Firefighter here, learn to use a real fire extinguisher. The little hairspray ones are used up fast. Get a real extinguisher. And remember P.A.S.S.: PULL the pin, AIM at the BASE of the flame, SQUEEZE the handles together and, SWEEP back and forth. I hope this helps those unfamiliar with fire fighting. Otherwise, take your extinguisher into any firehall and anyone there will be glad to explain it to you. I would suggest a 5 pound ABC rated extinguisher. These will put out any type of fire commonly experienced in your home. Please consider getting and getting acquainted with a real fire extinguisher. Stay safe.
@@kellyl.3059 Yes. The problem is that sometimes for a fire on the stove, whatever is burning can be knocked over or off the stove. Don't panic and use them carefully. I'd still suggest a fire extinguisher, just in case.
@@kellyl.3059I've read reviews on those. If I remember correctly they're made with fiberglass and even messier than an extinguisher. Imagine fiberglass shards the size of splinters getting all over your kitchen and surrounding areas and getting in everything. Not only is it quite the mess but it's dangerous as well.
Yes! Started my oven on fire when silicone heat resistant trays stored in the bottom drawer caught on fire! Have both a full size and a couple of smaller ones.
Mine isn’t just by my bed. It’s in my bed. It’s under the pillow next to me and I have a separate one that I just keep in my suitcase all the time so I don’t forget it.
My big cat! She sleeps next to me every night, and alerts me to animals outside and spiders on the ceiling. I also discovered she catches mice! None of my former cats ever did that. The word is out about her among the mice, and my house has been mouse-free since I got her.
A teaspoon works well. Push the handle between the jar and the top and twist the spoon. It will break the vacuum seal (you’ll hear it pop) and then you can twist the lid off
Better, Amazon has a gadget that you install under a kitchen cabinet which is ALWAYS where you can find it and opens everything with ease. It's just called an under-counter jar opener. Best thing I ever bought for my kitchen. Opens every screw-on lid from a soda bottle to large jars. Under $10. I've given up on pull-tab cans. I just use my regular can opener on them. The pull tabs are awful for the elderly, and I always wind up spilling the contents of the can all over when I try to use them.
After having a stove mishap I can testify how well these work. It's a one time use item, but the ease of being able to safely smother a fire is great. I now have one in my kitchen, one in my bedroom and one in the garage.
I agree. Fire extinguishers have several drawbacks: they expire; they have chemicals that are a mess to clean up; and they can be complicated to operate . I much prefer a fire blanket. Fire chiefs advocate for them.
I love the idea of a fire blanket for a small kitchen fire! I have bought one and have had the great fortune to not have needed to use it yet, so I can’t speak to its effectiveness.
Hi Jen and all. I accidentally threw my cat keys into the big trash dumpster. It was a total fail on my part when I was throwing away a bag of trash and accidentally heaved the keys over with it. Besides feeling like an idiot, I also felt powerless. I’m on the short side so heaving myself over the dumpster side to pick up my Keyes was impossible. At least I could see the keys. Well, I have this very grouchy and reclusive neighbor who was out there smoking. I asked her if she had a broom. She disappeared and came out with a broom stick with a hook at the end. It was perfect. An added bonus of this humiliating experience was that it softened our relationship a tiny bit and we say hi now. I don’t know if I would recommend getting or making the same utensil but something like a grabber or a broomstick with a hook on it can and does come in handy. Thanks for your videos. Ruth
@@sr2291that's a great Idea! I actually have a small keyring that I just last night discovered fits around my finger and I was trying to think what I could use it for. I could put an extra key on it and slip it on my finger in case I accidentally lock myself out (actually happened when I first moved in here). Hasn't happened since but better safe than sorry. Thanks!
AND a smart-phone to watch it on if the power goes out! I didn't think I needed a smart phone until several years ago, when I was 69. I was almost 3 hours late to a meetup of friends because I couldn't find one of the streets in my written directions. I bought my first iPhone for the GPS map and spoken directions alone, which even if that was the only thing the phone did, would be worth its weight in gold. But my goodness - it does everything. I have an earthquake alert on it, weather and Dopper radar, UA-cam, Facebook, calendar, and even a flashlight. It's set up to communicate with my dash-cam in the car and play videos it records. The internet connection is another must-have lifesaver! And texting -- again, how did I ever live without texting? I prefer texting to phone calls and voicemail. I have the Trailforks app for bike trails. Apple maps and Google maps, which give driving directions and show road closures, traffic backups, etc. And the camera on this thing is far better, more versatile and more sophisticated than any *real* camera I've ever owned. I also use the calculator all the time, with its big, easy-to-see buttons. I recently got a cool free app called "Sky Guide". I can point it at the night sky and it tells me what stars and constellations I'm looking at. One night it even pointed out that the moving bright dot I was looking at was the International Space Station flying by. There's even an air-quality app called "Purple Air" that comes in very handy when there are wildfires in the area polluting the air. No one is "too old" to learn to use a smartphone. If I can do it, just about anyone can.
I'm 77 and can't live without my second home, a high top van with everything I need. I spend all day every day at a beach or park and go home to shower and sleep. Perfect!😊
I'm 70 and have been living alone for over 20 years. One extremely important thing I cannot live alone without is my physical strength since it's often a real trick to find someone to help. Besides all the gardening and lawn care and snow shoveling, and home repair that requires a body that moves well and builds strength, I do Classical Stretch/Essentrics every day. It's important to me that I stay as strong and flexible as possible. I also keep a pedometer in my pocket and whenever I check it, it motivates me to get off the couch and stop scrolling!!!
Nurse here… also former Ambulance driver… thank you for posting your medical records on refrigerator. The first place EMS personnel look. Also putting the information in a glass container/ jar with a lid inside refrigerator protects in case of fire.
The one thing I can't live without as a single person alone is a long-handled lotion applicator. It's like a back brush for the shower, except that instead of a brush at the end there's a plastic pad that you can use to apply creams, lotions, or medications to the skin on your back. When my cat got spooked and lacerated my back pretty badly, I was able to apply antibiotic cream with it.
I would add furniture sliders to the list- plastic or siliconised discs to slip under chair/sofa/bookcase/cabinet etc legs to make moving items easier ( and to prevent damage to hard floors). I’m 72 and recently reorganised my living room furniture by myself.💪😊
I'm 72, and the thing I can't live without is my long metal shoe horn. It sure makes it easier to put my shoes on. I don't use my toaster oven and crock pot so much anymore since I got my air fryer and Instant Pot. I turned off the gas to my big range; I just don't use it for one. Instead, I have an electric one hob stove and my two-cup tea pot fits perfectly under my Keurig. I love instant hot water. When the power goes out, I use my one hob butane stove. Camping supplies like USB rechargeable fans and lights are great to have when you have no power. That and my Kindle. :) I have a Bluetti EB70S 800W power box, with a 200 W foldable solar panel, to charge the camping gear and my i-phone, and run my 12 V camping fridge. But, usually, the power comes back on before anything needs moved out of my fridge or 5 cu. ft. chest freezer. I could do with a new fire extinguisher as mine expired years ago. Jon in rural BC, Canada
I said the same about the Instant Pot and air fryer! But I actually think the long-handled shoe horn is one of my essentials (and I'm 63). Anyone with restricted mobility might benefit from using one of these, and of course, you can still use one just fine if you've no limitations at all, so it's a no brainer, really. (I even keep a small shoe horn in my handbag - although it could also go in an overnight bag - some people like you to take off your shoes when you visit and a small shoe horn is better than nothing.)
Garden trolley/cart ✔️ Half sized oven ✔️ Fire extinguisher ✔️ Outside lights ✔️ Long handled tongs✔️ps the super strong bbq tongs are great for pulling up weeds Upside down fridge with heaps of freezer space ✔️ Also have drills, ladders, tool box ✔️ ❤❤❤
I added a small upright freezer to some space in my laundry room during the pandemic. It enables me grab those sale items, make meals, and freeze them. I feel the savings is worth the cost to run the energy star freezer. No regrets and grateful I had the space.
I can attest to the value of those "hairspray style" fire extinguishers. We have Family Dinner every Friday (our kids and my Mom come over to join us), so we were all right here sitting at our nook table but not really paying attention to the kitchen where my husband was making dinner. He left the room for a moment, and luckily my oldest daughter saw--out of the corner of her eye--the flames that suddenly shot up from the stove. He was in the habit of saving and using using old plastic food trays (from buying pre-cooked carnitas or things like that that just need to be heated up) to hold utensils while cooking. Evidently, he nudged the tray a bit as he left the room, and it got just close enough to the gas burner to catch fire. My daughter very calmly got up from the table, grabbed the fire extinguisher spray from under the kitchen sink, and put the fire out with no trouble (or needing to read directions) practically before anyone else even knew what was happening and before any real damage was done, especially to our recently painted cabinets! She saved the day because she knew that spray was there (my kids had teased me a lot when I ordered them because I didn't read the description thoroughly and wound up with like 20 of them--but they all got their own, and we have them in every room, plus the garage, where fire might be an issue!) and it was super easy to use quickly. We also now only use glass/ceramic trays to hold cooking utensils, and he makes extra sure they're far enough away from the stovetop at all times!
I just came across your channel and have been binge watching and new subscriber. Fellow Canadian here from Ontario and living alone. Been on my own for many years since the kids moved out . I retired 6 years ago and moved to a tiny cottage on Georgian Bay. I wake up to birds singing now, not an alarm clock. Opening my living room curtains and looking out over the bay watching trumpeter swans swim by is the best way to start my day. That I can't live without.
I know you're joking but my diabetic mum was advised by her doctor to have glucose sweets handy for emergency use. It can save you from a diabetic coma. Easy to keep in a handbag or pocket when you leave the house
Best grabber I have found is one from Amazon that once you squeeze the handle shut, it stays shut so I don’t have to keep pressure on the handle to retain my grip on the item I am picking up! Old arthritic hands love this one.
All great ideas, from the video and comments. I didn't see flashlights mentioned but you can get rechargeable ones and they're very handy. I got a two pack from Amazon and feel better knowing they are there when needed. I'm anxious about power failures after a not very good experience long ago. As well as back scratchers I love my long handled bath brush for scrubbing the back in the tub or shower. I have an ancient plastic one that is way better than those wooden ones where the brush part always falls off. Also a silicone belt style that is two sided and either scrubs or massages. I bought one step stool that took up too much space so its now used as a seat to put footwear on, but I then bought one of those folding ones that fits in the narrow gap beside the fridge and it's so useful. I also have several grabbers for all over the house. Just bought one of those garden trolleys too, yay. Lightweight garden tools. Solar lights outside. Toaster oven, microwave, electric kettle, crock pot, actual toaster, and... pressure cooker. Mine is 50 years old and I only had to replace the seals once,, still available from Presto for less than 10 dollars by mail. My electric stove has broil and air fry capacity. Lots of candles just in case. Tiny action motivated or darkness motivated lights here and there in the house, at the top and bottom of stairs, hallways, and bathrooms. In closets too. My husband oassed away at Christmas and had Parkinson's so we had some of these things for several years before, but they also help me since I'm 79 and in poor health. Safety first. 😊
I love living with the things I have now. But, I know what it's like to live without running water, with sand floors and tarpaper walls. First couple years I was married we had a house didn't have a roof when I got it. Had to add that before moving in. At least it, had a wood floor. We had to haul water from the a spring a mile away. It had tarpaper walls and an outhouse without a door but, with a 1 mile view. Yeah, I can live without a lot but, I love having indoor plumbing, air conditioning, nice furnishings and solid, hardwood floors. Yes, I made $44 a week as a concrete laborer back then.
I simply can NOT live without my motion detecting decorative GE nightlights! I have them in EVERY room! When getting up during the night to grab a glass of water, use the restroom, check a noise, etc., I don’t even have to turn on a light! As I enter a room or walk down a hallway, my path is lighted before I get there. Talk about a wonderful way to prevent falls! They come in a variety of finishes, including stainless steel, bronze, and white,…and also several decorator designs. I receive so many compliments, especially from guests that stay with me. They are pretty sensitive, but even the sensitivity may be adjusted. Again, I could not live without them! I order mine from Amazon, and they run about $10.-$12. each.
Mine is right near the stove fan (up over the burners). I put on the fan when I heat anything up in the summertime, it exhausts the extra heat. In the wintertime when I use the oven, I leave the door open when I'm done to make use of that heat.
Love all the great ideas! One little item that I seem to need more often these days is a magnifier, ours has a light in it...and I have a pair of tweezers with a magnifier built in for slivers after working outside. As for your solar outdoor lights you can actually use them indoors too in case of a power outage. We keep a few small solar lights with a few of those el-cheap-o glow light sticks that you can usually find in the party section of your local store in with our emergency supplies...instead of burning candles which could turn into a fire hazard.
@@briannab5296 Solar lights work in the dark...outside or inside. You just have to charge them up by setting them out in the sun, even if it's on a windowsill, then turn them on when it's dark in the house. Most are already charged when you buy them, you have to pull a safety tab to get them to work and most have an off and on tab, you can charge the battery, turn the light off, then turn it on when you have a power outage. They aren't super bright but will help you get around when everything is dark. Hope that helps...
Instead of a fire extinguisher, I would recommend a fire blanket ... You just cover the fire with it and it smothers the fire. It is reusable, doesn't expire, doesn't leave a mess ...
Someone else has said that they're one-time use only, but that may be true for some of them but not all. I don't know. I just thought I'd better mention it here for other readers because we have conflicting messages in the comments.
@@AmandaJYoungsI had a gas bottle fire and put it out with a fire blanket, afterwards I folded it and put it back in it's container. I've not had to use it again but cannot see why it won't work. 81, just me and my cat Rocky, he is probably the only thing I couldn't do without. 😊
I'm loving how your list is evolving! As a felllow silver solo, I have adopted many of the same in this new list. When I lived in a city and walked to my markets, instead of a garden cart, I had a wheeled shopping bag. Now that I'm in a more rural setting, a garden cart/wagon helps me with moving shopping bags or other heavy items from the car onto the porch. Every step and heave-ho reduced makes it easier! I have a teak stool in the bathroom that is available when I've injured myself and need to sit when showering. It's heavy and stable, resists mold in a humid environment, and is attractive decor. I'm a tech afficianado, so I have a handful of smart devices around the house. Key lights in each room can be controlled by voice command. My video doorbells give me peace of mind about unexpected visitors. Smart speakers have been given emergency contact numbers so I can call for help even if my phone is out of reach. I'm considering a SmartWatch, as that has been useful for my aging parents to alert emergency services and the family when they had a fall.
Hi! Widowed coming up to 5 years ago & struggled with lots of jobs and things my husband used to do. So it's been a steep learning curve. I've just stumbled on your fabulous and really helpful advice and all the useful tips from everyone. I'm going to get the pet stickers and put my emergency info on my fridge - really helpful, thankyou!! I'm now binge watching all your other videos!
Last December I gave away my toaster and toaster oven. Then I invested in a Ninja air fryer, oven combo. What a lifesaver it is! I live in a tiny apartment so one appliance on the counter is space saving. Best of all, it flips up, saves even more space! I’m always burning food in my stove, not good! The air fryer does a much better job. Makes great pizza!
My apartment is tiny, too. Just about everything I have in here serves a dual purpose. My kitchen microwave doubles as a bread box to keep bread fresh. An old cat tree that the recyclers wouldn't take is now still a cat scratching post, but also sits next to my portable clothes washer. The middle level holds my laundry supplies, and the round top part of it just fits my round laundry basket. I keep spare Blue Ice things in the hole at the bottom. The cedar chest I inherited from my mom sits in the living room and doubles as a coffee table. One chair is also a futon for overnight guests. I keep my mountain bike indoors, and sometimes it does laundry-hanging duty!
Thank you for all these wonderful ideas. I have recently I light having a light on my front and back porch at night, although I hate trying to remember to turn the lights on and off. Recently I was introduced to light bulbs that automatically come on at dusk and go off at dawn. What a lifesaver for me. Blessings to you from Texas.
An alert button with a gps tracker so you can be found. When i fell, i layed in between cars in my parking lot for a very long time in the cold one night - I couldnt be seen
Here in Sweden there was a woman and her little dog who went on walks daily. She was in her 70s but was able to stroll a lot with her walker. They lived in a little village surrounded by forest. Wolf and bear exist in the area. One day in the summer she went missing. They did not find her until two months later, if I remember it correctly. She lay not more than 200m (660 feet) away from the nearest house. She had got a heart attack or something. The dog was tied to her walker and could not do anything to get help because he had no voice so he could bark. I don't remember why but so it was. The little dog had been forced to eat her to survive. The police killed the dog because he, they said, was aggressive after those months of trauma. Lesson to us others: Do not trust your neighbors or the police to try to find you - especially if you are an older person or a loner. Don't go alone into places where people can't find you directly if you have not told at least one other person, that you can trust, where you are heading. An alert button with a GPS tracker is excellent to have if anything happens. She used to walk by the road and if she had done it that time she would have been found at once.
I have always worried about power cuts, so I keep: a torch "headset" and a hurricane lamp (wind-up and rechargeable) and also a wind-up and rechargeable radio and torch about the house (and another wind-up torch in my handbag, you never know - now I just need to remember to take the handbag with me!). I would want to be in touch as much as possible if there were no power and no internet access and light is the best starting point for me. I'm also intending to buy a battery "power pack". I am amazed by how quickly your channel has grown, compared to others. I think that indicates there's a clear market for singles who live alone to be in community and learn from each other how best to be prepared for life's little eventualities and might-happens. Great job, Jen. I hope this channel brings you everything you hoped for from it when you started it. I know you achieved your initial goal, but it looks like you've expanded your vision for what this channel could do. I just hope you don't become so busy you don't get to have those lovely travels you had intended to go on! 🙂
For my kitchen I bought a fire blanket... much easier to use for a grease fire on the stove, or a toaster oven when the pizza ignited. And there's no chemicals to clean up afterward. It hangs on the wall in an inconspicuous spot by my back door. To open it, you just pull the tabs that clearly say "pull" and it opens up, then you can smother a small fire with it. It's made from glass fiber.
Yes! I love my toaster oven and since I've lived on the road for 2 years I have sooooo missed it! I use an instant pot instead of a crockpot etc and love it. So energy efficient (I live off my solar and batteries) and can cook pretty much anything. Flynn says Hi to your pupper! Glad I found your channel as I love living alone and fun to see other women that do too.
The pet sticker reminded me that when my kids were little, I had stickers on their bedroom windows that alerted the fire department of their location should there be a fire. I good thing to have at any age
...and if you have anyone disabled/impaired mobility, local fire debts will give out a decal that notifies them of an individual in a room with that decal on window needs help...
Me too, I'd love that recipe! Cooking in the crockpot is brilliant and I love to batch cook in mine. This would be a wonderful recipe to have and it would be great if Jen made us a video of how she makes it, too.
I have all the things you mention plus I also have: An emergency button necklace that has a cell signal built in. A basic tool kit with a battery-powered drill that can also be used as a screwdriver. I have a light-weight (but strong) indoor cart that can either be used upright or as a flatbed for moving things. I have a rebounder and hand weights so that I can get my exercise regardless of outside weather. I have an extensive and comprehensive kit to get me through just about any type of emergency. I have a fireproof container for my valuable papers. I have both a limited-service land-line and inexpensive smart phone. And, because I have pets, I have carriers for each pet to use as needed. Btw, a fire blanket is a great thing to have in the kitchen as there is less cleanup if it is a small fire.
I have a large new-this-year gorilla cart too! Great as I own my own home! And I love it ❤ The one with a yellow release that lets me pull the “bed” up and dump out the contents. It makes my whole ability to garden happen! I can also clean up fallen small tree branches, wind damaged plants, leaves, etc by walking around my acre, filling the cart and then dumping it in the more wooded part of my back yard! Such a help! I can’t handle the wheel barrow any more with heavy loads in it. Well worth the price. And yes, I have a grab-it tool too. I have a toaster oven and use that everyday at breakfast and other times too. I also got an electric pot to quickly heat up my water, for my tea, without turning on a burner on my electric stove that provides too much heat for a cup or two. Love the idea of the spray fire extinguisher! That will be on my list to get right now! Now ( at almost 80) I do a lot of raised beds on my deck to do herb gardening. And big light weight pots for more herbs, flowers and some tall grasses too, and some vegetables. I can go out on the back deck and greet these lovely plants every morning without getting on any gardening gear! Thanks Jen for doing this video. As always, you bring lovely calm moments with great simple ideas that are so useful. I look forward to these videos always and are special to me now! have subscribed and become a patron, and thank you so much for your presence here! 🥰
I lived alone in a condo and had a cart similar to yours to carry groceries from my car up to my apartment or trash to the dumpster. I couldn’t live without it!!
My Nespresso coffee maker…..mornings would not be the same without it. I do a grocery shop once a week and the following day I batch cook my evening meals for the week. Gives me a dedicated purpose for 2 days of the week. I do like the idea of having emergency information on or in the fridge plus a list of important daily medications. I’ll do that tomorrow.
What a grand episode! I loved everything Jen mentioned, as well as all the ideas in comments. This podcast group is one of the best! I would only add a Magnifying Glass. With no one around to read all that fine print, it is life-saving.
I have every single one of those things that you talked about on today’s video. And I do not live alone, but sometimes I am home alone and may need any of those items. So they are just generally good items to have for anyone. But I do like the spin you put on it because you live alone the topic fits with your niche. I’m so glad I found your channel. I’ve been enjoying your videos.
Great list! I have most of these including a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket. I like the idea of smothering the fire without worrying about accidentally spreading it by aiming wrong.
Even now, retired 1.5 years, I batch cook in an instant pot. Worked 39.5 years and batch cooked for my son and I. Now I freeze in small glass containers and take the meal in the cooler for the first few days of camping trip which I do at least 1 month. My mother taught me to cook in a pressure cooker on a gas stove. I purchased an instant pot and you can use the Sauté function at the begging to cook the onion garlic spices etc then cook beans or meat or quinoa or anything, then WALK AWAY and it will keep warm if selected. I usually do the dry bean recipes which is healthy and cost effective.
I'm a retired married man. However, there was a time in my life that I was a single adult, on a budget. I was living in a basement apartment with a fridge and stove that was older than I was. They did not work well. Because of money concerns I made almost all of my food and I used several of the items that you listed as favorites. I had a small toaster oven that I used all of the time. I also had a small freezer, which was a life saver for so many reasons. I bought a crock pot for $9 at a grocery store and I used it constantly. I don't think it was even 3 quarts, possibly 2 quarts but it was wonderful. The other appliance that I used was my microwave and I managed to cook real food (like from scratch) in it. One thing to consider is a vacuum sealer (like a seal-a-meal) I have used one for decades and it is a great way to keep food fresh (dry foods, frozen, and even stuff in the fridge) much longer. Thanks for the video!
All great ideas in this video. I definitely want to get a grabber because I am short and most of my cupboard shelves are taller than me and my balance isn't what it used to be now that I am older and have arthritis in my spine and knees. So, I don't use my step ladder much anymore. Also love the toaster oven, air fryer and crock pot appliances because I don't trust my balance getting hot pans out of the oven or large pans of boiling water from the stove to sink. One thing I haven't heard anyone mention is I have a long-handled spatula that I use to put arthritis cream or lotion on my back. 🙂👍 As always great video and wonderful visit with you today. 😁🙋 --Paula in Ohio USA
Ha! Just yesterday used my long kitchen tongs to hold a little paint brush so that I could apply a dab of paint on a discolored spot on the ceiling. 😃 Need to buy a proper grabber though for changing lightbulbs. I’m also considering buying a step ladder with handrails as a safer and sturdier option than my current “regular” aluminum step ladder. These videos are very helpful and it’s fun to read tips from others like me. I have those pet stickers at my front and back doors, they give me peace of mind - just remember you might have to rewrite any pet names or numbers after awhile because the sun will fade the ink. Thanks for the reminder…I put an emergency contact list on my fridge this morning.
Thanks. Didn't know the step ladders existed so definitely will check them out. Even as a kid, I hated regular step ladders because the hand holder at the top is too short making me think I would fall over frontways. I have the regular kind but when I need just one step I step on an unopened box of canned pet food as it is easy to move, is more steady and has a bit more foot area. Sure, it isn't safety approved so your risk. I used to have two of the 1 step stools but one broke with hubby on it and the other toppled over while I was painting the bathroom and busted my head open on the tub so, yeah I trust my own invention.
@@teresawood6830 Probably never was fully there, LOL. Went to the doctor's and he refused to come into the room to even look at it. Ack, too many of those.
I’m 77, living alone. I love my mini crockpot. It makes plenty for several servings without being overwhelmed with too many portions to freeze. I keep. My bigger crockpot for times I might have friends over. But my mini crockpot I will use several times a week.
I have a handicap reacher that I take to grocery store. I comes in handy for getting things off top shelves. It seems that there is never a store employee or fellow shopper around when I want something I can't reach.
Similar to your toaster oven and crock pot, I have my air fryer and Instant Pot (pressure cooker). A new stove came with the condo I bought over 15 years ago, and it is pristine. I rarely ever use the stovetop burners or oven. It's not that I'm trying to keep my stove clean, I just prefer to use the others. Also, I have a really good cart for transporting heavy and/or bulky items. That's a great tip about using the food tongs for picking up/reaching nonfood items. I've accumulated a bunch of them over the years, but settled on two favorites for the size and usability. So now I can dedicate one of the excess ones. One thing when I go on walks is that I sometimes pick up trash to put in the nearest trash can, but I don't like doing it with my bare hands - yuk. I'm going to take on on my walk now. - I can't live without my Alexa. She tells me all sorts of things, and she is my alarm clock too.
I live in an apartment, and I use a folding camping wagon to haul groceries, water bottles, and anything heavy or awkward. It also fits easily in the trunk of my car, unlike the upright grocery cart I used to use.
Some of my favourite cost a bit extra but it’s worth it options are pre-made salads and prepped veggies! I’m very conscious of my time and energy having just turned 60 and coming out on the other side of seven years of health challenges. Love your content! Cheers from another Canadian in beautiful Ottawa!!
You reminded me that after 21 yrs living in my condo I think there is an old fire extinguisher buried behind a mountain of stuff in the back of a kitchen cupboard! Oh my! 😅 I doubt it works, was there when I moved in. Probably a good idea to get a different one! 🤷♀️💃👍
I just installed an under the cabinet jar opener. What a help and out of the way, too. I also have several inflatable solar lights that give off very good light. Made by Luci for camping but I have them for power outages. I’ve been downsizing my “stuff” and I’m feeling much lighter without having so much. Thank you for sharing about the pet stickers! I’m going to order some of those.
Jen, I have now bought the same model of outdoor solar lights that you have, the flickering ones. I live in Sweden, Europe, so I was surprised we had them here, in a store. They were on sale for $3.50 each - got one XL too and that one cost $7. Eye-catching out in the garden when it's dark. ✨
Thank you for an amazing disposition, positive outlook & great living alone tips. I keep a flashlight handy but also a metal box with a candle holder & the metal box has a small drawer to include matches, Xtra candles & cigarette lighter in case the matches fail.
I have a air fryer Toaster oven and love it. I can't remember the last time I turn my oven on. Less energy, fast and when you live alone your not cooking big batches of food. Great list.
You've sparked my thoughts. I have a pair of tweezers. a special sharp pair of nail scissors, a stapler, and a letter opener, all of which are essential.😂
An old-school metal can opener can help open impossible tight jar lids on brand new glass jars. My most important thing I can’t live without is my iPad. And runner up is my Instant Pot. 😊
I don’t know if you’ve heard of a fire blanket. I know of two people who have them and I thought it was a great idea. I have a regular extinguisher and feel intimidated by it. Thanks for the video.
@@Violetgrey35wool is fire resistant but not fire proof. It has higher ignition point than some other items 570°-600° C (1058-1112° F ) . For comparison an average house fire burns at well over 1000° F.
I’m 64. I’ve lived solo since my 20s. I even adopted a special needs baby in China. You don’t really need all of this stuff. It’s too much! Keep it simpler. ❤
I have a keypad door lock. After my heart attack I thought if I need to call 911. I can give them the door code to enter in emergency. Also family and friends have their own codes if they need to check on me
Or you can just use a keypad for your garage door. As my father and his wife were falling in their 90s, the EMS people just got to know his garage code and would come on in.
I knew a lovely elderly lady who had lived alone after being widowed young. She made little toast tongues to give to others. Her last name was Mcintosh…..what a good apple.
I have lived alone for a long time and have most of what you mentioned in this and your other video. I recently bought my first house, 2 acres of cleared land, and was just starting to think about what to get to haul garden supplies around my yard. The wagon is perfect. Thanks for the link. I have solar lights as well but a few weeks discovered fireflies in my yard. I will wait until September to put up the solar lights and leave them up until spring. I would much rather see the fireflies as they are so pretty. I also use my silicon tipped kitchen tongs to reach things out of upper shelves in my kitchen.
As I am getting older, and living alone, my favourite item is my robot vacuum cleaner. Endlessly useful, and an endless source of entertainment. I also have, like you, a small chest freezer in a shed, as well as one as part of my kichen fridge/freezer. I have an electric can opener now my thumbs are siezed, and a ring pull gadget for my Coke. The other can't live without? Concentrated week killer for the patio. I just can't bend any more and a spray is so much easier and foot high weeds between the gaps are soul destroying. Thank you for making me think about how to make my elder years comfortable, and sharing.
I feel about my Instant Pot the way you feel about your crockpot. I use it weekly for batch cooking. It has a slow cook feature but I mainly use it as a pressure cooker.
Love my i instant pot. I use it for everything. I don’t have a toaster oven, toaster, or microwave and I don’t miss them at all. And I save on my electric bill and space. I have a tiny kitchen. That, to me, is the main reason.❤️
A simple little flap crossbody mini purse. Most of my pants don’t have pockets. And I just wear my little purse. Big enough to hold my smart phone and post box keys. I have it on me all day long moving around my house. If I fall and injure myself bad enough to prevent mobility, my phone won’t be far from me so I can call for help.
Back scratcher (as someone else mentioned) and in the winter a hot water bottle is important as my feet tend to get too cold, I pre-heat my bed down by my feet by putting it under the blankets about an hour before I'm ready for bed.
I didn't realize you could get pet stickers that didn't glue onto the glass. Thanks for that info. With the vinyl one, I can take it off when I'm taking my dog out with me for the day. That way, heaven forbid there was a fire, no one would put themselves in harm looking for a pet that wasn't even at home.
I do salmon, chicken, and all sorts of other things in my toaster oven, I rarely use my oven. It's perfect for one person, doesn't heat up the condo as much and takes literally a minute to heat up. I could never do without it. I have a crockpot,, rarely use it, would love a video on your favorite recipes.
I really enjoyed listening to your videos,they are very helpful I’ve got to watch it again and take notes, can’t remember anything. You really have good ideas, I’ve been alone ten years, I just don’t think of stuff I need except my husband, I get depressed I guess, I try not to , hard sometimes. Thanks for sharing❤❤🙏👍
TY!! for more items that look like must haves. I have a wheelbarrow that will be going to a new home. I want a garden cart!! I do have a toaster oven and a toaster!! I use them every day! AND YES to crockpots! I've made lasagna in mine. Delish! I have a dark backyard as well. Love my twinkling solar lights. Great suggestions I don't have but will look into!
Hi Jen, I absolutely love your videos. I’ve been here a while but you are soooo popular & so many great commenters that I often just leave a thumbs up. One of the things I can’t live without (sadly it’s not environmentally friendly) is dry shampoo. I have a condition that makes it impossible to wash my own hair & so in between my carer popping in to help out I find a tin of dry shampoo helps keep my hair feeling & looking clean. Apparently it’s made of rice. Annie🏴
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm checking out both the little fire extinguisher AND a fire blanket. The comments on your channel are the only ones I ever read any more, positive and helpful and full of kind concern. BTW, I borrowed a grabber when I had shoulder surgery and will be getting my own because it is SO helpful reaching that lonely sock in the washing machine among other things. The one I'm using has a little magnetic knob on one of the pincers - picks up little screws that fall! Be well!
Living in a huge multi unit condo complex I have a wagon that I use all the time for moving groceries or luggage from parking garage to & from unit, but also for taking cardboard to the recycling floor, or helping a neighbor move things, or even hauling my camping cool to a friend’ unit in another unit when their fridge died & they were waiting on delivery in a few days. I’m amazed at how often I use it & since it can collapse for traveling I’ve taken it with me and use it at the other end.
My laundry is on the main level of my home, and the bedroom is upstairs. I recently got a couple of those big blue Ikea bags, and use them for carrying laundry. They are lightweight, flexible, and have handles for ease of carrying. Much safer on stairs than a laundry basket!
I have those too. It's much easier to handle laundry with those types of bags. Best would be bags of cotton with the temperature printed on it. Greetings from Sweden!
I took care of an elderly woman who could no longer walk upstairs to her bedroom. Her staircase was on the narrow side and also made a turn part way up. She had the neatest small seat attached to a track that could carry her while sitted, safely to the top. That would be handy for sending laundry upstairs! When not in use it was fairly obscure folded flat against the wall
One thing I use constantly is a vacuum sealer.I buy family packs of meat or veggies and divide them before freezing. They are much easier to use than defrosting a whole package of chicken thighs. They're also great for batch cooking.Lay them flat for freezing and then stack or fi!d them in the freezer.
I live in a condo. Purchased a wagon with fabric liner. Use it for everything. Recycled, trash, package retrieval. Moving things from room to room. It closes for storage or trunk. Use it for groceries as well
For back scratching, I use a soft bristle back brush. It's wonderful, because I can give my back a really good scratching without abradind the skin. Another thing I can't live alone without is a pair of waterpump pliers, which I keep in my kitchen drawer for opening tough screw-top bottles, like sports drink bottle tops Also, my JarKey jarpop, for releasing the vacuum seal on screw-top jars. It works like a beer bottle opener, but on big jars. It's easy and low tech; no moving parts, works like a charm, and stores in a drawer.
Firefighter here, learn to use a real fire extinguisher. The little hairspray ones are used up fast. Get a real extinguisher. And remember P.A.S.S.:
PULL the pin,
AIM at the BASE of the flame,
SQUEEZE the handles together and,
SWEEP back and forth.
I hope this helps those unfamiliar with fire fighting. Otherwise, take your extinguisher into any firehall and anyone there will be glad to explain it to you. I would suggest a 5 pound ABC rated extinguisher. These will put out any type of fire commonly experienced in your home. Please consider getting and getting acquainted with a real fire extinguisher. Stay safe.
Do fire blankets work for small kitchen fires?
@@kellyl.3059 Yes. The problem is that sometimes for a fire on the stove, whatever is burning can be knocked over or off the stove. Don't panic and use them carefully. I'd still suggest a fire extinguisher, just in case.
Thanks so much!
@@kellyl.3059I've read reviews on those. If I remember correctly they're made with fiberglass and even messier than an extinguisher. Imagine fiberglass shards the size of splinters getting all over your kitchen and surrounding areas and getting in everything. Not only is it quite the mess but it's dangerous as well.
Yes! Started my oven on fire when silicone heat resistant trays stored in the bottom drawer caught on fire! Have both a full size and a couple of smaller ones.
My favorite thing that I absolutely cannot live without is a back scratcher. I have it by my bed at home and take it anywhere I’m traveling to.
Mine isn’t just by my bed. It’s in my bed. It’s under the pillow next to me and I have a separate one that I just keep in my suitcase all the time so I don’t forget it.
@@LynsAlteredArts exactly! I have3! Can’t live without them!
Absolutely!
@@LynsAlteredArtsa back scratcher is a must and also a back scrubber for the shower. 😊
Yes! A back scratcher is one of my indispensable items!
My little dog! Absolutely can’t live without this little creature ❤
Absolutely…as I was watching this video, I thought about my rescue kitty cat. Can’t imagine life without her!
My big cat! She sleeps next to me every night, and alerts me to animals outside and spiders on the ceiling. I also discovered she catches mice! None of my former cats ever did that. The word is out about her among the mice, and my house has been mouse-free since I got her.
Same with my boy, he's my body guard and when we go out to potty, he's always on alert
@@debifisher2101God made them for us. My Morkie before she passed over to heaven, acted the role of protector
Must have! A silicone mat to open jars! With my carpal tunnel and arthritis its a must!
I use a pipe wrench from my tool box!
A teaspoon works well. Push the handle between the jar and the top and twist the spoon. It will break the vacuum seal (you’ll hear it pop) and then you can twist the lid off
Better, Amazon has a gadget that you install under a kitchen cabinet which is ALWAYS where you can find it and opens everything with ease. It's just called an under-counter jar opener. Best thing I ever bought for my kitchen. Opens every screw-on lid from a soda bottle to large jars. Under $10. I've given up on pull-tab cans. I just use my regular can opener on them. The pull tabs are awful for the elderly, and I always wind up spilling the contents of the can all over when I try to use them.
Look at the fire blankets as most are caused by cooking and it will not make a mess. It's a fiberglass blanket that smothers the fire.
After having a stove mishap I can testify how well these work. It's a one time use item, but the ease of being able to safely smother a fire is great. I now have one in my kitchen, one in my bedroom and one in the garage.
I agree. Fire extinguishers have several drawbacks: they expire; they have chemicals that are a mess to clean up; and they can be complicated to operate . I much prefer a fire blanket. Fire chiefs advocate for them.
I love the idea of a fire blanket for a small kitchen fire! I have bought one and have had the great fortune to not have needed to use it yet, so I can’t speak to its effectiveness.
I recently bought one.
Bought 2 fire blankets for small fires
I super glued a small round magnet to the back of my grabber tool. Very handy if I drop or loose a screw from my glasses, or pins, needles ect!!!
Hi Jen and all. I accidentally threw my cat keys into the big trash dumpster. It was a total fail on my part when I was throwing away a bag of trash and accidentally heaved the keys over with it. Besides feeling like an idiot, I also felt powerless. I’m on the short side so heaving myself over the dumpster side to pick up my Keyes was impossible. At least I could see the keys. Well, I have this very grouchy and reclusive neighbor who was out there smoking. I asked her if she had a broom. She disappeared and came out with a broom stick with a hook at the end. It was perfect. An added bonus of this humiliating experience was that it softened our relationship a tiny bit and we say hi now. I don’t know if I would recommend getting or making the same utensil but something like a grabber or a broomstick with a hook on it can and does come in handy. Thanks for your videos. Ruth
Car keys. Not cat keys,
@@ruthmarner6582 duh... I speak the language! lol 🤪
I put one of my key rings on my finger so it won't leave my hand.
One of those Slim Jim's, or coat hanger, for when you're locked out of your car...
@@sr2291that's a great Idea! I actually have a small keyring that I just last night discovered fits around my finger and I was trying to think what I could use it for. I could put an extra key on it and slip it on my finger in case I accidentally lock myself out (actually happened when I first moved in here).
Hasn't happened since but better safe than sorry.
Thanks!
My absolute must-have is an internet connection. UA-cam is the best!
Better than any cable channel!
AND a smart-phone to watch it on if the power goes out! I didn't think I needed a smart phone until several years ago, when I was 69. I was almost 3 hours late to a meetup of friends because I couldn't find one of the streets in my written directions. I bought my first iPhone for the GPS map and spoken directions alone, which even if that was the only thing the phone did, would be worth its weight in gold. But my goodness - it does everything. I have an earthquake alert on it, weather and Dopper radar, UA-cam, Facebook, calendar, and even a flashlight. It's set up to communicate with my dash-cam in the car and play videos it records. The internet connection is another must-have lifesaver! And texting -- again, how did I ever live without texting? I prefer texting to phone calls and voicemail. I have the Trailforks app for bike trails. Apple maps and Google maps, which give driving directions and show road closures, traffic backups, etc. And the camera on this thing is far better, more versatile and more sophisticated than any *real* camera I've ever owned. I also use the calculator all the time, with its big, easy-to-see buttons. I recently got a cool free app called "Sky Guide". I can point it at the night sky and it tells me what stars and constellations I'm looking at. One night it even pointed out that the moving bright dot I was looking at was the International Space Station flying by. There's even an air-quality app called "Purple Air" that comes in very handy when there are wildfires in the area polluting the air. No one is "too old" to learn to use a smartphone. If I can do it, just about anyone can.
Yes, so sick of slow internet. I pay extra for Fios.
A wagon is very useful in an apartment too. Groceries and things from car to suite, garbage and recycling out.
I am with you on the cart usage in the house…moving from room to room.
I'm 77 and can't live without my second home, a high top van with everything I need. I spend all day every day at a beach or park and go home to shower and sleep. Perfect!😊
Sounds great!
@@my2cworth4U .. perfect!
good for you
I'm 70 and have been living alone for over 20 years. One extremely important thing I cannot live alone without is my physical strength since it's often a real trick to find someone to help. Besides all the gardening and lawn care and snow shoveling, and home repair that requires a body that moves well and builds strength, I do Classical Stretch/Essentrics every day. It's important to me that I stay as strong and flexible as possible. I also keep a pedometer in my pocket and whenever I check it, it motivates me to get off the couch and stop scrolling!!!
I agree totally. When you lose your strength it's like losing your best friend. 😢
I agree.
HEALTH IS WEALTH
SO very important! Quite possibly THE most important suggestion ever! Thank you.
Love Classical stretch !
And use my pedometer daily!😊
Nurse here… also former Ambulance driver… thank you for posting your medical records on refrigerator. The first place EMS personnel look.
Also putting the information in a glass container/ jar with a lid inside refrigerator protects in case of fire.
The one thing I can't live without as a single person alone is a long-handled lotion applicator. It's like a back brush for the shower, except that instead of a brush at the end there's a plastic pad that you can use to apply creams, lotions, or medications to the skin on your back. When my cat got spooked and lacerated my back pretty badly, I was able to apply antibiotic cream with it.
Been looking for a good one. Reccomendation?
I didn't know they existed. I made my own by gluing a pad onto the reverse side of my shower brush
I use a spatula from the Dollar Tree
@@rmeadowbird2722check the Vermont Country Store. I bought one from them about 15 years ago and still use it"
@rmeadowbird2722 I got mine from my dermatologist. Don't see a name on it but you could look at yours.
I would add furniture sliders to the list- plastic or siliconised discs to slip under chair/sofa/bookcase/cabinet etc legs to make moving items easier ( and to prevent damage to hard floors). I’m 72 and recently reorganised my living room furniture by myself.💪😊
Oh, great idea!
I'm 72, and the thing I can't live without is my long metal shoe horn. It sure makes it easier to put my shoes on.
I don't use my toaster oven and crock pot so much anymore since I got my air fryer and Instant Pot. I turned off the gas to my big range; I just don't use it for one.
Instead, I have an electric one hob stove and my two-cup tea pot fits perfectly under my Keurig. I love instant hot water.
When the power goes out, I use my one hob butane stove. Camping supplies like USB rechargeable fans and lights are great to have when you have no power. That and my Kindle. :) I have a Bluetti EB70S 800W power box, with a 200 W foldable solar panel, to charge the camping gear and my i-phone, and run my 12 V camping fridge. But, usually, the power comes back on before anything needs moved out of my fridge or 5 cu. ft. chest freezer.
I could do with a new fire extinguisher as mine expired years ago.
Jon in rural BC, Canada
I said the same about the Instant Pot and air fryer! But I actually think the long-handled shoe horn is one of my essentials (and I'm 63). Anyone with restricted mobility might benefit from using one of these, and of course, you can still use one just fine if you've no limitations at all, so it's a no brainer, really. (I even keep a small shoe horn in my handbag - although it could also go in an overnight bag - some people like you to take off your shoes when you visit and a small shoe horn is better than nothing.)
Long metal shoe horn is a must in every household if you ask me. The shoes hold longer too.
My husband makes long handled wooden shoe horns which are very much in demand amongst all our friends.
Garden trolley/cart ✔️
Half sized oven ✔️
Fire extinguisher ✔️
Outside lights ✔️
Long handled tongs✔️ps the super strong bbq tongs are great for pulling up weeds
Upside down fridge with heaps of freezer space ✔️
Also have drills, ladders, tool box ✔️
❤❤❤
I added a small upright freezer to some space in my laundry room during the pandemic. It enables me grab those sale items, make meals, and freeze them. I feel the savings is worth the cost to run the energy star freezer. No regrets and grateful I had the space.
I'm 69 and finally bought myself a power drill and a tool bag for my other hand tools.
Love the idea of having super long tongs for weed picking. Not only a back saver but will lessen the chance of ticks dropping onto you
I can attest to the value of those "hairspray style" fire extinguishers. We have Family Dinner every Friday (our kids and my Mom come over to join us), so we were all right here sitting at our nook table but not really paying attention to the kitchen where my husband was making dinner. He left the room for a moment, and luckily my oldest daughter saw--out of the corner of her eye--the flames that suddenly shot up from the stove. He was in the habit of saving and using using old plastic food trays (from buying pre-cooked carnitas or things like that that just need to be heated up) to hold utensils while cooking. Evidently, he nudged the tray a bit as he left the room, and it got just close enough to the gas burner to catch fire. My daughter very calmly got up from the table, grabbed the fire extinguisher spray from under the kitchen sink, and put the fire out with no trouble (or needing to read directions) practically before anyone else even knew what was happening and before any real damage was done, especially to our recently painted cabinets! She saved the day because she knew that spray was there (my kids had teased me a lot when I ordered them because I didn't read the description thoroughly and wound up with like 20 of them--but they all got their own, and we have them in every room, plus the garage, where fire might be an issue!) and it was super easy to use quickly. We also now only use glass/ceramic trays to hold cooking utensils, and he makes extra sure they're far enough away from the stovetop at all times!
I just came across your channel and have been binge watching and new subscriber. Fellow Canadian here from Ontario and living alone. Been on my own for many years since the kids moved out . I retired 6 years ago and moved to a tiny cottage on Georgian Bay. I wake up to birds singing now, not an alarm clock. Opening my living room curtains and looking out over the bay watching trumpeter swans swim by is the best way to start my day. That I can't live without.
Sounds beautiful
Emergency Chocolate! Can’t live without this 😉 👍Judy
I find I cannot keep it. "Emergencies" keep coming up! As soon as it comes into the house, it is eaten, alas.
@@Ga-qn6sx Yes!
I know you're joking but my diabetic mum was advised by her doctor to have glucose sweets handy for emergency use. It can save you from a diabetic coma. Easy to keep in a handbag or pocket when you leave the house
Best grabber I have found is one from Amazon that once you squeeze the handle shut, it stays shut so I don’t have to keep pressure on the handle to retain my grip on the item I am picking up! Old arthritic hands love this one.
Wish I had known about that, but I did need to buy two grabbers recently, so that has been helpful for a number of reasons
The kindness of strangers.
All great ideas, from the video and comments. I didn't see flashlights mentioned but you can get rechargeable ones and they're very handy. I got a two pack from Amazon and feel better knowing they are there when needed. I'm anxious about power failures after a not very good experience long ago.
As well as back scratchers I love my long handled bath brush for scrubbing the back in the tub or shower. I have an ancient plastic one that is way better than those wooden ones where the brush part always falls off. Also a silicone belt style that is two sided and either scrubs or massages.
I bought one step stool that took up too much space so its now used as a seat to put footwear on, but I then bought one of those folding ones that fits in the narrow gap beside the fridge and it's so useful. I also have several grabbers for all over the house.
Just bought one of those garden trolleys too, yay. Lightweight garden tools. Solar lights outside.
Toaster oven, microwave, electric kettle, crock pot, actual toaster, and... pressure cooker. Mine is 50 years old and I only had to replace the seals once,, still available from Presto for less than 10 dollars by mail. My electric stove has broil and air fry capacity.
Lots of candles just in case. Tiny action motivated or darkness motivated lights here and there in the house, at the top and bottom of stairs, hallways, and bathrooms. In closets too.
My husband oassed away at Christmas and had Parkinson's so we had some of these things for several years before, but they also help me since I'm 79 and in poor health. Safety first. 😊
I love living with the things I have now. But, I know what it's like to live without running water, with sand floors and tarpaper walls. First couple years I was married we had a house didn't have a roof when I got it. Had to add that before moving in. At least it, had a wood floor. We had to haul water from the a spring a mile away. It had tarpaper walls and an outhouse without a door but, with a 1 mile view. Yeah, I can live without a lot but, I love having indoor plumbing, air conditioning, nice furnishings and solid, hardwood floors. Yes, I made $44 a week as a concrete laborer back then.
Dreams do come true ❤ ... you did it!
I simply can NOT live without my motion detecting decorative GE nightlights! I have them in EVERY room! When getting up during the night to grab a glass of water, use the restroom, check a noise, etc., I don’t even have to turn on a light! As I enter a room or walk down a hallway, my path is lighted before I get there. Talk about a wonderful way to prevent falls! They come in a variety of finishes, including stainless steel, bronze, and white,…and also several decorator designs. I receive so many compliments, especially from guests that stay with me. They are pretty sensitive, but even the sensitivity may be adjusted. Again, I could not live without them! I order mine from Amazon, and they run about $10.-$12. each.
@@nanciwarner-carreon7055 I have one of these were given to me! It's very useful.
Pam here….would love your Butter chicken recipe!!
Toaster ovens are also handy when the weather is hot. Put it outside or in the garage so you won't heat up the kitchen.
I never thought of that! I"m moving my toaster oven to the garage for the summer! 😂
Mine is right near the stove fan (up over the burners). I put on the fan when I heat anything up in the summertime, it exhausts the extra heat. In the wintertime when I use the oven, I leave the door open when I'm done to make use of that heat.
Great idea!
@@signalfire6
I do the same thing !
Love all the great ideas! One little item that I seem to need more often these days is a magnifier, ours has a light in it...and I have a pair of tweezers with a magnifier built in for slivers after working outside. As for your solar outdoor lights you can actually use them indoors too in case of a power outage. We keep a few small solar lights with a few of those el-cheap-o glow light sticks that you can usually find in the party section of your local store in with our emergency supplies...instead of burning candles which could turn into a fire hazard.
I need to add those to my hurricane kit!
Funny you should say that. I have a magnifier with a light in every room. My eyesight is not the best!
How do you power the solar lights indoors?
Great idea if it works!
@@briannab5296 Solar lights work in the dark...outside or inside. You just have to charge them up by setting them out in the sun, even if it's on a windowsill, then turn them on when it's dark in the house. Most are already charged when you buy them, you have to pull a safety tab to get them to work and most have an off and on tab, you can charge the battery, turn the light off, then turn it on when you have a power outage. They aren't super bright but will help you get around when everything is dark. Hope that helps...
Come on, we all know those magnified tweezers are for chin hairs. Well, mine are! 😅
I just found this so 100 percent new,I just turned 65 and have lived on my own for many years but do need tips❤
Instead of a fire extinguisher, I would recommend a fire blanket ... You just cover the fire with it and it smothers the fire. It is reusable, doesn't expire, doesn't leave a mess ...
Someone else has said that they're one-time use only, but that may be true for some of them but not all. I don't know. I just thought I'd better mention it here for other readers because we have conflicting messages in the comments.
@@AmandaJYoungs Prepared Hero Blankets, if they are in good condition after they have been used, are reusable.
@@marikadonders3293 Thank you! I don't know if we'll have them in the UK, but I'll check it out. I appreciate you taking the time to help.
@@AmandaJYoungsI had a gas bottle fire and put it out with a fire blanket, afterwards I folded it and put it back in it's container. I've not had to use it again but cannot see why it won't work. 81, just me and my cat Rocky, he is probably the only thing I couldn't do without. 😊
@@stalagnight Thank you!
I'm loving how your list is evolving! As a felllow silver solo, I have adopted many of the same in this new list.
When I lived in a city and walked to my markets, instead of a garden cart, I had a wheeled shopping bag. Now that I'm in a more rural setting, a garden cart/wagon helps me with moving shopping bags or other heavy items from the car onto the porch. Every step and heave-ho reduced makes it easier!
I have a teak stool in the bathroom that is available when I've injured myself and need to sit when showering. It's heavy and stable, resists mold in a humid environment, and is attractive decor.
I'm a tech afficianado, so I have a handful of smart devices around the house. Key lights in each room can be controlled by voice command. My video doorbells give me peace of mind about unexpected visitors. Smart speakers have been given emergency contact numbers so I can call for help even if my phone is out of reach. I'm considering a SmartWatch, as that has been useful for my aging parents to alert emergency services and the family when they had a fall.
I like that, “silver solo” !
Hi! Widowed coming up to 5 years ago & struggled with lots of jobs and things my husband used to do. So it's been a steep learning curve. I've just stumbled on your fabulous and really helpful advice and all the useful tips from everyone. I'm going to get the pet stickers and put my emergency info on my fridge - really helpful, thankyou!! I'm now binge watching all your other videos!
Last December I gave away my toaster and toaster oven. Then I invested in a Ninja air fryer, oven combo. What a lifesaver it is! I live in a tiny apartment so one appliance on the counter is space saving. Best of all, it flips up, saves even more space! I’m always burning food in my stove, not good! The air fryer does a much better job. Makes great pizza!
My apartment is tiny, too. Just about everything I have in here serves a dual purpose. My kitchen microwave doubles as a bread box to keep bread fresh. An old cat tree that the recyclers wouldn't take is now still a cat scratching post, but also sits next to my portable clothes washer. The middle level holds my laundry supplies, and the round top part of it just fits my round laundry basket. I keep spare Blue Ice things in the hole at the bottom. The cedar chest I inherited from my mom sits in the living room and doubles as a coffee table. One chair is also a futon for overnight guests. I keep my mountain bike indoors, and sometimes it does laundry-hanging duty!
Thank you for all these wonderful ideas. I have recently I light having a light on my front and back porch at night, although I hate trying to remember to turn the lights on and off. Recently I was introduced to light bulbs that automatically come on at dusk and go off at dawn. What a lifesaver for me. Blessings to you from Texas.
An alert button with a gps tracker so you can be found. When i fell, i layed in between cars in my parking lot for a very long time in the cold one night - I couldnt be seen
Good idea, hope you're doing ok now.
Here in Sweden there was a woman and her little dog who went on walks daily. She was in her 70s but was able to stroll a lot with her walker. They lived in a little village surrounded by forest. Wolf and bear exist in the area. One day in the summer she went missing. They did not find her until two months later, if I remember it correctly. She lay not more than 200m (660 feet) away from the nearest house. She had got a heart attack or something. The dog was tied to her walker and could not do anything to get help because he had no voice so he could bark. I don't remember why but so it was. The little dog had been forced to eat her to survive. The police killed the dog because he, they said, was aggressive after those months of trauma.
Lesson to us others:
Do not trust your neighbors or the police to try to find you - especially if you are an older person or a loner. Don't go alone into places where people can't find you directly if you have not told at least one other person, that you can trust, where you are heading. An alert button with a GPS tracker is excellent to have if anything happens. She used to walk by the road and if she had done it that time she would have been found at once.
@@KimSmith-b9v .. such a horrible & sad way to go 😪
Perfect for ANY age!
I'd love to get one. Could you share a brand name or a link? Thank you!
I have always worried about power cuts, so I keep: a torch "headset" and a hurricane lamp (wind-up and rechargeable) and also a wind-up and rechargeable radio and torch about the house (and another wind-up torch in my handbag, you never know - now I just need to remember to take the handbag with me!). I would want to be in touch as much as possible if there were no power and no internet access and light is the best starting point for me. I'm also intending to buy a battery "power pack".
I am amazed by how quickly your channel has grown, compared to others. I think that indicates there's a clear market for singles who live alone to be in community and learn from each other how best to be prepared for life's little eventualities and might-happens. Great job, Jen. I hope this channel brings you everything you hoped for from it when you started it. I know you achieved your initial goal, but it looks like you've expanded your vision for what this channel could do. I just hope you don't become so busy you don't get to have those lovely travels you had intended to go on! 🙂
For my kitchen I bought a fire blanket... much easier to use for a grease fire on the stove, or a toaster oven when the pizza ignited. And there's no chemicals to clean up afterward. It hangs on the wall in an inconspicuous spot by my back door. To open it, you just pull the tabs that clearly say "pull" and it opens up, then you can smother a small fire with it. It's made from glass fiber.
Yes! I love my toaster oven and since I've lived on the road for 2 years I have sooooo missed it! I use an instant pot instead of a crockpot etc and love it. So energy efficient (I live off my solar and batteries) and can cook pretty much anything. Flynn says Hi to your pupper! Glad I found your channel as I love living alone and fun to see other women that do too.
My absolute must-have is an internet connection.
To keep posting inspirational videos, that will transform lives.
A good quality and comfortable bed
Love the solar lights, esp the dragon!
Dragon is very cool!
The pet sticker reminded me that when my kids were little, I had stickers on their bedroom windows that alerted the fire department of their location should there be a fire. I good thing to have at any age
...and if you have anyone disabled/impaired mobility, local fire debts will give out a decal that notifies them of an individual in a room with that decal on window needs help...
Smart!
Wouldn't that also alert predators as to where your children's room is?
@@sr2291 Sad, but true. You have a good point.
I second the fire blanket.
Also a two step folding stool. I use mine daily.
Back scratcher. 👍Perfect for when you are alone and you get an itch on your back.
Will you share or show us how to make the butter chicken? Thank you so much!
Yes, please! Would love to see how too.😊
Me too, I'd love that recipe! Cooking in the crockpot is brilliant and I love to batch cook in mine. This would be a wonderful recipe to have and it would be great if Jen made us a video of how she makes it, too.
She's not responding to us
@@GM-jv9jz Keep yelling, kids. She’ll get it 😂
I was thinking the same. We need a butter chicken video PLEASE
I have all the things you mention plus I also have: An emergency button necklace that has a cell signal built in. A basic tool kit with a battery-powered drill that can also be used as a screwdriver. I have a light-weight (but strong) indoor cart that can either be used upright or as a flatbed for moving things. I have a rebounder and hand weights so that I can get my exercise regardless of outside weather. I have an extensive and comprehensive kit to get me through just about any type of emergency. I have a fireproof container for my valuable papers. I have both a limited-service land-line and inexpensive smart phone. And, because I have pets, I have carriers for each pet to use as needed. Btw, a fire blanket is a great thing to have in the kitchen as there is less cleanup if it is a small fire.
I had no idea they had those type of little fire extinguishers! I’m so getting that.
I have a large new-this-year gorilla cart too! Great as I own my own home! And I love it ❤ The one with a yellow release that lets me pull the “bed” up and dump out the contents. It makes my whole ability to garden happen! I can also clean up fallen small tree branches, wind damaged plants, leaves, etc by walking around my acre, filling the cart and then dumping it in the more wooded part of my back yard! Such a help! I can’t handle the wheel barrow any more with heavy loads in it. Well worth the price. And yes, I have a grab-it tool too. I have a toaster oven and use that everyday at breakfast and other times too.
I also got an electric pot to quickly heat up my water, for my tea, without turning on a burner on my electric stove that provides too much heat for a cup or two.
Love the idea of the spray fire extinguisher! That will be on my list to get right now!
Now ( at almost 80) I do a lot of raised beds on my deck to do herb gardening. And big light weight pots for more herbs, flowers and some tall grasses too, and some vegetables. I can go out on the back deck and greet these lovely plants every morning without getting on any gardening gear! Thanks Jen for doing this video. As always, you bring lovely calm moments with great simple ideas that are so useful. I look forward to these videos always and are special to me now! have subscribed and become a patron, and thank you so much for your presence here! 🥰
I love this for you..."this makes my whole ability to garden happen" I felt it😊😊❤❤
I lived alone in a condo and had a cart similar to yours to carry groceries from my car up to my apartment or trash to the dumpster. I couldn’t live without it!!
My Nespresso coffee maker…..mornings would not be the same without it. I do a grocery shop once a week and the following day I batch cook my evening meals for the week. Gives me a dedicated purpose for 2 days of the week.
I do like the idea of having emergency information on or in the fridge plus a list of important daily medications. I’ll do that tomorrow.
What a grand episode!
I loved everything Jen mentioned, as well as all the ideas in comments. This podcast group is one of the best! I would only add a Magnifying Glass. With no one around to read all that fine print, it is life-saving.
You can also take a picture with your phone, and zoom in on the picture to enlarge it. 😉
I have every single one of those things that you talked about on today’s video. And I do not live alone, but sometimes I am home alone and may need any of those items. So they are just generally good items to have for anyone. But I do like the spin you put on it because you live alone the topic fits with your niche. I’m so glad I found your channel. I’ve been enjoying your videos.
Great list! I have most of these including a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket. I like the idea of smothering the fire without worrying about accidentally spreading it by aiming wrong.
Even now, retired 1.5 years, I batch cook in an instant pot. Worked 39.5 years and batch cooked for my son and I. Now I freeze in small glass containers and take the meal in the cooler for the first few days of camping trip which I do at least 1 month.
My mother taught me to cook in a pressure cooker on a gas stove. I purchased an instant pot and you can use the Sauté function at the begging to cook the onion garlic spices etc then cook beans or meat or quinoa or anything, then WALK AWAY and it will keep warm if selected. I usually do the dry bean recipes which is healthy and cost effective.
I'm a retired married man. However, there was a time in my life that I was a single adult, on a budget. I was living in a basement apartment with a fridge and stove that was older than I was. They did not work well. Because of money concerns I made almost all of my food and I used several of the items that you listed as favorites. I had a small toaster oven that I used all of the time. I also had a small freezer, which was a life saver for so many reasons. I bought a crock pot for $9 at a grocery store and I used it constantly. I don't think it was even 3 quarts, possibly 2 quarts but it was wonderful. The other appliance that I used was my microwave and I managed to cook real food (like from scratch) in it. One thing to consider is a vacuum sealer (like a seal-a-meal) I have used one for decades and it is a great way to keep food fresh (dry foods, frozen, and even stuff in the fridge) much longer. Thanks for the video!
Love your posts. You feel like my friend.
All great ideas in this video. I definitely want to get a grabber because I am short and most of my cupboard shelves are taller than me and my balance isn't what it used to be now that I am older and have arthritis in my spine and knees. So, I don't use my step ladder much anymore. Also love the toaster oven, air fryer and crock pot appliances because I don't trust my balance getting hot pans out of the oven or large pans of boiling water from the stove to sink. One thing I haven't heard anyone mention is I have a long-handled spatula that I use to put arthritis cream or lotion on my back. 🙂👍 As always great video and wonderful visit with you today. 😁🙋 --Paula in Ohio USA
I started using a grabber about 10 years ago. I love it and cannot live without it. I even have one inside my car!
@@maureen14 totally agree 👍
Hi 👋 nice to meet you 😊 how are you doing
@@maureen14 totally agree 👍
Hi 👋 nice to meet you 😊 how are you doing
Ha! Just yesterday used my long kitchen tongs to hold a little paint brush so that I could apply a dab of paint on a discolored spot on the ceiling. 😃 Need to buy a proper grabber though for changing lightbulbs. I’m also considering buying a step ladder with handrails as a safer and sturdier option than my current “regular” aluminum step ladder. These videos are very helpful and it’s fun to read tips from others like me. I have those pet stickers at my front and back doors, they give me peace of mind - just remember you might have to rewrite any pet names or numbers after awhile because the sun will fade the ink. Thanks for the reminder…I put an emergency contact list on my fridge this morning.
Thanks. Didn't know the step ladders existed so definitely will check them out. Even as a kid, I hated regular step ladders because the hand holder at the top is too short making me think I would fall over frontways. I have the regular kind but when I need just one step I step on an unopened box of canned pet food as it is easy to move, is more steady and has a bit more foot area. Sure, it isn't safety approved so your risk. I used to have two of the 1 step stools but one broke with hubby on it and the other toppled over while I was painting the bathroom and busted my head open on the tub so, yeah I trust my own invention.
@@bettyir4302 OMG, I hope you recovered completely.
@@teresawood6830 Probably never was fully there, LOL. Went to the doctor's and he refused to come into the room to even look at it. Ack, too many of those.
I’m 77, living alone. I love my mini crockpot. It makes plenty for several servings without being overwhelmed with too many portions to freeze. I keep. My bigger crockpot for times I might have friends over. But my mini crockpot I will use several times a week.
I have a handicap reacher that I take to grocery store. I comes in handy for getting things off top shelves. It seems that there is never a store employee or fellow shopper around when I want something I can't reach.
I never thought of taking it to the grocery store. It seems there's something I can't reach on every visit. Thanks for the tip.
This is a very good tip I need to get one I am getting old, I'm disabled and I'm short
Similar to your toaster oven and crock pot, I have my air fryer and Instant Pot (pressure cooker). A new stove came with the condo I bought over 15 years ago, and it is pristine. I rarely ever use the stovetop burners or oven. It's not that I'm trying to keep my stove clean, I just prefer to use the others. Also, I have a really good cart for transporting heavy and/or bulky items. That's a great tip about using the food tongs for picking up/reaching nonfood items. I've accumulated a bunch of them over the years, but settled on two favorites for the size and usability. So now I can dedicate one of the excess ones. One thing when I go on walks is that I sometimes pick up trash to put in the nearest trash can, but I don't like doing it with my bare hands - yuk. I'm going to take on on my walk now. - I can't live without my Alexa. She tells me all sorts of things, and she is my alarm clock too.
I live in an apartment, and I use a folding camping wagon to haul groceries, water bottles, and anything heavy or awkward. It also fits easily in the trunk of my car, unlike the upright grocery cart I used to use.
Some of my favourite cost a bit extra but it’s worth it options are pre-made salads and prepped veggies! I’m very conscious of my time and energy having just turned 60 and coming out on the other side of seven years of health challenges.
Love your content!
Cheers from another Canadian in beautiful Ottawa!!
You reminded me that after 21 yrs living in my condo I think there is an old fire extinguisher buried behind a mountain of stuff in the back of a kitchen cupboard! Oh my! 😅 I doubt it works, was there when I moved in. Probably a good idea to get a different one! 🤷♀️💃👍
I just installed an under the cabinet jar opener. What a help and out of the way, too. I also have several inflatable solar lights that give off very good light. Made by Luci for camping but I have them for power outages. I’ve been downsizing my “stuff” and I’m feeling much lighter without having so much. Thank you for sharing about the pet stickers! I’m going to order some of those.
Jen, I have now bought the same model of outdoor solar lights that you have, the flickering ones. I live in Sweden, Europe, so I was surprised we had them here, in a store. They were on sale for $3.50 each - got one XL too and that one cost $7. Eye-catching out in the garden when it's dark. ✨
I LOVE mine!
I love my cart in my apartment! It carries the groceries, other purchases that are too big/heavy to carry, etc.
Thank you for an amazing disposition, positive outlook & great living alone tips.
I keep a flashlight handy but also a metal box with a candle holder & the metal box has a small drawer to include matches, Xtra candles & cigarette lighter in case the matches fail.
I have a air fryer Toaster oven and love it. I can't remember the last time I turn my oven on. Less energy, fast and when you live alone your not cooking big batches of food. Great list.
I can't live without my toaster oven, love it.
I toast my eggs in small bowl w olive oil and they come out great, no mess! Fast, easy and yummy!
@@lyndi9082 I never knew you can toast eggs lol.
@@micheleyoungblood Me either til I learned about it on YT...super easy!
@@lyndi9082 I'll have to do a search for that and try it out.
@@lyndi9082 Very interesting...Never thought of that. But I do make toast in my electric skillet. Do you use Metal bowl? what temp? 350 or so? 5 min?
You've sparked my thoughts. I have a pair of tweezers. a special sharp pair of nail scissors, a stapler, and a letter opener, all of which are essential.😂
Toaster oven & Instant Pot with air fryer lid. Less counter space used for 2 different appliances as lid goes in my closet. Win!
An old-school metal can opener can help open impossible tight jar lids on brand new glass jars. My most important thing I can’t live without is my iPad. And runner up is my Instant Pot. 😊
@@sherri. totally agree 👍
Hi 👋 nice to meet you 😊 how are you doing
I don’t know if you’ve heard of a fire blanket. I know of two people who have them and I thought it was a great idea. I have a regular extinguisher and feel intimidated by it. Thanks for the video.
We just met with a firefighter who recommended getting a fire blanket. I had never heard of them until he mentioned them.
You can use a 100% pure wool blanket. Wool doesn’t burn, so it can be used as a fire blanket.
The one I have (bought another for my parents) is in a package that can hang on the wall so an easy grab.
@@Violetgrey35wool is fire resistant but not fire proof. It has higher ignition point than some other items 570°-600° C (1058-1112° F ) . For comparison an average house fire burns at well over 1000° F.
My Apple Watch. I live alone so hope it will save me if I fall & knock myself out. Aussie Bob ❤
I’m 64. I’ve lived solo since my 20s. I even adopted a special needs baby in China. You don’t really need all of this stuff. It’s too much! Keep it simpler. ❤
I have a keypad door lock. After my heart attack I thought if I need to call 911. I can give them the door code to enter in emergency. Also family and friends have their own codes if they need to check on me
Or you can just use a keypad for your garage door. As my father and his wife were falling in their 90s, the EMS people just got to know his garage code and would come on in.
That's a great idea for homeowners but for us renters .. well ..
@@flynn1a but then you also have to leave the door into your house unlocked!
Wooden tongs to get toast out of the toaster without electrocuting myself. Aussie Bob
I knew a lovely elderly lady who had lived alone after being widowed young. She made little toast tongues to give to others. Her last name was Mcintosh…..what a good apple.
I just unplug the toaster.
I brought those home for my adult daughters and one of them said it was the best tool she ever saw
I gave them to my cousin, and she absolutely loves them. Much safer than using a fork or burning your fingers.
@@ElizabethCasey-sg4rl It's still hot.
I have little foot stools all over the house (clothes closet, linen closer, laundry room, kitchen, garage).
I have lived alone for a long time and have most of what you mentioned in this and your other video. I recently bought my first house, 2 acres of cleared land, and was just starting to think about what to get to haul garden supplies around my yard. The wagon is perfect. Thanks for the link. I have solar lights as well but a few weeks discovered fireflies in my yard. I will wait until September to put up the solar lights and leave them up until spring. I would much rather see the fireflies as they are so pretty. I also use my silicon tipped kitchen tongs to reach things out of upper shelves in my kitchen.
As I am getting older, and living alone, my favourite item is my robot vacuum cleaner. Endlessly useful, and an endless source of entertainment. I also have, like you, a small chest freezer in a shed, as well as one as part of my kichen fridge/freezer. I have an electric can opener now my thumbs are siezed, and a ring pull gadget for my Coke. The other can't live without? Concentrated week killer for the patio. I just can't bend any more and a spray is so much easier and foot high weeds between the gaps are soul destroying. Thank you for making me think about how to make my elder years comfortable, and sharing.
I agree... I have one back scratcher next to my bed, on my desk & in living room. 😁
I feel about my Instant Pot the way you feel about your crockpot. I use it weekly for batch cooking. It has a slow cook feature but I mainly use it as a pressure cooker.
Love my i instant pot. I use it for everything. I don’t have a toaster oven, toaster, or microwave and I don’t miss them at all. And I save on my electric bill and space. I have a tiny kitchen. That, to me, is the main reason.❤️
A simple little flap crossbody mini purse. Most of my pants don’t have pockets. And I just wear my little purse. Big enough to hold my smart phone and post box keys. I have it on me all day long moving around my house. If I fall and injure myself bad enough to prevent mobility, my phone won’t be far from me so I can call for help.
Back scratcher (as someone else mentioned) and in the winter a hot water bottle is important as my feet tend to get too cold, I pre-heat my bed down by my feet by putting it under the blankets about an hour before I'm ready for bed.
I didn't realize you could get pet stickers that didn't glue onto the glass. Thanks for that info. With the vinyl one, I can take it off when I'm taking my dog out with me for the day. That way, heaven forbid there was a fire, no one would put themselves in harm looking for a pet that wasn't even at home.
I do salmon, chicken, and all sorts of other things in my toaster oven, I rarely use my oven.
It's perfect for one person, doesn't heat up the condo as much and takes literally a minute to heat up. I could never do without it.
I have a crockpot,, rarely use it, would love a video on your favorite recipes.
I really enjoyed listening to your videos,they are very helpful I’ve got to watch it again and take notes, can’t remember anything. You really have good ideas, I’ve been alone ten years, I just don’t think of stuff I need except my husband, I get depressed I guess, I try not to , hard sometimes.
Thanks for sharing❤❤🙏👍
TY!! for more items that look like must haves. I have a wheelbarrow that will be going to a new home. I want a garden cart!! I do have a toaster oven and a toaster!! I use them every day! AND YES to crockpots! I've made lasagna in mine. Delish! I have a dark backyard as well. Love my twinkling solar lights. Great suggestions I don't have but will look into!
Thank you for your suggestions, as I am new to being on my own!
absolutely Yes on the toaster oven... and quality counts I have found out. Thanks for the reminder about my good ole crock pot.
Hi Jen,
I absolutely love your videos. I’ve been here a while but you are soooo popular & so many great commenters that I often just leave a thumbs up.
One of the things I can’t live without (sadly it’s not environmentally friendly) is dry shampoo. I have a condition that makes it impossible to wash my own hair & so in between my carer popping in to help out I find a tin of dry shampoo helps keep my hair feeling & looking clean. Apparently it’s made of rice.
Annie🏴
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm checking out both the little fire extinguisher AND a fire blanket. The comments on your channel are the only ones I ever read any more, positive and helpful and full of kind concern. BTW, I borrowed a grabber when I had shoulder surgery and will be getting my own because it is SO helpful reaching that lonely sock in the washing machine among other things. The one I'm using has a little magnetic knob on one of the pincers - picks up little screws that fall! Be well!
Living in a huge multi unit condo complex I have a wagon that I use all the time for moving groceries or luggage from parking garage to & from unit, but also for taking cardboard to the recycling floor, or helping a neighbor move things, or even hauling my camping cool to a friend’ unit in another unit when their fridge died & they were waiting on delivery in a few days. I’m amazed at how often I use it & since it can collapse for traveling I’ve taken it with me and use it at the other end.
There’s a self anti choking device that you can use alone. I have one on my kitchen counter. I got it on Amazon. It’s like a plunger
My laundry is on the main level of my home, and the bedroom is upstairs. I recently got a couple of those big blue Ikea bags, and use them for carrying laundry. They are lightweight, flexible, and have handles for ease of carrying. Much safer on stairs than a laundry basket!
I have those too. It's much easier to handle laundry with those types of bags. Best would be bags of cotton with the temperature printed on it. Greetings from Sweden!
I took care of an elderly woman who could no longer walk upstairs to her bedroom. Her staircase was on the narrow side and also made a turn part way up. She had the neatest small seat attached to a track that could carry her while sitted, safely to the top. That would be handy for sending laundry upstairs!
When not in use it was fairly obscure folded flat against the wall
One thing I use constantly is a vacuum sealer.I buy family packs of meat or veggies and divide them before freezing. They are much easier to use than defrosting a whole package of chicken thighs.
They're also great for batch cooking.Lay them flat for freezing and then stack or fi!d them in the freezer.
That's a great idea!
I live in a condo. Purchased a wagon with fabric liner. Use it for everything. Recycled, trash, package retrieval. Moving things from room to room. It closes for storage or trunk. Use it for groceries as well
Yep! I have a garden cart and it has saved me so much time and my back.
Yes, I love my crockpot!
For back scratching, I use a soft bristle back brush. It's wonderful, because I can give my back a really good scratching without abradind the skin.
Another thing I can't live alone without is a pair of waterpump pliers, which I keep in my kitchen drawer for opening tough screw-top bottles, like sports drink bottle tops
Also, my JarKey jarpop, for releasing the vacuum seal on screw-top jars. It works like a beer bottle opener, but on big jars. It's easy and low tech; no moving parts, works like a charm, and stores in a drawer.