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Recently, I found out that there are things that every household should have. I learned this when my printer broke, and I didn’t replace it. Then something important happened, and I needed a printer right away. I had to rush to the UPS Store and pay $5 just to print one sheet of paper.
That’s when I came up with the idea. There are so many things that I believe every household should have that we seem to forget about sometimes. So before we go any further, let’s dive right in. Here are 10 functional items every household should have that are very necessary.
Note: Read to the end and discover my top picks on Amazon for the items I have listed in this article:
10 Functional Items Every Household Should Have
1. A Printer
A printer can save you money for many different reasons. You don’t have to own a business, use it every day, or even go to school. It is simply a vital machine to keep in your home just in case life brings you some documents that you need to print and return.
Having a printer at home will save you from making a trip to the UPS Store or Office Depot every time you need one page printed. So the next time you go shopping, simply grab one. Whether it’s $50, $100, $200, or more, it doesn’t really matter. Just choose the one that suits your needs. At least you’ll have one at home when you need it.
2. Foldable Ladder
Now, you may not be a carpenter. I’m not either. But I realized that whether you’re male or female, living in an apartment or a house, you may need a ladder at some point.
You don’t need to call a handyman every time you have to reach something that’s way up in the air. Having a foldable ladder can save you from falling off a chair or simply not being able to reach something because it’s too high. So grab one that fits your needs.
3. A Colander
A colander is a simple kitchen item—a bowl with holes in it. It can be used to strain many different things like rice, meat, and vegetables after washing them.
If you don’t have one of these and you’re a meat washer and vegetable washer like I am, you’ll end up trying to strain everything while water is still sitting in the bottom of the bowl. With a colander, it’s much easier and faster. The water drains away quickly, and you don’t have to deal with water running back over your vegetables or meat after you thought they were already strained.
4. Extra Debit Card
Now, you may be thinking about the extra monthly fees. If I have two debit cards, won’t I have to pay two different fees?
There are different types of accounts you can open that only charge around $5 a month. But having an extra debit card saved my life. My card was stolen, and I was able to immediately transfer all my money from that debit card to the other one and turn off the stolen card.
My life still went on. I contacted the bank and was still able to shop and handle my daily business even though my card had been stolen. If I only had one debit card, I would have had to wait until the bank mailed me another one, and that normally takes a week or more. That wasn’t something I wanted to deal with. So think about this one.
5. A Thermometer
Whether it’s for checking your body temperature or your food temperature, a thermometer is something every home should have.
If you’re cooking steak or chicken, you need to know if it’s fully cooked. A kitchen thermometer is ideal. You should also keep a thermometer in your medicine kit for checking body temperature.
Whether you have children, take care of elderly family members, or it’s just for yourself, keep one on hand.
6. Cold and Flu Medicine
Most people only buy cold and flu medicine during flu season. But the truth is, you can catch a cold or the flu at any time during the year depending on what’s going on with your body.
Keeping these medicines on hand is very important. So after you finish reading this article, stop by the pharmacy, grab some cold and flu medicine, and put it in your emergency kit.
7. Two to Three Cutting Boards
You don’t need just one cutting board. Here’s why.
Let’s say you’re cutting chicken. After that, you need to cut vegetables or spices. Now you have to completely wash that cutting board before you can start cutting the vegetables.
That really isn’t hygienic. Bacteria from the meat can transfer to your vegetables. Instead, have two or three different cutting boards and assign each one to a different job. It’ll make your kitchen safer and much more convenient.
8. A Hammer and Nails
Now you may ask, “I’m not a carpenter. What am I going to hammer?”
Well, someday you may need to. As long as you live under a roof, there will probably come a time when you need to hang something or fix something.
Having a hammer and a few nails can save you hundreds of dollars from hiring a handyman for a very small job. So whenever you go shopping again, stop by the hardware store and pick up a hammer and a few nails. It may only cost you around $20.
9. Screwdrivers
I learned this lesson the hard way.
My TV stand started to wobble, and I couldn’t install my TV properly. I realized I couldn’t find a screwdriver, and the screws were stuck. My TV was leaning to one side and looked like it was about to crash.
I had to rush over to Lowe’s and buy a screwdriver for $6. I came back home, tightened the screws, and fixed the TV stand in about two minutes.
Isn’t that amazing?
10. Flashlights and Extra Batteries
This is another item that I believe every household should have. You never know when the power may go out because of a storm, bad weather, or even an unexpected power outage.
Most people grab their phones to use as a flashlight, but your phone battery can run down very quickly. Instead, keep at least one or two good flashlights in your home along with a pack of extra batteries. You may need them to find your way around the house, check your electrical panel, or even make your way outside safely if the lights go out at night.
I have learned that it’s always better to have these things before you need them rather than trying to rush to the store after the power is already out. A flashlight is one of those simple items that doesn’t cost much, but when you need it, you’ll be glad you have it.
Normally, when something breaks around the house, the first thing people think is, “Who can I call to fix this?” But the truth is, some things around your home don’t require a handyman. Some jobs only need a few simple functional items.
And these are the 10 functional items that I believe every household should have.
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