What to Keep In Your Car

I just bought my first car!! Well...my fiancé is playing "Bank" for me, but it's MY car! So excited to actually get my hands on it- it's a little purple Cobalt LS...it needs some TLC (ie: a good trip through a car wash and a serious vacuum!) but we got a great deal on it so I'm a happy camper!! I can finally get to work!!

Now...since I have to wait three days to actually get my hands on my new darling I've started to think about things I'm going to need in my car- y'know...having never owned a car before it never occurred to me that those many handy things kept in a car GOT there somehow (my mother!). So I've compiled a list of "must haves" and "good to haves" to keep in you car...not only for my benefit, but for anyone else!

MUST HAVES:
-A garbage recepticle of some kind. It doesn't matter if you don't make a habit of eating in your car- there's always junk to get rid of. You can get ones that look like mini versions of those pop-up nylon hampers, but they've got a piece of Velcro on the bottom to stick it to your car's carpet. I'm going to keep mine on the floor between the seats in the back- easy access for everybody.

- Napkins and wetnaps. You ALWAYS have sticky fingers, or need to sneeze or SOMETHING. I think keeping a kleenex box in your car is dumb because it always ends up smooshed. Next time you're at Wendy's or A&W just grab a fistful of napkins and keep them in a ziplock in your glove compartment- problem solved. Drug stores also sell those individual wet naps for like a buck a box of 600.

- Cellphone charger. Because the last thing you want is to end up in a ditch and realise your cellphone is dead.

- Windshield scraper/brush. In the summer it's not such a consideration, but in the winter you're up a creek if you don't have one of these handy. Get a good long one with a big grip on it and just keep it on the floor in the back seat. If it gets stepped on it'll be fine.

- A thick blanket. My grandmother always had one of these in her car- you know those thick plaid wool blankets. I have no idea where one might procure one of these today, but next time I go home I intend to ask my grandfather for one out of his cedar closet. If you get stranded in the cold it'll be your best friend. Keep in your trunk.

- Traffic accident forms, proof of insurance, registration, and a photocopy of your Drivers License. Put in a google search and you'll find loads of accident forms. It's just a simple form that has room for all the major questions you should ask in the event of an accident. Hopefully you'll never need one- but if you DO it's very likely that in the heat of the moment you'll forget to ask important questions. This way you just work your way through the form. Your proof of insurance, and registration you ought to have in your glove box at all times anyways- get one of those little wallet-sized bi-fold card holders and stick them in there so they're handy. A photocopy of your Drivers License (front and back) is just handy to have. Say you lose your wallet and get pulled over? Or for some reason you haven't got photo ID on you? It's just prudent.

- A basic first aid kit. You can either get one at the Drug Store for fairly cheap- or just put together a simple one yourself. Either way make sure you have bandaids, Advil and any other pain medications you use, pads and tampons, medical tape, lip balm, and a few granola bars. Keep this under the passengers side seat.

- Plastic bags. I don't know about you- but I have an over abundance of these things! Take one and stuff it to the gills with more, tie the first one up and throw it in your trunk. Barf bags, wet clothing bags, shopping bags, impromptu boot liners in winter, even turn them inside out and let people sit on them if they're wet. SO useful, and they don't cost anything.

NICE TO HAVE:

- A pencil and paper. Put them in your glovebox. Whether you use it to come up with a bright idea, write down directions, make a grocery list or even if it just sits there- it's very useful.

- A small toolkit. You know- the basics. A multi head screwdriver, a basic wrench, a reflective jacket, and a car jumper. I saw one last week at Canadian Tire that came in a cute little pink tote for 50$ and included everything you'd ever need PLUS a rechargeable car jumper you charge at home. Good thing to keep in your trunk.

-A flashlight. Get one of those hand-crankable ones that have an LED bulb and you'll never have to remember to change the batteries, nor will you risk them being dead.

- Water. Now I know they say not to keep bottled water in your car- so I'll be filling up one of those massive aluminum water bottles and sticking it in my back seat. Ever been in traffic and just DIEING for something to drink? Even if it's warm you'll appreciate it! Plus if you're ever stranded you'll be fine.

-20$ in cash. Stash it somewhere in your car and forget about it. If you're ever in a jam, it'll be there- even if that jam is just " I have no lunch money". BUT- make sure if you spend it to put it back at the next opportunity. You'll kick yourself if you spent it on lunch and then need it for gas.

- A card of brand new hair elastics and bobbypins, and a travel size of hairspray. This is so frivolous but just wait till you're rushing to a meeting and realise your hair has decided to imitate Medusa's fetching snakes. I have one "emergency" hairstyle that is quick, easy, and requires just these few tools. While you're at it- maybe throw in a comb.

- Breath mints. Same reason as the last one, only it's for onion breath. Sucking on something also helps sooth you in event of a stressful situation (ie: getting cut off or being stuck in traffic).

- Grocery totes. In contrast to the plastic grocery bags you're using for just about everything but toting food- these are in reference to those reusable ones you probably have 900 of. Stuff them all inside eachother and stick them in the trunk, so next time you decide to hit up Sobeys on the way home, you can without worrying. Just remember when you take them out to shop to stick them by the door and put them back next time you go out so they're always there.

Well now it's late and so I'm off to bed. I might add more to this later as I go about my new-car experience!