Make life a little easier with this list of practical things to keep in your car! They’ll help you be prepared for both emergencies and the little everyday needs. A post that every mom should read!
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I’m a big believer that it’s often the little things that make life a bit easier and happier. For me, one of those “little things” is to keep our car stocked with a few practical items- some that help us stave off emergencies and some that are just really convenient. I don’t know about you, but I find being prepared gives me such a satisfying feeling!
10 Practical Things to Keep in Your Car to Make Life Easier
1. Trash Can with Plastic Liner
One of my best tips for not having a messy car is to have a designated spot for all trash. Our classy solution for a car trashcan is….(((drum roll)))…a simple ice cream bucket! Okay, so maybe it’s not classy, but it works amazingly well!
And we actually go a step further and line it with a plastic disposable shopping bag. (It adds to the classy look.) It not only keeps the bucket from quickly getting gross inside, but it also makes it super easy to empty the trash once it’s full.
Added bonus: If someone gets sick on their stomach while you’re traveling, the trash can comes in handy for other uses too, if you get what I’m saying.
2. Tissues
Runny nose? Check. Spider crawling across your dashboard that needs to be squashed now? Check. A child that picked their nose? Check.
Yup, keeping tissues in your vehicle is one of those things that just makes life a little easier.
3. Lip Balm and Lotion
I doubt that we’re the only ones who get in the car and soon realize that we’re in desperate need of lip balm (this classic is our favorite) or hand lotion (we love this hand lotion because it stays on even after washing and a little bit goes a long way, so it last forever!).
We finally got smart and just started keeping both things in there at all times. It actually ends up being a time saver too because it means there’s one less thing to do before leaving the house!
4. Pen (and paper)
Keeping a pen in your car just makes sense because you end up needing one so often. And while I think it’s a smart idea to keep paper with it, in reality, most of the time we forget to keep that stocked. (That’s another time tissues come in handy.)
But if you are more on top of things than us, then go ahead and keep some paper with your pen to be even more prepared! And if you really want to get serious about things, this car note pad would be awesome! 🙂
5. Spare Change
If you live in or near a city, keeping a small container full of change in your car is super helpful. There’s nothing worse than finding a parking spot only to realize that you don’t have anything to feed the meter!
It comes in handy other times, too. Like when you need a quarter for a cart at Aldi or run out of gas and realize that both you and your husband forgot your wallets. (Yes, we actually once bought half a gallon of gas with all change.) It’s actually surprising how often it comes in handy!
6. Snacks
My favorite car snacks are easy things like granola bars or nuts since they are not only filling but nutritious as well. (These are my favorite granola bars for the car since they don’t have any chocolate in them, which obviously gets quite messy in the summer!)
7. Band-aids
After having our kids get hurt numerous times while we were away from home without any band-aids nearby, we finally got smart and just started keeping some in our car’s glove box. If only all of life’s problems were this easy to solve!
8. Wipes
I don’t always keep these in our car, but they do show up a lot just because they are so super handy to have around. Wipes clean up grubby kids’ hands like nothing else, get spots out of clothing most of the time, wipe up spills nicely and so much more.
I can’t even begin to tell you all the things that I’ve used them for! If you are wanting to stay organized, these wipes that fit in your car’s cup holder sure help.
9. Extra Diapers
Obviously, this one only applies to those of you that are parents, but I just added these to our vehicle must-have list this year after getting into some not-so-fun situations where we discovered we didn’t have any diapers with us. I have no idea why it took me until child #3 to think of doing this!
10. Battery Starter
This little battery jump starter is such a lifesaver and it’s so much easier than trying to find another car to give your battery a jump when it goes dead. And the great thing is that it also doubles up as a flashlight and a power bank too!
Sara
Umbrellas, emergency rain ponchos, ice scraper, reusable grocery bags, hair brush/comb, tooth brush and paste, hair bands, first aid kit, spare socks (I’ve had to buy socks at kids jumping/activity places), picnic blanket in season, dog leash and folding bowl, balls for dogs and kids and waste disposal bags, reading or activity books, phone charger. Periodically my husband takes stuff out without telling me and confuses me. I modify the list for the season.
ThriftyFrugalMom
Wow, you are one prepared lady, Sara! I bet you’ve saved yourself headache on many occasion. And I had to chuckle at your comment about your husband removing stuff and confusing you. It happens here from time to time, too! 🙂
Brenda
I have all of these, I have used the “baby” wipes so many times, that I would be lost without them. There is one more thing I keep in the hatch back. Plastic crate I got from the dollar store. Love it! I use it to put my eggs, bread or buns in it when grocery shopping. Other times I’ll put smaller things in it so they don’t roll around, toys, ect.
ThriftyFrugalMom
We use baby wipes so much around here for non-baby things that I know once we no longer need them for diaper changing that I’ll still be buying them! And I love the plastic crate idea. It would come in handy for a variety of things!
Emily
Great list. The most important: a designated spot for trash! This keeps the car much cleaner and more manageable!
ThriftyFrugalMom
Both my husband and I can’t stand messy vehicles, so our trash bucket gets a lot of use!
Denise
We also keep a spare dog leash in the car. Also a blanket because that can be used for many, many things.
ThriftyFrugalMom
I can totally see how the dog leash would be super handy if you have pets. Great idea! And I keep thinking that I should toss one of our extra blankets in the back of the van and just never get it done.
Monica
Reusable grocery bags. The only way for me to remember to use them is to keep them in the trunk, along with an umbrella. Also, they don’t clutter up our entry way or get tossed around in the house if they are kept in the car.
I like number five. 🙂 I have a special place where I keep my Aldi quarter so it doesn’t get spent elsewhere. Also, I really need to get back to number 7. Good list!
ThriftyFrugalMom
Hadn’t thought of keeping my grocery bags in the car. I finally starting keeping them in my “shopping purse” because I got so tired of forgetting them! And such a smart idea to have an umbrella handy. We have plenty and I think I really should just add one to our van.
And #7 is a continual struggle for me. Because too often when we use up the snacks, I forget to replenish them! And as one of those people that needs to eat when they get hungry (I get shaky really fast), having snacks handy is a must!
Julia
All of the above:) plus bottled water and a couple empty grocery bags.
ThriftyFrugalMom
Oh, the bottled water is smart! Curious what you use the empty grocery bags for? I guess though, now that I’m thinking about it, they’d have quite a few uses, really.