There is nothing quite as satisfying as cleaning out your car, especially if you like to collect weird things in it or have kids that make a bit of a mess. Having a clean car can be nice, but we tend to remove all of the things from the car that we are used to having. For me, I always had a spare pair of flip flops in my car that would occasionally get removed when I cleaned it, only to need them several days later. When it comes to keeping things in your car, you might be surprised to find that there are a few things that are pretty helpful to have. 

Writing on the go

For some reason, I can never find a pen in my car when I need it. It sounds like an odd thing to keep in your glove box or center console, but having a pen around can be pretty handy. Even better, they are so small that they barely take up any space at all. Whether you need to jot down a few quick notes or make a quick stop at the bank drive-thru, it’s always better to have a pen around than to not. 

A little handier

My favorite suggestion for what every person should have is a battery jumper starter. I’ve found multiple ones an Amazon that are well worth their weight in gold, and they can be well under $100 even for a good quality one. Jumper starters are different from jumper cables because they don’t require another car. This can be helpful in so many scenarios, from being stuck in a parking lot by yourself to traveling. Many jump starters also have USB plugs so you can charge your phone in case of an emergency. 

On a lighter note

This one seems pretty obvious, but a quick search through your glovebox will probably make you feel a little silly for missing out on this one. A flashlight is one of the handiest tools you can keep around. In a day and age where we use our phone flashlights for just about everything, it’s easy to forget to pack a flashlight. From compact to larger, a flashlight can be incredibly handy in an emergency. 

Breaking the ice

As a native-born Floridian, I never really considered what tools people in the North needed to get through the winter. To my surprise in my first winter in Maine, everyone seemed to have a small metal tool hidden in their glove box. They are window-breakers, and you can find them as solo objects or on the back of some pocket knives. I guess this would come in handy in Florida too if you ever accidentally drove into the swamp and needed to break your window to get out, but it can be helpful in many other scenarios as well. 

There are so many handy things to keep in your glove box in case of emergency that the list is virtually endless. While there are some more obvious items you can find, you’d be surprised with how many are forgotten. Of course, while we don’t like to clutter our cars, as my mother would always say, it’s better to have it and not need it, rather than need it and not have it.