A very handy cupboard

Create an old fashioned utility cupboard, or at least a shelf in a cupboard. Stock up on household candles and tea lights, matches or a small lighter, batteries, torches, a huge roll of real string, replacement light bulbs for all your light fittings and lamps, fuses, glue, sticky tape, masking tape, drawing pins, wd40, a pair of scissors, a Stanley knife etc, etc.  I keep all these things in the small cupboard over the rangehood in our kitchen so I can put my hand on whatever I need when I need it.