so I can’t dress a deer but I can dress for success.

I wouldn’t know what end of an ax to use for chopping firewood but I know which bodega has the best prices on Duraflame logs.

I haven’t been behind the wheel of a car since Ronald Reagan was President, but I can check the oil and change a tire on my wife’s family truckster.

Call them “man talents” or “guy basics” but every one of us blessed with a Y-chromosome (cursed if you believe some women) needs to master these 12 essential skills .

1. Shopping For Groceries

A cart full of Cap’n Crunch and Schlitz beer screams sad bachelor.

2. Cooking a Simple Meal

No one’s asking you to be Bobby Flay or Mario Batali but mastering the basics of a simple meal is crucial. Breakfast is fine but try something other than scrambling up some eggs.

3. Mixing a Drink

I’m a beer guy myself but learned early on that the art of grabbing a bartender’s attention is useful when at the club but in a more intimate setting, knowing what to do behind the bar earns you boucoup man cred.

4. Basic Car Maintenance

I’m not talking pit crew at the Indy 500. Letting others wipe your dipstick is just plain wrong.

4. Manage Your Money Wisely

Nobody (and I mean NOBODY) likes a broke-ass loser.

6. Writing a Letter

Whether it’s a business letter or a thank you note, learn how to string a few words together on paper. It’s called a “love letter” not a “love text”.

7. Communicating  Effectively

Knowing what to say and when to say it makes you appear confident and in charge.

8. Looking Good

Clean and neat is just fine. If you choose your outfits by sniffing something you grabbed from the pile by your bed, you’re doing it wrong.

9. Tying a Proper Tie Knot

I don’t care if everyone else is doing it. If you wear a suit, you wear a tie. ‘Nuff said.

10. Shining Your Shoes

Studies show that one of the first things a woman looks at when sizing up a guy is his shoes. The way you take care of your shoes speaks volumes to them about how you handle other critical details.

11. Tipping

It’s simple, 15% as a rule, 20% if the service was exceptional. Last thing you want to do is piss off the person responsible for handling your food.

12. A Basic Understanding of Sports

In baseball you score runs. In football it’s a touchdown. In soccer and hockey they’re called goals.

Here endeth the lesson.