How Do You Spot Early Signs of Wear and Tear?

I've had my current car for a few years now, and she's been pretty good to me, you know? But lately I've started noticing little things here and there—like a weird creaking when I turn the wheel sharply, or the brakes feeling kinda soft sometimes. Nothing major yet, but I figure these might be early warning signs that something bigger could be coming up.

I'm not super mechanically inclined, but I'd rather catch things early before they turn into an expensive disaster down the road (pun intended, haha). What stuff do you usually look out for? Any subtle signs or symptoms your car gives off that you've learned to pay attention to through experience? I'm thinking noises, vibrations, weird smells... whatever. I'm all ears.