By who? Me. Just now. Because who doesn’t like cool car stuff? And, from a great gadget under 20 bucks, to something awesomely extravagant, there truly is something for everyone! Our car is like our second home and, for some of us, even a treasured friend. This holiday season, let’s pamper it, make it more fun to drive, and keep ourselves a little safer too. There are a lot of products out there but, here are a few of my favs:
COOL STUFF FOR PAMPERING YOUR CAR:
There are many kinds of people in the world, but you have to give props to the ones who keep their car clean all the time. You know, the ones who go to the car wash before they even go to the bathroom after a road trip. The person who, when you get in their car and there is a dried leaf on the car mat says, “Sorry my car is such a mess.” If you know this person, here is a must-have: Meguiar’s G55032SP Complete Car Care Kit: about $65 bucks and you can care for just about every surface inside and outside of your car.
WeatherTech Floor Mats: These puppies are laser-measured for a perfect fit. WeatherTech.com: Not cheap, but they will make mud, water, dirt, etc. a breeze to clean up no matter what kind of shenanigans you get yourself into.
Anyone who has a kid knows the simmering ire of the dirty shoes kicking the back of your seats. These easy to wipe off kick mats fit nicely over the back of both the driver and passenger seats. For $25, you and the kids have it made with: Oasser Kick Mats Car Seat Back Protectors (2 Pack with Tissue Box, Clear 10″ Ipad Holder, and 3 Large Storage Organizers). Yes, you read that right, iPad holder! I guess today’s families don’t sing 100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall
Car Trunk Organizer by FORTEM: What I like about this one is it has an attached lid. I like my stuff organized and out of sight. It is collapsible, has straps, outside pockets, and a non-slip bottom that is waterproof. I loathe the sound of things rolling around in the back of the car while I drive. Perfect to hold your emergency items, wine, groceries, wine, tools, wine, etc.
COOL STUFF I WANT FOR MY CAR
Don’t forget Cool Stuff Self-Care! You know, like putting on your own oxygen mask first, so you can then better care for others.
Here’s what I want this year:
BESTHING 10W Wireless Charger, Wireless Fast Car Mount, Air Vent Phone Holder: After looking at about 500 of these, this is the one that looks the least obtrusive, easiest to use, and has a 5-star rating on Amazon.
A Montsleo Inverted Umbrella: How many times have you had a wet umbrella that you’ve had to take in the car? Who knew you only had to invert the umbrella to keep your car dry. Why didn’t I think of that?
: Do you know that space between your seat and center console? For $17, you will never have to contort your hand to try to fish something out of that black hole again. And, it doesn’t only keep stuff from falling in, it conveniently holds things like your phone, change, receipts, etc.
Yeti Mug – People LOVE these mugs and I need to know why. I want the 20-oz tumbler which keeps drinks hot/cold for 12 hours! Perfect for when you are hiding from the kids.
The Ztylus Stinger can not only charge two devices at once—it could also save your life. Plug it into your 12V port, charge your phone, and in case of emergency, use its blade and glass breaker to cut your seatbelt and break a window. I want everyone I love to have one of these.
APEMAN Dash Cam 1080P FHD DVR Car Driving Recorder (3” LCD Screen 170°Wide Angle, G-Sensor, WDR, Parking Monitor, Loop Recording, Motion Detection) This dash cam is only $45 and has consistent high ratings and customer satisfaction. Plus, anything called APEMAN has to be cool.
IT’S COOL TO BE SAFE!
As we go into winter, this is a reminder to always keep an emergency kit in your car. Your kit should include:
- Portable charger
- Jumper cables
- Blankets, hats, coats and mittens
- Flashlight
- Batteries
- First-aid kit
- Water
- Nonperishable food
- Windshield scraper
- Shovel (here is a really nice foldable one: lifelinefirstaid.com/product/210)
- Cat litter (seems odd, but you can use it to get traction in slippery situations or, if you get stuck and happen to have a cat..)
- Your AUL Extended Service Contract (ESC) Roadside Assistance phone number. Every AUL ESC plan comes with it. AUL Roadside Assistance includes Towing, Flat Tire Change, Emergency Gas Delivery Service, Battery Jump Service and Key Lockout Service.
And remember:
- Keep a full gas tank.
- Make sure your heater and defroster work properly.
- Check fluid levels, anti-freeze, and brake pads regularly.
Wishing you a holiday season full of time spent with people you love, good health, and lots of cool car stuff.
PS: Looking for a great way to buy more cool stuff? Get Started Now to see if you could benefit from refinancing your car loan. You might be surprised to see how much you may be able to save on your monthly payment or get better terms on a new loan!