oh my gosh claire!!! You are prepared! I will keep up with this thread and then stock my car - only to have Scott empty it all out...:-( But great ideas!

I have a bag of almonds for times when I need something to eat. My purse holds the corkscrew...

I also have a tool kit. That's about it for essentials!

Well Stacy, I forgot to mention I also have a couple of sporks, and keep a small canape knife on hand. (I'm feeling like I'm a little weird though.) Like you, I also keep almonds sometimes, although mostly in the form of Almond M&M's!

I keep a cooler in the car during the warm months. Can't say I keep much else, well, napkins and tissues count I guess.

For Roxie I keep a spare extender leash, water bowl and water and usually a bag of treats.

Nancy

I have my handy dandy Swiss Army knife that I've had for 20 years. Sure saves a lot of room in my car console. That knife has everything that I'll ever need for food or wine (even has a toothpick if I felt like I needed it). I also keep a cooler for foods to stay cool in the summer months. I also keep a pair of full size scissors, in the console, for those plastic bags of foods that I can't open with my hands.

Please don't ask about safety equipment in a car...I have really gone overboard;-)

Well, since you asked me not to...what safety equipment do you keep? (I'll confess I think I may have gone overboard myself, and I'm adding that aspect as well!) That big reflector ''emergency'' triangle I got takes up more space than I anticipated! ;)

I have reuseable shopping bags. That's it.

Unless of course I am in the car and have my purse....then I have a corkscrew, too! LOL

Linda

You are really prepared Claire. I only keep a pepper grinder and a corkscrew in my purse.

Ann

Whoa! I not prepared at all compared to your list.
Salt and pepper
Wet wipes
Cooler
Food related magazines
List of addresses of foodie places to explore (e.g. Jungle Jim's in Fairfield; Trader Joe's in Roswell; Penzey's in Jacksonville, etc.)

Well, there's a lot to be said for traveling light! I seem to want to take everything but the kitchen sink, and I could probably find a way to do that if the need arose. I won't talk about the small bottle of dishsoap and bottle brush I keep in my cooler, but that's for long roadtrips! You all are making me feel like an overachiever, if only for slicing pastries or fruit while I'm on the road, and pouring a bit of something bubbly....

I have a box of Kleenex.

Stacy: how about if you get a small cardboard box of feminine pads/tampons and empty it out, replacing the contents with any of the above items - or bury the 'kitchen' stuff under a few pads in case it gets opened - tell DH you need the box of 'umnentionables' just in case...

I dont keep food but i do keep a cooler and individual snack bags ,case of water,powdered ice tea and paperplates and cups...this is mainly for inpromptu trips to the beach with a family of six...Always have extra bag of sweatshirts and towels sunblock and beach chairs with umbrella.

LOL Jessy - leave it to you - he surely wouldn't check in there!

I also have hand sanitizer.

Food / eating-related items? Other than crumbs, I have some travel wet wipes and things that collected in the car from takeout like coffee stirrers, salt and sugar packets, lots of napkins. I used to keep a cooler in the car but somehow it got moved back to the garage. I have a bunch of plastic bags that need to go to the recycle bin at the grocery store.

I have a battery charger wire thing, and two sun shields that I never use. The best thing I keep in my car and use frequently is the phone book. I wish I had thought to do that long ago.

There is a small fleece blanket that I use to cover the seats when moving plants. I also have a collection of items to be returned. Got to get to that one of these days.

Oh --- cell phone charger and extra glasses. Some seashells from the beach in Cape Cod.

I have napkins, kleenex, a couple of blankets, a few hats and a couple of umbrellas.

You know, at one time I had a plastic bin stocked with snacks, plastic forks & cups, and I don't know, a bunch of other stuff. But I found I never used any of it. So I just stopped carrying it all.

Well, I have most of what you've all mentioned. (I simply didn't mention it because it would have made my list too long!) That said, I don't want to carry a lot of stuff unless I'm going to use it, or might need to in the case of the ''emergency'' supplies.

Dedtired, we used to keep the phone book in our car, until the print got so small I couldn't read it any more! Last year, I spent a serious amount of time putting my Address List with phone numbers and business hours together in Microsoft Word. (In a font large enough to read without glasses.) I printed the list out for each of our vehicles and can't tell you how many times a week I refer to it. (The business hours alone have saved me more times than I can mention.) I just updated it today, as it seems there's always some kind of adjustment to make. There's a single page up front for the Emergency Vet and where they're located, since I did need that once when our dog got hit. Friends, family and neighbors are all in blue font, and businesses are in black; other pertinent information is in other colors, like family member names, anniversaries and birthdays. If I need to know where a restaurant or business is, it's right there in my list. It's probably the most important item I keep in my car, and the most often used.

Should I mention I keep a wide shallow pail with a roll of TP inside? Stashed among my emergency supplies of course!

Like RR, I have a Swiss Army knife, well, it's a cheapie knock off brand but it's been in the glove box of my last five vehicles and it's very handy.

I always have a box of kleenex, but it's usually smashed and walked on, seldom used. A bottle of tums and hair clips and rubber ties to get my hair up when I take the top off the Jeep. A Michigan county atlas, in case I'm off exploring and get lost. Elery has the TomTom, I just hate that blasted thing, he can have it. I just want to scream at it to shut up most of the time.

A cooler in the summer because even if I buy milk in Big Rapids, it's a 30 mile drive home. Wet wipes for the kids and a can of hair spray for Ashley.

Oh, and my plastic folder full of grocery coupons, because you never know when I might find a bargain! (grin)

Annie

Instead of phone books ... navigation. Print is a lot bigger! I keep hand wipes, reusable grocery bag and that's about it. We don't do picnics and travel is always planned, except during hurricane season. Note to self: add insulated bag to car--that good butcher shop isn't close, and the weather is hot!

I keep absolutely nothing in my car, since it is open at the back (even all winter) and is always accessible. I know people have gone through my car at night also because they will sometimes leave the ashtray open. In my shoulder bag (or man purse, if you prefer), I carry toothpicks, wetnaps, and a small pocket knife. Once I got on a plane with the pocket knife because I had forgotten it was in there, and the airport screening didn't find it. I now remember to remove it.

Lars

Well I dont keep food in the car because it's just too hot.

I do keep my beach chair and a towel in there though. And an insulated bag for my trips to Costco, some napkins in the glove compartment. I have a few fragrance sprays in the little console and a tiny bottle of Febreeze. Oh I think there is a tire gauge pressure thingie in the glove compartment too. And the owners manual. I keep my Bed Bath & Beyond coupons in the side of my door. Ya never know when you need those and they never expire!

I'm boring and evidently not prepared!

High powered pen sized LED flashlight, Gerber multi-tool, salt, pepper, napkins, extra meds, calcium tablets, $3-4 in quarters, winter coat, bungee cords, jug of anti-freeze, cell phone, and a CPR kit. Try to keep $10-20 cash stashed. I live on a plastic card but sometimes cash is needed. I never thought much of a flashlight until I came across a late night wreck in a dark deserted spot on the road... then it was simply priceless.

: )
lyra

Wow, Claire, is there room for you in your car? lol

I have one of those emergency things to air up your tires, complete with flashlight and blinking red light. It plugs into the power outlet of the car. It's nice to have even for home use because most of the gas stations now charge for airing up your tires. I also have a smallish flashlight, kleenex, napkins, and a trash can that's worthless because it keeps falling over (it was in the car when I bought it). I don't know why I keep it in there but I do. Oh, and shopping bags. I have a hat and a jug of water in the car, and in the winter I keep a coat in the car.

I've learned what not to keep, and that's a tube of hand cream. I reached for it the other day, and it had totally liquified and separated. Clear liquid gunk squirted all over my hands and my lap the other day when I tried to use it. Note to self - it gets extremely hot in the car in the summer. Lyra, you might think about how the heat in your car affects your meds.

Sally

Ditto on any meds in temperature extremes! I keep the tire gauge (for DH), a high power small flashlight, pen, kleenex, wipes, multiple reusable market bags, an insulated bag, a light jacket, car seats and toys and a diaper for the Grands, assorted papers, Altoids cinnamon gum,scratch paper, BB&B coupons on the door, sunscreen, and a couple of hats.
Food? No, maybe a hard candy or two or a package of something when I'm really on the road.

Our MINI came yesterday and I was able to move into it in about 10 minutes. The trick here was to keep everything...well, mini!

Sally, I can see why you might wonder if there's room for me in the car.

Compumom, I discovered Altoids Smalls, and always have my cinnamon gum and a lipstick as well.

Lyra, I do the same with a little bit of cash. I've needed it more times than I can recall.

Shaun, you sound prepared to me. I keep my coupons in the side of the door too. I was haven't a moment yesterday when it looked they might not fit!

Lars, it would absolutely creep me out to think people were going through my car. I think you're very wise to keep nothing in it.

Beachlily, I tried to use my navigation system yesterday, and see I have a little tweaking to do. Yes, it's more than worthy of finding real estate for.

Annie, I turned the volume off a long time ago. It's much easier to read the map than listen to instructions! Wet wipes rule, and if I could clip my hair up when it's hot, I think I'd suffocate. That's also why I always keep a hand-held fan in the side pocket!

Lowspark, I have a small blanket I can throw in, but think I'll wait until colder weather. I'm considering a yoga mat, or something I can sit on though, if the need arises. I found some 99 cent sun visors and threw in a couple. They would have come in very handy the last time I went to the dog park. I always have an umbrella too. It's one of those things, like emergency supplies, you don't need till you need it.

Dedtired, I often move plants myself, and put some garbage bags in the car to ''cover'' that necessity. I actually do use my sun shields, although I always try to find some shade if I can. I don't mind walking if the car stays cooler. I use to carry a cooler, but it was too big and bulky, so I downsized to insulated cooler bags. I actually use them for groceries, and they're much easier to store. I always carry an extra, charged battery in my purse for the cell phone, but a charger is a good idea. (I have one in a cable bag for my ''other'' vehicle.)

Stacy, hand sanitizer is a must. I think that with wet wipes covers the ''mess'' factor.

eileenlaunonen, I only wish I could prepare for trips to the beach! Ah well...it sounds like you have the essentials covered.

Jessy, that's a good idea. Sometimes we need to think ''outside the box'' when putting special items in a box!

Sharon, I love that you only carry a box of kleenex. With all my other items, I don't have room for a box! Lucky for me, they make tissues in very small packages.

Cathy, I love that you carry reading material. I may just have to borrow your idea. There are plenty of times I could have used something to read.

Ann, you have a good idea of what's important! Pepper and a corkscrew of course.

Linda, I have an assortment of reusable bags. Since I'm always digging into my bag (which is holding my bags of course), I couldn't leave home without them.

Riverrat, It's funny you mention scissors. I don't keep a full-size pair, but do have a child size pair I keep in the glove box. Sometimes nothing else will do! I wonder how much room I'd save by switching to a full size Swiss Army Knife?

Nancy, I always have spare leash too. I've also used it to hold things closed in the past (like a rope), so it's something that comes in handy.

I love your lists. Thanks for sharing them with me!

Jar of roasted peanuts.

This thread is so interesting :) My only food related item that is always in my car is a pack of gum.

Claire, can you please show me the kind of water bottle opener that you like to use? Thanks

Claire, what happens when you got to a parking lot? We've lost so many valuable (both monetary and useful) items in parking lots!
Over time a GPS, 2 leather coats, a cell phone and lots of flashlights. Now we keep less in there for them to steal, but if DH wants to throw in a leather jacket to be prepared for a cooler or spontaneous dinner out, we have a hard time remembering to remove it at the end of the night or to check and make sure that its still there after we claim our car.

compumom, I always have a market bag with me (reusable bags) so I throw anything I don't want to lose into one and take it with me. (Cash, GPS, flashlight, ipod, cell phone, cables, glasses, screwpull.) If I know I'm going to leave my car in a parking lot, I'll try to remove most stuff before I even leave the house. It's easy because I have everything in totes. It usually only means I need to remove a couple. If they really want my picnic knives and little cutting board (most from the $1 store), I don't have much invested. No one has ever tried to steal my address list, coupons, toothpicks or napkins! I'm so used to cleaning out my car, I can do it 60 seconds or less.

Woodie, I've picked up a couple of different types of openers. One is by Kuhn Rikon, called the Parrot. This opener suits my car needs, as I can open those screw top bottles with it. Another that is almost exactly the same is a Zyliss 5 in 1 bottle opener, which I also own (for the other car). I just don't have the strength in my hands any more, and if this helps me be more independent, I'm all about that.

Here is a link that might be useful: Zyliss 5 in 1

Thanks, Claire.

Ya! BB&B coupons. Quarters. I forgot those things!

I just bought a new car this weekend but don't pick it up till Sunday so I have all week to clean out my old car which I've had for TWELVE years. I'm thinking that I'm going to find all KINDS of stuff in the nooks & crannies that I'd forgotten I had. I'll report back if anything interesting pops up.

Just thinking about it now, I do also keep some CDs hidden away in there that I almost never listen to. LOL Plus hard candies that I might grab on the way out of a restaurant for later... and then never eat!

I keep 2-3 pairs of reading glasses and yes, a pair of scissors too. I have to admit the reason for the scissors is very specific. One of our favorite local Mexican restaurants prints a coupon every week in the local throw-away paper that is local to their area. Houston's pretty big and we're not in the delivery zone for that paper although we're really not that far from the restaurant.

The paper's office is very close to the eatery though, so we always swing by there and grab one from their dispenser (free) on the way to eat. Thus we need the scissors in the car - to cut out that coupon!

May, what'd you get? It's kind of fun isn't it? We're ''replacing'' a 13 year old truck, even though we can't quite let it go just yet.

The scissors are a very important item! I keep a small, elementary school pair of scissors in the car, and a pair by my bed too. It seems I'm always needing them to remove tags, cut off strings or open things. I downsized to one pair of reading glasses in the car, if I don't count the ones in my purse. (There is often crossover, I've found!) Love the coupon story...I can totally relate!

Always a cooler, both winter and summer, box of Kleenex, trash bags, Wet Ones wipes, umbrella, car seats for the grandaughters and my huge cup of iced tea which goes everywhere I go.

I keep a lot of random stuff in my car. . . the only foodie stuff is a little cooler for market and, if its not freezing or hot, a case of water. Although yesterday I kept a plate of lettuce that I had grabbed out of my community garden plot! The reusable bag, I have to keep in my purse. I am just not smart enough to remember to take it with me when I get out of the car. Luckily I found one that's really light and folds into a little rectangle. The list of cool food places is a good idea! Might save me from having to pull over and get out my iphone to see what kind of exciting food-related things are around me :-)

Reluctantly, I'm trading in my 12 year old Nissan Pathfinder (which I still LOVE) for a Toyota Rav 4. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited about the Rav 4, I think I'm going to love it too. But I've had my Pathfinder for 12 years and I'm sort of attached to it. Crazy huh? I guess you understand since you're still hanging on to your 13 yo truck! LOL

I'm only trading it in because it needs repairs which will cost about four times what the car is worth. Otherwise I could have driven that car for at least two or three more years.

I love driving an SUV but now that my kids are grown up I don't need as much space, so the Rav 4 is a bit smaller than the Pathfinder.

What car are you getting?

I can totally relate to being attached to your Pathfinder. I'm driving the Toyota version of that, and would also hate to give it up. I'm not so attached to the old truck, but it does come in handy once in a while and isn't costing us $ yet. I think you'll love your Rav 4; Toyota reliability can't be beat. (At least that's my experience so far.)

We bought a MINI Cooper, so it's quite a bit smaller than anything I've driven in years. I have to say, it fits me like a glove. It's the only thing we could conceivably squeeze into our 1948 home's two car garage, and still fit a mower, snowblower, lawn equipment, ladders, tools, etc. (We haven't given up doing our own work yet, which means we need room for all the equipment as well.)

I know you'll love having a new car. Please check back when you've had a few days together, and let us know how you like your new wheels!

We have a complete 3-day "go" bag in the car (food, water, emergency sleeping bags, socks, shoes, etc.), an additional bag with heavy jackets.
Plus....napkins and tissues, hand cream, phone book (very handy!!), reusable bags, flashlight, jumper cables, bungee cord for tying the trunk if necessary (yeah, like when I haul hay or 10 foot corrugated roofing in there. Dont' laugh. I did it), touch-up paint (figured I wouldn't lose it that way), notepads and pens, calculator, couple of music CD's, coupon book for local restaurants (we rarely eat out! LOL).
Ummmm....that's all I can think of right now, but I'm pretty sure there's more....

Deanna