10 Things to Remember Before Leaving the House

What provoked me to write this article was having to return home to get my cell phone the other day. What a hassle. I was on my way to a birthday celebration about a 40-minute drive away. The weather was lousy – a cold rain – and I had been having trouble with a slow leak in one of my tires from hitting so many potholes recently. So, it was definitely no time to be without my cell phone as I might have a car emergency with that troublesome tire. So, in spite of being more than five minutes on my way, I reluctantly turned around, went back home, parked the car, went to the table where I charge the cell phone, unplugged it, went back out to the car and headed on again. Naturally, I was late to the party, but I got there with the cell phone in my pocket.

So, what other things could cause a person to have to drive all the way back home to get before feeling comfortable about driving on to another place for the day? Here are the items one ought to remember:

1) Keys, especially before locking the door behind you as you leave – or you won’t get back in

2) Wallet or purse with identification in it so you can offer identification if and when needed

3) Credit cards, cash, and check book (or blank checks in the wallet or purse) so you can pay for any emergencies that arise while you’re out – or to shop, buy gas, etc.

4) Glasses. Those of us who need reading glasses need to remember them because they aren’t something we always have on and tend to forget

5) Cell phone, if used, with phone contacts including emergency numbers in the phone

6) Something to write with

7) Something to write notes on

8) Items you may need to accomplish your journey such as a shopping list if you’re going shopping, clothes to be cleaned if you’re going to the cleaners, books to return to the library if you’re going to the library, etc.

9) Appropriate weather gear such as coat if it’s cold, umbrella if there’s rain in the forecast, etc.

10) Personal items you may need when away from home such as extra set of contacts, aspirins, mints, small bottle of mouthwash, comb or brush, etc.

If you remember these ten categorical items (or have some of them stored in your car), you should be in good shape to leave the house and head out on the road. Ideally, seconds of many of these items can be purchased and kept in the car’s glove box or trunk and always available when needed away from home.

It’s also a good idea to put a reminder on the wall or door leading from your home to your car. A note that simply says “Cell Phone” on it will stir your memory to take your phone and other items with you before heading out of the house on your next journey. Make all your journeys from home good ones.