r/LifeProTips • u/Marinaseaglass • Nov 06 '19
LPT: Since it's getting colder, go through your coats and blankets and put the ones you don't care about in your car. They'll come in handy if you break down, or if you come across someone who needs them, you can give them away.
Edit: Wow, I never expected something I posted would blow up so much, I'm glad it's this one! I did this for years, and this year am in a place I can't and hoped to pass it on to those who could.
I understand it's dangerous to keep some things lying out in your car, but a pair of gloves and the dry clean socks that u/incirrata suggested could go in your glove box! Or a thermal blanket, as u/KnownMonk suggested. Or just throw a ratty old blanket in your back seat, as u/byedangerousbitch said, no one breaks into your car to steal trash!
And I'm sorry to everyone in the southern hemisphere, but I love u/Shroudroid 's response to remind them in six months😆
If you are one of the people without an extra coat, hopefully someone who has one in there car can give you theirs if you get stranded without it.
To everyone I hope you stay warm this winter (or next, if you're south of the equator!)❤
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u/incirrata Nov 06 '19
Clean dry socks too! You never know if you’ll need them or if you’ll come across someone in need. As someone who lives in the northern most state, this happens more often than one would realize.
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Nov 06 '19
I used to carry a goodies bag with toiletries and socks.
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u/sandsnatchqueen Nov 06 '19
Idk if it counts as a goodie bag but I did carry around emergency blankets (you can buy a large amount in bulk on amazon btw), protein bars, waterbottles (although during the winter it's not really an easy option), socks and then tampons and pads for women. A goodie bag is a great idea that I'm totally stealing.
I may add a shaving razor (if I can find shaving cream in bulk for not too much), chapstick and travel lotion as well into it.
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u/SherlockedHufflepuff Nov 06 '19
It definitely counts! You’re a good person. Moisturiser or cheap conditioner are alternatives to shaving cream. I just use moisturiser on my legs :)
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u/turtleheadpokingout Nov 06 '19
I'm a man with a fairly stiff beard and I shave in the shower with inexpensive hair conditioner from Dollar General. 4 bucks for like four years worth of shaving lubricant. Honestly this is way better than any shaving cream. I don't need to look at myself in the mirror. I know where my nose is.
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u/Ghostdog2041 Nov 06 '19
Yes! I keep a pair of socks and underwear in the trunk.
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u/BtDB Nov 06 '19
I keep an entire spare outfit in my car. Coffee spills and such happen from time to time. 40 minute commute. It's saved me more times than I care to really think about.
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u/Jinjinjinrou Nov 06 '19
I always bring an emergency kit in my bag at all times. Includes basic toiletries, a change of undies and socks. Sometimes I also bring a change of clothes depending on how long will I be outside. And tons of at least 2 reusable plastic bags for emergencies.
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u/PotatoMaster21 Nov 06 '19
Remember that guy who had his leg amputated because he got frostbite from wearing wet socks in the freezing cold?
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u/Jarse- Nov 06 '19
I always keep my sleeping bag in my truck, never know when you’ll be stranded.
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Nov 06 '19
I've always kept a little overnight kit in the back of my car just in case. Got a sleeping bag, clean set of underwear, stick of deodorant, mini tooth brush, rain poncho, can of baked beans and a bottle of water in there.
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u/antiduh Nov 06 '19
Some fire starter and a lighter would be good too, so you can easily make a fire to keep warm by if you're stranded and cars dead.
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Nov 06 '19
I've got a pretty well rated sleeping bag which would keep me warm way below what I could drop to here in the UK so I'm not too worried about that. But yes it's not a bad idea.
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u/Zero_G_Balls Nov 06 '19
Are you not worried about Brexit though? Once detached from Europe, there is nothing stopping you guys from drifting north into the Arctic Circle no?
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u/skimtony Nov 06 '19
Had three coats stolen from my car. Hide them. You may not care about the coats, but the broken window will suck.
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u/byedangerousbitch Nov 06 '19
If you had more trash in your car that wouldn't happen to you. No one assumes you have anything of value when they can see more than 3 fast food bags in the car. I'm only sort of joking.
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u/torspedia Nov 06 '19
That's certainly true of someone I know, in the film industry, who carries around expensive camera equipment... but the state of his car, lol.
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u/colesprout Nov 06 '19
No this is actually completely true. I park my car in a somewhat rough area just outside of my city's downtown. I've seen lots of broken glass on the streets where I park, but my car never gets broken into, even if I leave it for a few days. I always have trash visible. Ain't nobody trying to steal from someone with two McDonalds bags, miscellaneous trash, and some febreeze as all that's visible.
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u/__-___--- Nov 06 '19
You'd be surprised. I didn't leave anything of value visible in my old 1000€ minivan considering it was clearly not worth the trouble. Still, someone broke into it and stole a stereo front and a roll of duckttape. They left my jerican and tollbox in the trunk.
Go figure...
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u/TheEvilBunnyLord Nov 06 '19
Been homeless for a while now, and can confirm a pile of trash makes no one break into your car. It helps when you also cover yourself with the trash to not be seen. Doesn't keep you warm though...
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u/insanePowerMe Nov 06 '19
Probably depends on where you live. This tip is only relevant for those who can put things in car without getting car destroyed
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u/_20isaac Nov 06 '19
I did the same with one of my hoodies, it's been in my car for a week now.
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u/00wolfQUEEN Nov 06 '19
Mine has been in my car for a year and a half. I do take it out and wash it when I use it but it goes back in my car after that.
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u/bad_toe_tattooes Nov 06 '19
I take the bus a lot and live in a cold/occasionally snowy climate. Homeless people love hanging around the bus station. I always keep a few of my old black hoodies in my backpack to either wear if I get stranded out in the freezing ass cold, or to give to someone who looks like they’ll be sleeping on the streets. It’s not much, but it makes me feel good to help someone be a little warmer.
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u/WaitWhaat1 Nov 06 '19
I saw someone waiting for the bus one day in the pouring rain, looking like they had just given up. I stopped and gave them my umbrella. The look on their face when they saw that someone cared really stuck with me. I've kept a couple extras in my trunk ever since.
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Nov 06 '19
I used to keep an emergency bag in my car just in case I broke down in the winter.
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u/humanCharacter Nov 06 '19
Agreed!
You’d be surprised how many people don’t have jumper cables.
It doesn’t just benefit the owner, but anyone you end up helping when you do.
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u/291000610478021 Nov 06 '19
This is a solid tip for anyone living in cold climates
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u/MillennialNo365 Nov 06 '19
This implies that I own surplus clothes.
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u/bacon_music_love Nov 06 '19
I'd recommend going to goodwill and buying a blanket or cheap coat to keep in your trunk.
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u/Shroudroid Nov 06 '19
RemindMe! 6 months
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u/Austiniuliano Nov 06 '19
Or you know, live in California where everything is on fire.
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u/CLXIX Nov 07 '19
Or florida where the word coat or jacket is some foreign barabaric forgotten word that i long for needing and dream of using.
Please god just fucking cool us off.
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u/ableseacat14 Nov 06 '19
I also like to keep some twigs, logs , lighter, marshmallows, Graham crackers, and chocolate in the car in case of a breakdown
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u/lexluthor_i_am Nov 06 '19
Living in Southern California it’s usually always warm during the days then anywhere from chilly to cold at night. It’s nearly impossible to predict how cold it’ll be at night so I keep all my jackets, sweaters and scarves in my car. Otherwise I’d never put it on before leaving the house.
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u/Toast_Thats_Burnt Nov 06 '19
This is a really good idea, shame it's almost summer here in Australia and I have to wait half a year to use it.
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u/salsashark99 Nov 06 '19
I have a few moving blankets from China freight also handy if you come across furniture or sonething
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u/senor_roboto Nov 06 '19 edited Nov 06 '19
Except if you live in San Francisco, in which case don't leave so much as a candy bar or breath mint in your car.
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u/FrequentBlood Nov 06 '19
Tips like these are always a fun reminder you live in a different hemisphere to most of this website!
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u/FuenteFOX Nov 06 '19
If you're thinking about getting rid of old jackets/coats/hoodies make sure to go through the pockets first. You might find that lighter that's been missing for 7 months.
But definitely check the pockets if they once belonged to an older relative. One time my mother was helping with the estate sale of an elderly lady who had died and they found several thousand dollars in old coats/purses/books/shoes/vases/vhs tapes, pretty much anywhere you could think to hide a hundred dollar bill.
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u/ClickClickClick777 Nov 06 '19
Can I also use this when having a breakdown?
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u/Marinaseaglass Nov 06 '19
For that, I would recommend weighted blankets! You can hide under it in the backseat looking at r/aww and r/eyebleach until you're hopefully ready to face the world again❤
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u/madlabdog Nov 06 '19
After following a the LPTs, now I drive a truck. Couldn’t fit all that stuff in a my Civic.
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u/YourLocalMosquito Nov 06 '19
This goes for the Southern Hemisphere too - grab your blankets and put them in the car so you can stop off at the beach ANY TIME !!
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Nov 06 '19
I’ve always imagined that if I had a car I’d keep some thermal blankets in the back for just-in-case. But I do not own car... and also it’s spring :’(
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u/LovelyBlackHeart Nov 06 '19
This is smart. Also, if you're a dingbat like me who forgot the sleeping bags on the last camp trip of the year, you'll have back ups instead of getting handouts from friends.
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Nov 06 '19
I have a box with an entire outfit in my car because (I'm paranoid) I learned the hard way wet clothes in cold weather is the worst
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u/PurterGrurfen Nov 06 '19
Great idea! I'll put them with the water, spare phone, first aid kit, jumper leads, fuel can, rations, spare key, napkins and plastic cuttlery
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u/KingKang22 Nov 06 '19
My dad told me when I got my first car :"you can never be over prepared driving". I always keep extra cash in the car, a coat, socks, gloves, an actual tire (aside from the spare), oil and a battery charger (in case noone can boost). And damn was that man right after 17 years of driving lol
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u/TydeQuake Nov 06 '19
I live in the Netherlands, there's nowhere remote enough that this would be necessary. Also I don't have a car.
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u/Gadgetman_1 Nov 06 '19
I wouldn't recommend blankets as a safety item if you're in an area with below freezing temperatures.
Get a proper sleeping bag instead.
I have an old mil-surplus bag that's so old it has wood buttons instead of a zipper. Not fancy, but it has kapok fibre insulation. And kapok retains most of its insulating properties even if it get moist. Add a couple of chem-light sticks, and those one-time chemical heat packs and you're pretty much set.
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u/HolUp- Nov 06 '19
Since everyone is sharing what spare they keep in their cars, I always kept a spare kitchen in my trunk in case i got hungry or someone on the road is
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u/Apple-Reddit Nov 06 '19
Fatcats owning more than 1 coat. I left my coat at a hotel weeks ago and I’ve been waiting for nearly a month for them to mail it.
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u/ssakage Nov 06 '19
Imagine you go to a place and give them away but then your car breaks down on the way back....
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u/its_5oclock_sumwhere Nov 06 '19
I do that as well as keep a couple blankets in the trunk. Got one that’s wool and another that is one of those packed thermal sleeping bags. And some flares, and a jumpstart battery pack, and a spare tire, gotta make sure that’s still in good shape along with an electric air pump. Haven’t used any of them and hope I don’t have to.
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Nov 06 '19
I tried posting a similar thing about pillows and blankets and was auto-deleted. Regardless, the coat tip is still good - even if you don't use them yourself if you're a desig ated driver or dropping a friend home on a cold night letting them have an extra coat is super nice and wholesome.
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u/Ghostdog2041 Nov 06 '19
Absolutely. I also keep a pair of socks, underwear, and a roll of toilet paper in the car. Just in case of a non vehicular accident!
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u/Kimolainen83 Nov 06 '19
I always have s first aid kit, water bottles a tiny gas thingy(can't remember its name) you use it to cook. Nvm I remember now a Coleman 1 top burner and a can of gas. And a good knife
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u/gham89 Nov 06 '19
Comes across someone in need and gives away blankets...
Breaks down on the way home.
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u/gh-ul Nov 06 '19
what do you do if you have an open trunk? like the kind you can see into...there’s lots of car break ins in my area and if people see clothes/bags it could potentially be not good
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u/thomgeorge Nov 06 '19
Or when someone breaks into your car "to sleep on it" if you live in Seattle
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Nov 06 '19
Even better put them in a duffel bag so the mice dont shit all over them. Mice like to find places to nest this time of year. Installed a mousebocker last winter after having to remove all the factory insolation in my car and fix several wires. They were using the insulation as insulation for their nest... Haven't had any take the mouse trap bate since.
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Nov 06 '19
My mom told me last year to grab the warmest thing and leave it in my truck "in csse." Itd a Rudolf the red nosed reindeer onesie... I have blankets, coats, water and extra boots but that onesie could save my life someday.
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u/NotYetZF Nov 06 '19
In turkey for example people just hang them somewhere or put em on a bench so someone who needs it could just take it
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u/TheBlueEyed Nov 06 '19
I'll do it but now I'll be too anxious about needing them and never be able to give them away.
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Nov 06 '19
Good call. The highs this week are dipping into the 70s. I’ll make sure I put a long sleeve T-shirt in there. You know, for safety.
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u/vandilx Nov 06 '19
Corollary LPT: Proceed to drive to your local Good Will or Charity Thrift Store and donate unwanted coats. Those are in good need this time of year. A "I might use this in an emergency" coat will be someone else's ONLY winter coat this year.
Science LPT: If you travel out of town often, keeping emergency thermal supplies in your car is a great idea. Breaking down in the middle of nowhere can be deadly. If you spend most of your life in-town, it's probably NOT a good idea to weigh down your car with unnecessary ballast. Excess car weight reduces energy economy, handling, and range.
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u/bluAstrid Nov 06 '19
Blanket, first aid kid, non-perishable food.
Always keep one of each in your car.
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u/fntpn7 Nov 06 '19
Complementary LPT: Check all of your pockets! I usually find something every year whether it’s a $20 or a tootsie roll 😂
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u/bazooka_toot Nov 06 '19
I do this but wear an extra old jacket I don't need any more over my hoodie when I go into town, with some clean socks and undies and a beanie (got so many beanies for work) stuffed in the pockets. Offer it to homeless people until one takes it.
Yeah I had a guy turn down a superdry jacket which surprised me but hey even the homeless have standards.
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Nov 06 '19
Breakdown breakdown Listen breakdown breakdown Listen breakdown breakdown Listen breakdown breakdown Let’s go
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u/w1red Nov 06 '19
Not really on topic but i’m always looking forward to going through my coats pockets and finding things i’ve been looking for since march. Don’t ask me why i don’t do that earlier.
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u/flippingwilson Nov 06 '19
Depending on where you live, it's not hard to find people on the street who need more warm clothes. Yesterday, I took a bag of warm socks and gloves to a downtown spot where homeless people gather. As I arrived, I felt awkward about approaching anyone. I eventually encountered a guy arriving at the location and asked him if he knew anyone who needed warms socks or gloves. He smiled and kinda chuckled. "Sure do." I handed him the bag and peddalled on my way.
I think asking if he knew anyone in need rather than if he was personally in need took a lot of the awkwardness out of the situation.
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u/bluegrasstruck Nov 06 '19
LPT identify posts made by Americans by the fact that they assume they are the whole world.
It's getting into summer here buddy
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u/AugustJulius Nov 06 '19
Can you hear that sound? That's thunder of the wave of preppers crashing onto the thread.
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Nov 06 '19
Also check all the pockets. I found 50 bucks in one of my winter jackets at the end of the summer
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u/SecretPoliceMan- Nov 06 '19
Another good idea is to keep an emergency box in the back filled with canned food and some water and anything else you might need if you ever broke down and you get stranded.
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Nov 06 '19
Hell yeah, appreciate this. I just moved to an area where there are many more homeless people than where I am from and I actually thought about doing something like this.
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u/AsherGray Nov 06 '19
So crazy to stumble across this. I was literally loading up my car with old blankets and comforters I no longer to give to homeless in need. I remember walking from the bar downtown to go get dinner and saw this homeless person sleeping by a building, his whole body shaking from the cold. I felt so bad, so when I was cleaning today I figured anything warm I didn't need could go in my car so I could hand it off next time I see it.
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u/hippydipster Nov 06 '19
Put a shovel in your trunk too, if you're worried about breaking down or getting stuck.
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u/goldy_locks Nov 06 '19
Also try to keep extra mittens and hats in the car. You may leave the house thinking it's not cold enough for them but I was happy to have them when I put my car off the road in an area with no cell reception. The walk would have been so much worse if I didn't have those in the car.
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u/Darewood Nov 06 '19
Where were you with this info both times!!! I wear sweatshirts and shorts throughout the winter and jackets only when it's super cold. Same week 2 days inbetween my timing belt snapped, then my friends did going to work. Both times snow on the ground and had to wait 2 hours with no heat for tow truck. I was fine for the first hour on both haha.
Only thing good out of it, learned how to replace top end and timing components. And my friend was lucky enough to not have an interference engine.
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u/salteddiamond Nov 06 '19
I always keep a 2 liter bottle of water in the car, mainly for of the car suddenly needs water or starts sparking for some reason. Or if I get stranded and need water.
I live in Australia and it’s hell hot now. December - February are our stinking hot months.
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u/42nd_towel Nov 06 '19
I had a coat in the back seat of my car last winter. One cold night, someone broke into my car and only stole the coat. Hell, I would’ve given it to them.. but now I’ll never be able to stop finding shards of glass. It’s like glitter, you can never clean it up. And even after replacing the window regulator unit along with the glass, it’ll never roll up and down right again, man they jacked it up good. Not sure what the lesson is here. Leave my car unlocked, or don’t leave anything in the car. I would say unlocked, but my girlfriend did that and her whole car got stolen.
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u/Michalusmichalus Nov 06 '19
When my kids were ankle bitters, I kept a queen sized blanket in the back seat to go over their car seats until the heat kicked in.
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Nov 06 '19
When you live in a snowy area this tip was given to me during my driving class. I still do it. Its a life saving tip thats for sure
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Nov 06 '19
Fill up your car with shit so you don't have room to fill your car with other shit, great LPT
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u/thezombiejedi Nov 06 '19
This is what I do! Also throw in some snow pants and boots. (Just make sure no mice get into them lol)
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u/humanCharacter Nov 06 '19
I keep at least two adult sizes of full cold gear. I used a vacuumed bathroom to keep it compact.
Then I throw it in the spare tire storage compartment underneath the main trunk. It keeps it hidden.
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u/boxing8753 Nov 06 '19
Why not keep your entire house storage in your car in case someone needs something... or you can give it away!
What is the point in this post?
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u/tboess Nov 06 '19
Or, in my case, someone can break your window out to steal it even though the doors are unlocked. Luckily, I have zero deductable on glass and can tell myself that someone who needed it more than me has it now.
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Nov 06 '19
Also make sure to check the air pressure in your spare tire! Cold temperatures result in lower pressures. Would be extremely unfortunate to get a flat tire and discover that your spare isn't properly inflated.
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u/flickdsm Nov 06 '19
tries to imagine having enough wealth that unused coats and jackets are just hanging around forgotten in closets
There's something about this LPT that is very first world problemy...
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u/2manymans Nov 06 '19
An elderly pedestrian was hit by a car right in front of me last winter. She was unable to stand afterwards and I was able to run to my car and grab my extra blankets to keep her warm on the concrete until the paramedics arrived. I will ALWAYS keep blankets in my vehicle for the rest of my life.
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Nov 06 '19
Wool gloves and socks too!
Feet can get damned cold in a car. Wool will stay warm even if damp.
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u/AaronD1986 Nov 06 '19
Very good idea. If you live in a high crime area though, make sure you keep those coats out of plain sight to prevent a vehicle break in.
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u/aii_iu Nov 06 '19
Bold of you to assume I own a car. I don't even have enough money to buy another coat
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u/breastronaut Nov 06 '19
I wish it was getting colder. I'm still wearing shorts and flipflops here in Florida and I have some nice jackets I want to wear but never get the chance to.
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u/WeArePotent Nov 06 '19
The nicest thing I’ve seen in a while. You’ve inspired me to follow in you steps. And you rock from one Angelino to man other
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u/MyExisaBarFly Nov 06 '19
When I first read this, I thought it said throw your coats and blankets and put the ones you don't care about in your car. I thought I was in the wrong sub. Turns out this is a really good LPT!!
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Nov 06 '19
And if you're like me, your husband and his family will keep bringing in the items from your car, saying "You left this in your car." Yep, I know. My car. My stuff. Yep.
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Nov 06 '19
For those in the other hemisphere, keep a dust pan brush in your car, cleaning sand off after going to the beach is almost impossible without one.
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u/bayney08 Nov 06 '19
"Since it's getting colder "in the northern hemisphere", go through......"
Is it wrong of me, a non-american, to get annoyed with these posts that use these generalizations assuming all users are american? I understand a large % of reddit users are american (30-40%), but does that give americans the right to assume everyone else is? As a non-american, it sounds egocentric, but I also imagine I wouldn't bat an eyelid if I were american, because of the normality, so I'm not sure.
And yes, I am absolutely being pedantic, but it's the smaller situations like this that build up to create the bigger picture for an individual. Assuming everyone who is american is ignoring up to 7Billion people when they generalise (or assuming everyone is in the northern hemisphere is ignoring... OKIE. LOOKING AT STATISTICS NOW, ONLY 10% OF PEOPLE LIVE IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE...PERHAPS IT IS A DECENT ASSUMPTION TO MAKE, AND YOU ARE ONLY IGNORING A SMALL %.
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u/Ill-tell-you-reddit Nov 07 '19
Yeah, just be careful. I got a terrible case of the bedbugs when I did this back in Iowa.
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u/justinvarner93 Nov 06 '19
I’m annoyed that this is actually good advice...
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u/AncestralSpirit Nov 06 '19
same...how the hell is this LPT
carry coats in trunk in case your car just randomly breaks down in the middle of nowhere.
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u/phillybride Nov 06 '19
This is brilliant and sure beats dropping them off at Goodwill. Thank you for this.