How much stuff do you keep in your car?

[myrrh]

Reading the police confiscation thread got me thinking. What stuff do you keep in the car? How much would you be out if it was taken? They say removing weight from the car helps increase fuel efficiency. How often do you evaluate and get rid of stuff in the car?

As for my daily commuter, there's not a whole lot in there. (The "kid car" is worse.) My list:
a couple of pretty wooden keychains hung on the rearview mirror
a small tool case with jumper cables
a roll of paper towels and a bottle of windex
an extra tire from when I got a flat and had to replace two tires
two snow scrapers (I suppose I could get rid of one)
a duster and cleaning cloth
a jacket, hat, umbrella
misc papers - old gas receipts, tire receipts, insurance and registration info, car manual, an oil change coupon, some stuff I should really toss
a UPS that needs the battery replaced (sigh, been meaning to do this for months and still haven't gotten around to it)
sometimes in winter I'll put in a snow shovel in case we get a freak snowstorm at work and I feel the need to shovel myself out. 
I've thought about putting a flashlight, leatherman tool, and a blanket, not sure about the flashlight though. Maybe if I get another freebie I'll toss it in the glovebox instead of giving it to the kids to play with.

ok your turn!

[Deleted]

OMG.  I have no clue.  It's packed. 

Just the kid stuff.  A stroller, sweatshirts, DVDs, books, trombone, duffel bag for swimming, scout books/fundraising sheets/Class A and Class B uniforms, I think there's a LeapPad back there, and probably 3 or 4 thermoses or water bottles. 

In the back I have a portable battery pack, flashlight, blankets, a camp chair, the trailer hitch, a couple empty totes for grocery shopping at Sam's Club.

The usual glove compartment crap and the GPS, there's sunscreen, bug spray, wet wipes, kleenex, spare change (mostly a lot of pennies), chapstick, lotion, and a lot of coupons in the center console. 

I have no idea what's lurking in the compartment in the floor.  It used to be toys and books.  That I should clean out.

There's probably a lot more in there that I don't know about growing under the seats.

[muttleynfelix]

Everything but the kitchen sink.

4 t-shirts (2 of them with my company logo)
2 pairs of jeans
1 sports bra
3 sweatshirts
1 wind breaker
3 pairs of socks
a pair of work boots
a hard hat
my coveralls (somehow they spent the summer in my car, didn't really mean to)
1 "emergency kit" (includes jumper cables, and assorted other tools
1 ice scraper
charger for my phone/mp3 player
napkins
kleenex
some of the kids books for them to look at (as well as 2 car seats installed). 

I could probably get by with only the shirts that have my company logo and one fewer sweatshirt.  But it is nice to have 2 pairs of clothes in there. I often don't know when I have to go in the field for work and sometimes I have to go on back to back days and this way I make sure i have everything in my car. 

[yogiii]

I must be seriously unprepared.  I have a pen, umbrella, snow scraper, my work badge ... pretty sure that's it other than car seats.

[cael]

See at least you guys have useful things in your cars... I have things like my badge & placard for work, an umbrella, flashlights, snow brush/scraper/shovel (yes I keep a shovel in my car) etc. However... there's also so much junk in my trunk literally I couldn't even begin to list it all out for you my back seat doesn't look too bad right now, but usually it looks like I'm living out of it. I toss empty water bottles and trash back there then forget to clean the car out.... books and work papers accumulate, clothing accumulates. Oh, shoes, usually several pairs of shoes are hanging around. At least one if not two folders of music sometimes stay in the car for a few days. It's kind of awful. I'm not a highly organized person so unless I have to drive people around, I just don't care that much I guess.

[yogiii]

I hate clutter, so that's part of it. 

[Shooby]

Everything that doesn't fit into my purse. My van is just a big purse on wheels. Whatever I might need is in the van if it can't fit into my purse lol.

[cael]

Yeah... clutter is a part of life for me and I deal with it eventually when I reach a tipping point, but that doesn't happen super frequently.. so that's my problem.

[greeniis10]

Oct 9, 2014 13:52:28 GMT -5 yogiii said:

I hate clutter, so that's part of it. 

Me, too, which is why I toss everything in the backseat of my truck.  It's handy but I don't have to actually see it!

[Chocolate Lover]

I have stuff that needs to be dropped off for donation and other than that, I couldn't tell you. Umbrella and those kinds of things. 

So far, I see that Cael can come to my house and I'd need lots of warning for yogiii to visit.

[yogiii]

Oct 9, 2014 13:56:35 GMT -5 greeniis10 said:

Oct 9, 2014 13:52:28 GMT -5 yogiii said:

I hate clutter, so that's part of it. 

Me, too, which is why I toss everything in the backseat of my truck.  It's handy but I don't have to actually see it!

I can't handle that.  I'd still know it's there, that's enough to be annoying.  I'd need someone to erase my mind first.

[yogiii]

Oct 9, 2014 13:57:06 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

I have stuff that needs to be dropped off for donation and other than that, I couldn't tell you. Umbrella and those kinds of things. 

So far, I see that Cael can come to my house and I'd need lots of warning for yogiii to visit.

The clutter of others doesn't bother me Benedict, just my own!

[Chocolate Lover]

Oct 9, 2014 13:58:52 GMT -5 yogiii said:

Oct 9, 2014 13:57:06 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

I have stuff that needs to be dropped off for donation and other than that, I couldn't tell you. Umbrella and those kinds of things. 

So far, I see that Cael can come to my house and I'd need lots of warning for yogiii to visit.

The clutter of others doesn't bother me Benedict, just my own!

Whew! Good to know,  Michelle 

[mollyanna58]

I have CDs in the center console along with a few bucks (unless I spent it ),snow scrapers, Mapquest directions to several places, dog leashes, umbrella, shopping totes, key to storage unit, pens, coins for tolls, dog harness, dog seatbelts, mail that never made it into the house, 50' tape measure, styrofoam cups, plastic utensil sets, and right now, a dog bed.

When I buy a new car, I'm going to keep this one as the dogmobile.

[milee]

In the passenger compartment:

Maglite

Reuseable grocery bags

Trailering supplies (detachable license place, hookups, large wrench, etc.)

Sunglasses

Small bag with a change of clothes and toiletries for a shower

In the back storage area, though.... um.   Uh. There's a lot.   All my tools for working on and cleaning my boats, plus a life jacket, extra hat for the dock, extension cord, drill, hot rope cutter, orbital polisher, box of spare towels and rags and two different tow hitches (different boats need a different length, height of hitch and different size tow ball.)  And usually there's a spinnaker or some sails.  Here's a picture of it this afternoon after I took the sails out:

[milee]

So I guess about $2k worth of stuff?   And yeah, hauling around probably 50 pounds of supplies back there probably makes my gas mileage even more abysmal than standard, but this is all stuff I use every week.

Like I said in the thread about my purse being stolen out of my car - I was just very, very grateful that all they took was the purse (which had maybe $30 in it) and didn't steal the car or contents.

[Malarky]

Three water bottles. One coffee cup. Two jackets. Reusable bags. Sneakers and clothes for the gym.  Loaf of bread.  Sunscreen.  Bug spray. Stadium seat.  Two "football" blankets. Bottles to return to the packy.  Keys and cards to work.  My lunch bag.  Sunglasses.  Hair ties.  Ice scraper.  Maps.  Pens.  Parking change.  Sand, leaves and dust

That's just the stuff I can see.  I wonder what's in the glove box?

I think maybe I should go out and get my lunch bag and that loaf of bread...

[muttleynfelix]

Oct 9, 2014 13:52:28 GMT -5 yogiii said:

I hate clutter, so that's part of it. 

There is nothing cluttered about everything in my car. It is all neatly in a milkcrate in the trunk. Except for the kids's books. But even those are neatly in between the car seats (when DD isn't in the car).  DS keeps them neat if it is just him. If it is both of them, he decides to follow her example out of making a mess. 

[mollyanna58]

Oct 9, 2014 14:58:28 GMT -5 milee said:

So I guess about $2k worth of stuff?   And yeah, hauling around probably 50 pounds of supplies back there probably makes my gas mileage even more abysmal than standard, but this is all stuff I use every week.

Like I said in the thread about my purse being stolen out of my car - I was just very, very grateful that all they took was the purse (which had maybe $30 in it) and didn't steal the car or contents.

I'm impressed by how neat and organized it all is.

[swamp]

Blankets, jumper cables, electric tape, fridges, umbrellas, gloves, scraper, empty boxes, dolly , kids toys, water bottles, coat, cleats,

[bean29]

Water bottle.
Towel
Sunglasses
(Today I have my briefcase and laptop but I don't usually have them)
Umbrella
I think I have a snow scraper/brush
Hand cream
Change of clothes
reusable grocery bags

eta:
Keys to DD's car (DH left them in my car)  I took them out now- we tore the house apart last week looking for them.  I saw them in the door pocket when I got out of the car this am.
A bag of documents to be shredded (my city is collecting and shredding on Sat)
Some Burlap bags MIL sent to DH.  Not sure why.  Either DH needs to return to farm, or they have some other use in mind for them.
The DVD The fault in our Stars.  DD left it in my car last week when she was driving my car - I have a DVD player I have never used - maybe she used it.
I had two pairs of shoes and a pair of socks in my car.  I took them out tonight.
I have a belt in the bag with the receipt so I can return it on my lunch hour.

[billisonboard]

Let's just say if the police want to offer me a free trash pick-up day, who would I be to argue against it. 

[tskeeter]

A mechanical emergency kit:
    Duct tape
    Baling wire
    Adjustable wrench
    Vise grips
    Screw driver (one of the ones with interchangable phillips/standard bits)
    Cheap brown cotton gloves (keeps hands clean & protects them if you've got to handle something hot)

Snow brush/scraper
Jumper cables
In the minivan, tire chains (Living in the mountains with Californians who don't know how to drive in snow imposes some additional requirements.  The CHP and Cal Trans insist on protecting people who should have stayed home from themselves.  Chain up for two or three miles of 2 inches of slush?  Come on.)

In the glove box:
    Spare headlight bulb
    Spare tailight bulb
    Spare fuses

If I was going into a remote area, I'd add the appropriate summer/winter survival gear in case we had to spend a few days on our own.

[NastyWoman]

one of my 3 earthquake emergency kits (the other 2 are at work and at home) and that pretty much fills up my (tiny) trunk.

[msventoux]

Air freshener
A couple of pens
Small case that holds license, registration and a map
A Leatherman
A box of tissues
A small collapsible trash can
Some mints
An ice scraper
A couple of dog leashes
A ramp to get the old dog in and out
A cord to hook up and charge my phone
A spare gallon of windshield washer fluid

I used to have a full stuffed tote in there that had all sorts of emergency supplies (blankets, flares, jumper cables, etc.)  I eventually got tired of hauling it around and never needed to use any of it.  Also, since there are quite a few vehicle break-ins in my area at certain times of the year I decided that a closed tote was probably just unnecessary temptation. 

I keep the tote in the garage and haul it out of I'm going on a road trip.  Otherwise I've never needed it and it just takes up valuable space that the dogs can use.  It's a pain because I have to make sure it's tied down well, otherwise the dogs end up getting smashed or play dodge the hurtling tote when I take the corners a bit too quickly.   My old dog isn't agile enough anymore to play that game. 

[busymom]

A couple of granola bars.

Several maps.

Kleenix.

A couple of ice scrapers.

Some rope in case I need to tie down the trunk.

A couple of plastic bags.

An umbrella.

Sunglasses.

(In a couple of weeks I'll be adding a snow shovel, & either a container of sand, or some ice melt.)

[Angel!]

Oct 9, 2014 15:38:23 GMT -5 muttleynfelix said:

Oct 9, 2014 13:52:28 GMT -5 yogiii said:

I hate clutter, so that's part of it. 

There is nothing cluttered about everything in my car. It is all neatly in a milkcrate in the trunk. Except for the kids's books. But even those are neatly in between the car seats (when DD isn't in the car).  DS keeps them neat if it is just him. If it is both of them, he decides to follow her example out of making a mess. 

I am so impressed. I am always embarrassed by the state of my car. It is a disaster area. Right now I have:
At least 6 coats (2 from each kid)
Unknown number of DD's socks
2 pair DD shoes
1 or 2 of DD's backpacks
Probably at least a dozen toys
Gum
Inhaler
Bug bite spray
Lots of papers, school stuff, receipts, many which should be trash
And all the typical glove box stuff

The trunk is slightly more organized and useful:
An emergency survival kit
Jumper cables
Emergency light
Umbrella
Container of formula
Large diaper bag with all baby stuff
A case of water
Snow brush
Cat liter
Stroller
Sun screen
Baby Bjorn
Climbing gear - shoes & harness
Spare shoes and socks for me

For the most part the seating area is a whole mess of stuff left by the kids and the trunk is all the stuff I carry just in case it is needed.

[bobosensei]

My trunk has the donut, jumper cables, and the rear seat cover for the dogs.  I had an issue once where we picked up the dogs from boarding and they were muddy so now it lives in my car.  I also keep the canvas grocery bags with me at all times too now that we only use reusable.

Because we are in Germany I am required to keep a first aid kit, safety vests, and warning triangle immediately accessible in the cabin of my car which means it is in my back seat along with 2-3 maps.  A couple specific to Germany and one of all of Europe.  I also keep 1-2 window scrapers in my car during winter plus pliers since the hood release broke and you have to use them to grab onto the lever to pop the hood now.  My glove compartment and center console have lots of stuff in them: chapstick, pens, ponytail holders, sunglasses, dog poop bags, hand sanitizer, toll receipts, directions to hotels, spare change, and probably other odds and ends.

[ZaireinHD]

nothing!
kept clean at all times

[Deleted]

Oct 9, 2014 21:39:29 GMT -5 Angel! said:

I am so impressed. I am always embarrassed by the state of my car. It is a disaster area. Right now I have:
At least 6 coats (2 from each kid)
Unknown number of DD's socks
2 pair DD shoes
1 or 2 of DD's backpacks
Probably at least a dozen toys
Gum
Inhaler
Bug bite spray
Lots of papers, school stuff, receipts, many which should be trash
And all the typical glove box stuff

ROFL  I'm obviously not awake (or need my glasses prescription changed).  I read that twice as "at least 6 GOATS".