How to Create a Useful Winter Car Emergency Kit

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Dollar General. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you live in a cold and snowy region, creating a winter car emergency kit is pretty much essential. Given the fact that it just snowed a foot in parts of Texas, I’d say it’s essential even if you DON’T live in an area known for frigid winters! I happen to live in the Poconos, a place known for its snow, so preparing for winter is practically an Olympic sport for us!

I’ve found myself in some scary situations with my car in the winter. Thankfully, they usually happened close to home! Now that my poor old car is struggling on good days, though, I have this major fear of breaking down in the middle of nowhere on a cold night. In my nightmare, it suddenly starts to snow. Since the weather is so unpredictable lately, this nightmare can easily become reality. So now, I’m keeping a winter car emergency kit handy!

How to make a winter car emergency kit on a budget with Dollar General

Usually, I go to Dollar General without a plan and let inspiration strike as I’m browsing. This time, though, I had more specific ideas in mind. Before you go shopping for your winter car emergency kit essentials, take a look around your house. You probably have some of the bigger, more expensive supplies on hand. If not, don’t worry, you can get them at Dollar General.

What to include in your winter car emergency kit:

• Blanket- make sure it’s big enough to wrap around yourself. If you go with an old comforter, you can huddle in the back seat with your family under it. If you opt for smaller fleece blankets, get one for everyone in the family. Individual blankets are better if you end up having to walk in the cold.
• Clay kitty litter- MUST be the non-clumping clay-based litter. Aside from rock salt, this is one of the best things to keep in your trunk. Spread it behind your tires to give you traction if you get stuck. Dollar General has a great $1 bag that’s perfect for this purpose. Unfortunately, I went shopping the day before a major storm was coming and it was all gone, so I grabbed the big bag of Tidy Cats. It was still less than $5
• Water- I grabbed two one-gallon jugs of water at Dollar General to keep in my trunk. I figure the larger volume of water won’t freeze as fast as individual bottles.
• Flashlight- This one is pretty obvious. You should always keep a flashlight in your car, no matter what season it is. Check the batteries frequently to make sure they’re still good.
• White garbage bags- Garbage bags have so many purposes when you’re stuck in the winter. They can be used as ponchos over your clothes to keep you dryer or wrapped around your shoes to keep your feet dry if you have to walk. White garbage bags are also useful for letting rescue vehicles find you. Roll down your window a bit, then stick the bag about three-quarters of the way out. Roll up the window. It acts as a “white flag” to indicate that you need help.

• Bright colored duct tape-After I got home, I started thinking “what if it’s daytime and snowing? How will anyone see the white bag? Then I remembered that I still had bright blue duct tape left over from our Dollar General back to school snack bin project. That gave me an idea! If it’s snowing out, simply tape a few bright strips to your white garbage bag. Get a color that will really stand out. Duct tape also lets you seal any window drafts, holds those garbage bags around your feet and so much more.

• Bright colored hat. If you end up walking or standing outside your car for any reason in the dark, a bright-colored hat will help other drivers see you on the road. I picked up an insanely orange hat for about $3 at Dollar General. Since it’s so not me, there’s no chance I’ll take it out of my trunk and forget it at home!

Dollar General also sells rock salt for melting ice. Alas, like the cheapest kitty litter, it was gone. Our entire town is pretty much sold out right now. That’s what happens when you go shopping between ice storms! I’m also assuming that you have basics like an ice-scraper, de-icer spray and whatnot.

Keeping all of these items in your trunk may not stop bad weather from causing problems with your car, but at least you’ll be more prepared for emergencies!

I’m hardly an expert on cars, so if you can you think of any winter car emergency kit essentials that I forgot, tell us in the comments! I’ll be sure to add it to my kit!