Know What You Need
Everything you need. Nothing you don’t.
That’s everything. Nothing more.
Tell us what you’re trying to do, and we’ll help you figure out what you actually need before you buy.
Know what matters
Separate essentials from nice-to-haves.
Avoid unnecessary stuff
Don't buy things you don't actually need.
Build your list
Get a practical checklist for your goal.
Shop with confidence
Find products that fit your needs and budget.
From “What do I need?” to “I'm ready.”
A simpler way to figure out what to buy.
- 01
Tell us what you're doing
Choose a goal, project, trip, hobby or setup.
- 02
Tell us what you already have
Don't buy something you already own.
- 03
We'll build your list
See what's essential, recommended and optional.
- 04
Choose what fits
Compare options based on your budget and requirements.
What are you trying to do?
Start with a goal. We'll work backwards from there.
Popular things people are figuring out
What Do I Need for Streaming?
Want to start streaming? Find out what you actually need, what you can skip, what you may already own, and the gear worth upgrading to.
See what you needHomeWhat Do I Need for My First Home?
Moving into your first home? The essentials worth buying in week one, what you can safely leave for later, and the order that saves money.
See what you needKitchenWhat Do I Need to Start Cooking at Home?
Start cooking at home with nine pieces of kit, the pantry that makes them work, and the order that turns takeout into a habit you keep.
See what you needTools & WorkshopWhat Do I Need to Start Woodworking?
Start woodworking with the ten tools that cover almost every beginner project, the order to buy them in, and the expensive kit you can skip.
See what you needTravelWhat Do I Need for My First International Trip?
The documents, money, health and packing decisions that make a first international trip work, in the exact order you should sort them.
See what you needHobbiesWhat Do I Need to Start Photography?
Start photography with the kit that actually matters, the one lens to begin with, and the accessories worth buying only after a real problem shows up.
See what you needGardeningWhat Do I Need to Start a Vegetable Garden?
The short list that gets a first vegetable garden growing: soil, containers, tools, seeds, water and support, plus what to skip until year two.
See what you needPetsWhat Do I Need for a New Puppy?
What a new puppy actually needs in week one: food, a crate sized for the adult dog, walking gear, chews, enzyme cleaning, car safety and vet costs.
See what you needFitnessWhat Do I Need for a Home Gym?
A home gym list ordered by what keeps you training: flooring, load you can add, a rack that fits your ceiling, and what to leave unbuyed for a year.
See what you needMusicWhat Do I Need to Start Playing Guitar?
The short list that gets a first song played: the right type of guitar, a tuner, spare strings, something to sit on, and what to skip for the first year of practice.
See what you needCrafts & SewingWhat Do I Need to Start Sewing?
The first sewing kit that actually gets a hem finished: a machine that threads easily, sharp fabric scissors, the right needles, thread, pressing and what to skip.
See what you needGaming & TechWhat Do I Need for a Gaming Setup?
A gaming setup list in order: the platform, a display that shows the frames you pay for, sound that locates footsteps, and what to skip for a year.
See what you needYou don't need more stuff. You need the right stuff.
Most shopping guides start with products. We start with what you're actually trying to do.
Typical shopping guide
- Product
- Product
- Product
- Product
- Product
“You probably need all of these!”
Know What You Need
- 1Your goal
- 2What the task requires
- 3What you already have
- 4What you actually need
- 5What you can skip
- 6Products that fit
Know what matters
What Do I Need in a Car Emergency Kit?
- A reflective vest for every occupant, and a warning device that meets local road rules
- A headlamp plus a spare light, with a power source that is replaced rather than hoped for
- Jump power you can actually use: leads long enough, or a boost pack kept charged
- Tire capability for your own car, checked and practiced, with a pressure gauge
- A first aid kit with regular medicine added, kept dry
- A charged power bank, a working cable, and the two phone numbers on paper
- One trunk bag with compartments, so everything is findable in the dark
- Gloves, a kneeling mat, cloth tape, cord, a blade and four familiar tools
- Warmth per person and water that is refreshed on a date
- Washer fluid for your climate, cloths, bags and a small funnel
- Registration and insurance kept with the vehicle, plus a spare key plan
- A battery-powered inflator, if the car's 12-volt outlet is dead or absent
- A shovel and traction aids for snow, sand or rural roads
- A passenger box for children: clothes, medicine, contacts and an activity
- A second, larger light for working under the car or beside it at night
- A trip kit that comes out in winter and goes back in the garage in summer
- Flares, unless you know how to use them and your roads expect them
- A tow strap for a vehicle whose manual does not permit being towed
- A twelve-piece gadget set with tools you have never identified
- A boxed car first aid kit with three plasters and a foil blanket
- An air compressor bought before the 12-volt outlet has been tested
- Emergency gadgets that need a manual to operate, discovered in the rain
You don't need to buy everything on the internet.
Automotive · Home Office · Family & Baby
Products that fit your list
Chosen for why they fit the requirement — not because they're the most expensive.
Reflective vests, one for every seat you use
Why it fits
Being visible to traffic is the requirement in the first five minutes of any stop, and a vest is the only item that works while your hands are doing something else.
Best for: Every driver, and specifically every driver who carries more than one person.
See options that fitA desk that does not flex, with depth to spare
Why it fits
The surface decides the position of every other item in the room, and a shallow or flexible top cannot be corrected later by better accessories.
Best for: Anyone who works there for more than a couple of hours a day.
See options that fitA crib, with the mattress made for it
Why it fits
Bought as one pair rather than a frame plus whatever mattress was cheap, which is the single most common way a sleep surface ends up non-compliant.
Best for: Anyone furnishing the sleep space in advance, or replacing a borrowed frame that is missing parts.
See options that fitAlready own some of it? Good.
Tell us what you already have and we'll remove unnecessary purchases from your list.
What do you already have?
- A warning triangle, reflective vests or an LED beacon
- A working flashlight or headlamp with charged batteries
- Jumper cables or a portable boost pack
- A spare tire, jack and wrench, or a sealant and inflator kit
- Basic tools, gloves, tape and cord
- A first aid kit and any personal medicine
Start with a question.
Answers that already exist on this site
Helpful guides for getting started
Practical answers for the things you're about to do.
Not sure what you need?
That’s exactly what we’re here for.
Everything you need. Nothing you don’t.