1. First aid kit: Of course, if someone is hurt, call an ambulance. But small cuts and scrapes often need cleaning and dressing, and you don't need to be a doctor to take care of them yourself.
2. Flashlights and lanterns: Whether you need to search for your phone that was dropped behind the dark couch or the power goes out and your entire house is in darkness, make sure you have a portable light source on hand.
3. Backup battery: Remote controls, portable radios, children's toys - all these and more require batteries. Keep a mixed group of different sizes in an easily accessible carrying case so you can quickly remove dead batteries and replace them with new ones.
4. Canned goods: You don't have to prepare to raise an army, but stock up on canned soups, beans, peanut butter, crackers, and granola bars. You may also want to add a can opener, just in case. If a blizzard or a big storm traps you inside, at least you'll be well-fed.
5. Fire Extinguishers: Most likely, you won't have a major fire in your home, but have a small fire extinguisher handy just in case. A paper towel placed too close to your hob can shoot up like a rocket and you'll be glad you're prepared.
6. One plunger for every bathroom: Pistons may not be the most attractive item you can make, but when you need it, you will. Don't just move from bathroom to bathroom; there is permanence in every person. All future guests or visitors to your home will thank you.
7. Drain opener: Have you ever stood in the shower and noticed water starting to collect around your feet? Maybe it's time to call the plumber for an expensive repair, or maybe it's just a hair clog that a simple sip of Drano can fix. Have a drain cleaner on hand, then cross your arms and hope it's the last.
8. Matches or lighters: Fewer and fewer people smoke these days, but sometimes you still need a quick one, whether it's lighting a nightlight, lighting a fire in the fireplace, or giving a birthday cake. Fortunately, lighters or matches don't take up much storage space, and both aren't expensive.
9. Extra pillows and blankets: Unexpected overnight guests need a bed, whether it's your teenage daughter's boyfriend or your parents-in-law preparing for a weekend getaway. You don't have to stock your entire linen closet, but a few extra blankets and pillows are always appreciated.
10. Extra toothbrush: And speaking of uninvited guests overnight… a toothbrush is the only thing you can't lend them overnight. Too personal! Luckily, it's inexpensive to keep some in the bathroom drawer just in case.
11. Charge phones, and laptops: Cell phones and laptops are an important part of our modern world, but they are useless without cost. Charging cords are easy to lose and sometimes break or fray, usually only when you need to do something. Keep extra handy.
12. Snow shovel:: If you live anywhere it snows, you already know it. Even a light snowfall can clog your sidewalks and make travel difficult, especially for older neighbors. Keep a shovel handy and maybe recommend walking shovels for them.
13. Wire gauge: A tape measure is always useful. Whether you need to measure your windows before ordering your curtains or your living room to see if that new plush sofa will fit, you'll find yourself reaching for a tape measure.
14. Pot Pads or Oven Gloves: You don't have to be a chef to rely on a good pot liner or oven mitt. Whether you're making a frozen pizza or baking a fancy pastry, that food needs to be taken out of the oven and it should be hot. Protect your hands.
15. Broom and dust collector: Brooms and dustpans are not just for regular cleaning. Cats scatter their cat poop, children drop cereal boxes, sometimes drinking glasses slip and break sharp pieces all over the kitchen floor. Nothing can replace a sturdy broom and dustpan for cleaning up a million different messes.
16. Small Ladder or Steps: You don't need a giant painter's ladder. But sometimes it helps to get a little taller safely, whether it's changing the bulbs in the overhead lights or taking the Thanksgiving tray out of the top shelf of the fridge. It's uncomfortable (and dangerous) to wobble in a dining room chair.
17. Flathead and Phillips screwdriver: Even if you're not a DIY person, sometimes you'll need both versions of these basic screwdrivers. Household appliances, remote controls, toys - many of them have battery compartments that need to be opened. And other items need to be assembled. Also throw in a basic hammer for hanging pictures and other errands.
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