Ever been stranded in your car? Ever got somewhere and realized you forgot to put on deodorant? Here's my list of 27+ things that will make you a little more prepared for life's emergencies.
Jumper Cables (& instructions/knowledge on how to use them!) You never know how important these are until you go through the experience of having your car die in a parking lot. Grab a pair at any large retailer like Walmart or Target. A decent set will run you less than $20 and might save your life/sanity one day. Mine have (thankfully) never been out of the box, but I keep them in the stow-away compartment in my trunk. I also keep this handy-dandy printable in my glove box.
A First-Aid Kit I can't tell you the number of times this has come in handy. I have this one- a pretty great kit with lots of frills and every kind of bandage you could ever want. It even comes with a mini first aid kit that you can keep up front in the glove box.
Ice Scraper (& other weather-related tools) Especially if your car spends a lot of time parked outside. Since I live in Alabama, I don't have to worry as much about ice and snow as someone who lives in Minnesota. Nevertheless, I keep an ice scraper in my glove box. Other weather essentials could include a shovel and a space blanket. AAA makes this great severe-weather road kit you could store instead.
Extra socks, gloves, hand warmers, and even a blanket. The gloves and socks have definitely come in handy, and the blanket isn't just good for weather emergencies, but can also be used for impromptu picnics, star watching, and other adventures.
A spare tire (& replacement accessories) This means a tire jack, a cross wrench, and a decent knowledge on how to replace a tire. I've never done this myself, but if you don't belong to a roadside assistance club like AAA, you probably need to do some research so you don't end up stranded somewhere with a flat tire.
Other Safety Essentials include a packable rain poncho, flashlights, duct tape, tire sealant, and a multi-tool. A more in-depth list of essentials can be found here.
A spare phone charger or external battery. It took multiple times of me ending up someplace with a dead phone to learn to keep a charger on me. Please learn from my mistakes.
Feminine Hygiene Products: I am constantly having to replace the stash I keep in my center console. I forget to bring "the stuff" with me all the time, and having extra supplies in my car is a life-saver. Even if you never use them, having a few pads/tampons kept around for other girls can definitely be beneficial.
Extra Underwear: Just trust me. Throw in some extra toilet paper in, too, while you're at it.
Hand Sanitizer/Hand Lotion/Deodorant/Wet Wipes/Tissues/Breath-mints: I use at least one of these things every day. I could not do life without them.
Food & Water: I go through bottled water like hotcakes, so I'm replacing what I've got. I also keep a few Luna bars and Slim Jims in my center console, just in case.
What else do you keep in your car? Leave a comment and let me know!
