There?s no denying that even considering carrying a knife may be a bit scary. Will people stare at you" Are you now carrying a weapon" Is this even legal" The answer to all of those questions is ?maybe?. There are dozens of variables that come into play when considering your first knife purchase, so I?m here to make that whole world seem a little less daunting by sharing some of my personal experience as well as some widely accepted tips from the world of EDC (everyday carry). 
Ultimately, I believe the way to look at a knife is that it?s a tool. One for opening up that new watch box, slicing up an apple at lunchtime, or helping out with some random tasks around the house. Sure, you could use a key to open up a box or your teeth to tear open a package, but it?s important to have the right tool for the job to prevent yourself from breaking an item while using it for something it?s not meant for, or even worse ? requiring an embarrassing trip to the dentist. 
I don?t mean to frame this as some sort of pro-knife propaganda, since you ultimately can get by without one, but after slipping one into your pocket and seeing just how often it comes in handy, you might be surprised at how useful it is in your day to day life. There?s also the other option ? you don?t even have to carry it with you at all. A knife tossed into your junk drawer at home or desk drawer at work will more than likely cover most of your use cases anyway. Let?s break it down a bit further ...