Head to the dollar store to pick up essentials that come in handy in case of a car emergency. All of these items are helpful when stuck by the side of the road waiting for assistance — and a few might help you MacGyver yourself out of the situation. Keep everything contained in a box under your seat so things are close by when a car disaster strikes.

• Rain poncho: Tucking a rain poncho in your kit ensures that you'll stay nice and dry if you have to walk for assistance and it happens to be raining — or snowing.
• LED flashlight: A flashlight is essential in any emergency, and an LED lasts just about forever.
• Gloves: A cheap pair of gloves comes in handy if you have to do a little work that might get messy or help keep your grip when it's cold outside.
• Wet wipes: Wet wipes keep your hands nice and clean after doing dirty work and can be used to check your oil.
• Bungee cords: Along with keeping back-hatches and doors closed in a pinch, bungee cords also help keep things in place inside your vehicle.
• Snack: You might be stuck for a while, so including a snack keeps your tummy from rumbling.
• Crossword puzzle: Keep yourself occupied without running down the battery of your phone with a word search or crossword puzzle.
• First aid kit: Because you never know when you might need a band-aid.
• Aspirin: Having a car emergency is a headache in itself, so having a stash of aspirin makes things better.
• Glow sticks: Popping a few glow sticks in your emergency kit helps light your location at night.
• Superabsorbent towel: Made with spills in mind, tucking a superabsorbent towel in your kit soaks up liquids in an emergency. And you can also put it on the windshield of your car, especially over the driver's side, to keep ice from forming while you wait.

Along with these few essentials, tucking an old blanket in the back of your car along with a few bottles of water is a smart way to stay safe during any car emergency.