If I Lost Everything and Had to Start Over, I’d Buy These Again
There’s a certain kind of clarity that only shows up when you imagine losing everything.
Not in a dramatic, spiral-into-existential-crisis kind of way. More in a practical, “what would I actually need to function tomorrow morning?” kind of way because when you strip life down to the basics, it gets surprisingly simple, surprisingly fast.
We spend so much time buying things that make life prettier, easier, more aesthetic, more organized, more Pinterest-worthy. But if everything disappeared overnight—whether it was a fire, a flood, a hurricane, or just one of life’s uninvited plot twists—you wouldn’t be thinking about matching pantry containers or decorative baskets. You’d be thinking, “How do I make coffee? Where do I sit? How do I shower? And why does everything suddenly feel ten times harder than it should be?”
So let’s talk about it. Not the fluff. Not the “nice to have.” The real, practical, make-your-life-function-again essentials because if you had to start over, these are the things that actually matter.
The kitchen is the first place reality hits you. You don’t realize how much you rely on basic tools until they’re gone. You don’t need a fully stocked kitchen with every gadget ever made. You just need enough to make a meal without turning it into a full production.
A pot. A pan. You just need something to cook in and something to cook on...a two-burner plug in cooktop or a grill especially one with a griddle works well. Heck, an airfryer can provide an entire meal in minutes. That’s it. You can make a surprising number of meals with just the basics. Add in a spatula, a large spoon, and a knife that actually cuts, and suddenly you’re back in business. Not thriving, not hosting dinner parties, but functioning. And functioning is the goal.
You also quickly realize how important a simple cutting board is. Without it, you’re awkwardly trying to prep food on a plate or directly on the counter, which feels wrong on multiple levels. It’s one of those things you don’t think about until you don’t have it, and then it becomes very important very quickly.
Plates and utensils come next, but they don’t have to be fancy. You can absolutely survive on paper plates and plastic forks for a little while, but at some point you’re going to want something that doesn’t bend when you’re trying to eat a normal meal. A basic set of dishes and silverware brings a sense of normalcy back into your day in a way that’s hard to explain until you experience it. Often you can find these at dollar stores and thrift shops. They're very affordable and will serve the need until you're in a position to find the perfect pattern for your decor.
And then there’s the coffee situation. Because let’s be honest, priorities. Whether it’s a basic coffee maker, a kettle, or even just something that gets hot water into a mug, that first cup of coffee in the morning is less about caffeine and more about feeling like yourself again. It’s a small routine that says, “Okay, we’re still here. We can figure this out.”
The bathroom is where things get very real, very fast. You can’t delay getting this space functional. Towels are non-negotiable. Not the decorative kind. Just something that dries you off and does its job. Same goes for basic toiletries. Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo. Nothing fancy, just the essentials that make you feel human again.
And yes, a toilet brush. Nobody wants to talk about it, but it’s one of those things you will absolutely notice the absence of. Some items don’t need to be glamorous. They just need to exist.
A shower curtain is another one of those things you don’t think about until water is suddenly everywhere it shouldn’t be. A basic shower curtain liner will do the trick while you're getting back on your feet. It’s a simple fix that makes a big difference in keeping your space livable instead of chaotic.
When it comes to sleeping, you don’t need a fully designed bedroom right away, but you do need rest. A mattress, even if it’s temporary, laying directly on the floor, or evern a blow up mattress. Sheets, a pillow, and a blanket. That’s enough to create a place where your body can recover, because everything feels harder when you’re tired.
There’s something about having a bed—even a simple one—that brings a sense of stability. It’s a place to land at the end of a long day of figuring things out. It's your place to close your eyes and rejuvinate for a few hours.
Laundry becomes important faster than you think. Not because you suddenly care about perfectly folded clothes, but because clean clothes are part of feeling like life is moving forward. A basic laundry basket, some detergent, and access to a washer and dryer or even a laundromat setup is enough to keep things going.
While you're getting your home back in order, you're going to need to sweep, mop, and possibly vacuum if you have carpets. If you only have hard-surface floors, you can get away with just a broom for a little while, and I'm going to strongly suggest buying a blade broom because they do sweep up everything from every corner without tossing dust in the air. Keep in mind, you don't need to spend top dollar on equipment at this stage in the game. You simply need something that'll get the job done without breaking down the first time you use it. At this time, it's about maintaining a space that doesn't add more stress. Simple cleaning tools, a few cleaning cloths, and some cleaning products to wipe surfaces down go a long way in making a place feel livable again.
Then there are the quiet essentials. The things you don’t think about until you need them.
A phone charger, because being disconnected is not an option when you’re rebuilding. Make sure you have the correct cables as well, and you may consider buying a power bank.
A small toolkit, because something will need to be fixed, adjusted, or assembled, and being able to handle it yourself saves time and frustration.
A good flashlight and of course batteries. You never know when you may need to look in dark corners, or if the power is intermittent, having battery-powered lighting is a need. For prolonged periods of power outages, consider solar garden lights. Leave them outside during the day to charge and use them indoors when the sun goes down. Dollar stores have these available in the spring and summer.
These are the things that don’t stand out when life is normal, but become incredibly important when life isn’t.
What’s interesting about thinking through all of this is how quickly the list stays short. Not because you don’t want more, but because you realize you don’t need more right away.
You don’t need ten versions of the same thing. You don’t need backup items for your backup items. You don’t need decorative pieces or “just in case” purchases. You need the basics that allow you to cook, clean, sleep, and take care of yourself.
Everything else can come later.
And maybe that’s the part that sticks. Not the idea of losing everything, but the realization that most of what makes life work isn’t complicated. It’s the simple, practical things that support your daily routines.
The things that help you get through the day, take care of yourself, and slowly rebuild a sense of normal because starting over isn’t about replacing everything all at once. It’s about choosing what matters first.
And it turns out, what matters first is pretty straightforward.
Coffee on. Chaos managed. ☕
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