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Six Things I Didn’t Know I Needed Until I Got One

By //  by Candace Sampson 36 Comments

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As I get older, I’m becoming pickier about the things I actually need in my life. I’m currently in the middle of a massive purge of my house and nothing, I repeat NOTHING, is safe. I’ve been truly evaluating what I don’t need in my life, and in doing so, I’ve had a few a-ha moments about things I couldn’t live without anymore. 

Heated Car Seats

I feel like every Canadian will agree with this one because let’s face it, our butts get cold in the winter. A heated car seat is a like hug for your derrière, and once you’ve had one of these in your car there is no way you are going back. Ditto I might add for heated steering wheels. There is no way I’ll ever give this small luxury up.

Children

A lady I’ve known for years in social media mentioned this on my Facebook page and it was so simple and brilliant, I couldn’t disagree. I absolutely didn’t need children but now I can’t imagine a single second without them in my life.

A Dog

I always wanted a dog but my parents weren’t interested in indulging me, so the first thing I did when I moved into a house of my own was get one. Want and need are different things though. I wanted Honey in my life, but I had no idea how much I needed her. C’mon, wook at that wittle face. Who’s the best girl? Honey’s the best girl.

A SmartPhone

I will never forget being in Grade 8 and talking with my class about how old we’d all be in the year 2000. When we calculated that we’d be practically ancient at the ripe old age of thirty we were horrified. We talked about flying cars and space travel but never did anyone suspect we’d have a teeny tiny little device that would hold our entire lives in it. For better or for worse, my smart phone had become an extension of me, and for that reason alone, I can’t imagine my life without it now.

Coffee

A bit of a late bloomer, I didn’t start drinking coffee until I was in my 40s. Initially I started pounding back espressos to stay on top of a brutal work schedule, but now? Now I NEED it. One could say it’s an addiction.

Rogers Smart Drive

I recently installed a Rogers Smart Drive device in my car, and I am not even going to lie; when it was sent to me initially, I didn’t really get it. I already think my car is pretty smart so how could this gadget that plugs into my OBD-II possibly make it any smarter? Here’s a few ways I couldn’t imagine my life without it now.

  • We have wi-fi in the car. Clearly as a driver, this isn’t to my advantage but for my teen girls? It’s pretty much the coolest thing ever, since I’m pretty stingy with data with them. In fact, when we pick up their friends now, they instantly hand over the wi-fi code which means I’m officially the cool mom.
  • It tells me when my someone arrives at their destination safely. While this isn’t really something I worry about with my husband and believe me, I shut off the notifications when I go the mall because he doesn’t need to know everything. Sheesh. However, since I’m only a year away from having a teen driver in the house, and a second coming up fast, I can already see the peace of mind this will give me.
  • My memory has a friend. One of the most ingenious things about my Rogers Smart Drive, is it remembers where I go! I can’t tell you how often I visit a great place in the city or on my travels and then forget where it was. Now, I can simply go back into my Rogers Smart Drive app to grab the address for a return visit.
  • It helps me with my accounting. I’m inherently lazy when it comes to tracking mileage for my business, so until now, I never bothered. My Rogers Smart Drive tracks it all for me now, so each month I can tally my mileage for work and submit to my bookkeeper. Mental math shifted.

I want to hear what you didn’t realize you needed in your life until you had it. By doing so you’ll be entered to win a Rogers Smart Drive Device (value $199) PLUS 3 months of service (value $10/month)!  Using the Rafflecopter widget below, enter to win. Contest open to Canadians only, excluding Quebec. Contest closes November 26, 2017.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

THIS POST HAS BEEN PROUDLY SPONSORED BY ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS INC. ALL OPINIONS ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR.

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Filed Under: Living, Sponsored Posts, Technology Tagged With: children, dog, heated car seats, Smart drive, things you can't live without

About Candace Sampson

Candace is founder and editor-in-chief of Life in Pleasantville which isn't half as fancy as it sounds. You can find her sharing travel stories on What She Said Radio and on CTV Ottawa Morning Live.

Previous Post: « The Best Places to See Santa in Ontario (That Aren’t At The Mall)
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stephanie LaPlante

    November 13, 2017 at 9:07 am

    I didn’t know I needed a headset with a microphone until I got one. I use it everyday.

    Reply
  2. Amy Heffernan

    November 15, 2017 at 7:45 am

    My cell phone!

    Reply
  3. Courtney

    November 15, 2017 at 7:48 am

    My ipad! Makes my life so much easier!

    Reply
  4. Ruth Ann

    November 15, 2017 at 9:09 am

    A trainer at the gym! I would not be as dedicated without that appointment with him 3 days a week.

    Reply
  5. katiegracemarie

    November 15, 2017 at 10:02 am

    I can’t live without my keurig! It makes me coffee every morning while I’m getting ready!! absolutely love pre-programming my coffee!

    Reply
  6. Robyn Bellefleur

    November 15, 2017 at 11:50 am

    My banking app on my phone. I thought I was all good with online banking, but then I started using the phone app and can’t live without it now.

    Reply
  7. Cheryl H

    November 15, 2017 at 12:17 pm

    I didn’t know how much i would need a tablet! Its so helpful for me and even distracting the kids

    Reply
  8. Jonnie

    November 15, 2017 at 3:28 pm

    A toaster oven. I always thought I have a toaster, I have an oven, why do a need a combination of the two? Now I use it daily and only use my regular oven a few times a month.

    Reply
  9. Tainan Lu (@demon1102)

    November 15, 2017 at 3:44 pm

    I can’t live without my car, although I still don’t like driving.

    Reply
  10. Christine

    November 15, 2017 at 7:17 pm

    I didn’t know how awesome a PVR was until I had one!

    Reply
  11. Theresa Michalik

    November 15, 2017 at 8:08 pm

    i can’t live without too many things from my car to my cell phone.

    Reply
  12. Josh S

    November 15, 2017 at 9:13 pm

    I use my cell phone everyday now.

    Reply
  13. Lushka Smith

    November 15, 2017 at 10:13 pm

    Heated seats in my car.

    Reply
  14. musicteachermentor

    November 15, 2017 at 11:41 pm

    I agree with children and heated seats in my car. I also love having a baby grand piano!

    Reply
  15. Terry Mac

    November 15, 2017 at 11:53 pm

    Since moving to Ontario, definitely HEATED SEATS! What a lifesaver in winter!

    Reply
  16. Florence Cochrane

    November 16, 2017 at 12:14 am

    Definitely my Ipad which I use to facetime the grandchildren

    Reply
  17. LC

    November 16, 2017 at 1:14 am

    iphone!

    Reply
  18. Claudia

    November 16, 2017 at 11:55 am

    I love all of your can’t live without suggestions. Don’t know how I lived without the Smart Drive device before now!

    Reply
  19. Gillian Morgan

    November 16, 2017 at 2:13 pm

    I didn’t think I needed a smartphone but as it turns out I would be lost without it.

    Reply
  20. Maritess S

    November 16, 2017 at 4:28 pm

    A SMARTphone. I was content with a phone that has the ability to call and text and did not find it necessary to have apps installed. Now I have all types of apps on my phone. I feel so empty without my phone now. I can technically leave my wallet at home but not my phone.

    Reply
  21. Jenny Major

    November 16, 2017 at 8:21 pm

    My cell phone

    Reply
  22. Julie bolduc

    November 17, 2017 at 3:18 pm

    For sure my cell phone

    Reply
  23. Chantal

    November 17, 2017 at 9:34 pm

    wireless headphones, love them

    Reply
  24. MOHAMMAD ANJUM

    November 18, 2017 at 9:48 am

    my ipad

    Reply
  25. Jeannie Lam

    November 19, 2017 at 12:19 am

    I thought I didn’t need data on my phone….now I can’t imagine without it.

    Reply
  26. Marlene J

    November 19, 2017 at 12:26 am

    What I thought I didn’t need in my life but nowI can’t live without is my handbag when going out.

    Reply
  27. Matthew Tully

    November 19, 2017 at 7:34 am

    I couldn’t agree more with everything you mentioned not living without, but our daughter is definitely the biggest reason. She is literally the glue that holds life together.

    Reply
  28. SUMMER PLEWES

    November 19, 2017 at 12:03 pm

    I didn’t think I needed a data plan on my phone, now I don’t think that I could possibly live without using my phone for web browsing etc.

    Reply
  29. Linda

    November 20, 2017 at 10:45 pm

    Definitely my tablet.

    Reply
  30. aly3360

    November 21, 2017 at 3:48 am

    I didn’t know I needed a keurig until I got one. I won’t drink a whole pot of coffee so it’s nice to be able to make one cup quickly while i’m holding the baby with little mess or fuss.

    – Amber Y

    Reply
  31. Cathy C

    November 21, 2017 at 12:36 pm

    A smart phone. I thought only needed for business and work. So wrong. But now I know better.

    Reply
  32. Krista Miller (@MillerKrazy)

    November 21, 2017 at 12:43 pm

    It’s my smart phone for sure. I used to just get by with a pay-as-you-go old flip phone. But now I find I’m using all the features of my smartphone like gps directions, camera, social media & online banking. I couldn’t live without it!

    Reply
  33. Jaimeem

    November 21, 2017 at 1:21 pm

    A cell phone and Netflix. I need both lol

    Reply
  34. Stephen Gordon

    November 21, 2017 at 3:13 pm

    Cell phone

    Reply
  35. Aliya Ladha

    November 21, 2017 at 11:26 pm

    I couldn’t live without fast, unlimited, home internet! We cancelled cable, so between ALL the devices in our house (around 10, including TVs), I don’t know how we’d watch Netflix or use phones to watch YouTube and listen to music, without overage charges. Hallelujah for unlimited internet usage!!!

    Reply
  36. Mer L

    November 24, 2017 at 10:20 am

    A dash cam! Love posting crazy things I see on YouTube!!!!

    Reply

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