Okay, my car can often become a hoard of stuff I think I need but here are the 8 maybe unusual items I keep in the car, and why.
- Hair Ties
- A blanket
- Bungee cords
- An ice chest
- Tampons
- Water bottles
- Cash
- Toilet Paper
Let’s talk about it.
Hair Ties should be self-explanatory, not only do I sometimes need to tie my hair back, these are handy for bundling things together.
A blanket doesn’t take up much info when folded in the back of my SUV but on the occasions that I need to get on the ground or have an impromptu picnic it’s really handy to have.
Bungee cords are great for hauling things atop my car or securing a load for a friend’s truck. These are in the bottom of a canvas bag I keep in the car and take up very little space.
An Ice chest does take up more space so I remove it if I’m planning to buy bulkier items. Otherwise it stays on the floor of the truck and means I can easily keep groceries out of the sun and cool driving home.
Even if you’re not a lady who menstruates, throw in some Tampons and pads so they can be easily shared to someone in need.
While I don’t like using plastic Water Bottles, I do keep a half dozen in the back of my car for emergencies. Recently I had to remove a loose piece of plastic from my wheel well and my hands were gross. The baby wipes and water bottle cleaned me up quickly.
If you don’t have Cash in your car, get a $20 and toss it in your glove box or another spot for storing sunglasses, coins or CDs. In the case that you need to get gas in a rural town or your debit card is lost on the road, you’ll have some cash. I would recommend having enough to fill the tank but $20 is a start. You may also want a roll of quarters for parking meters if that’s relevant to you.
Finally, Toilet Paper. We all learned a lesson during the pandemic that toilet paper is a necessity. I have a single roll in that canvas bag in my car (in a ziplock bag) just in case I get caught without. Go to enough state parks, public restrooms or hikes and you’ll know good facilities are not always guaranteed. This falls under the category of: I’d rather have it and never use it than need it and curse myself for not having it.
Other more basic items I keep in the car are jumper cables, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, an umbrella, a cell phone holder, cell phone charger, quart of oil, a few basic tools like screwdrivers, pair of scissors, hand warmers, and a snow brush for the winter.
What did I miss? What weird thing do you have in your car?
Every Little Step 