Organizing for on the way out the door

Have you ever driven half way across town and then realized you forgot to bring something along? If it is important enough, you have to turn around and go back to pick it up. Otherwise it requires another trip another time. So how can a little organizational effort prevent that from happening?

Try an "on the way out box." Place a box where you will see it on the way out the door. Then when you realize you want to take something along when you leave, put it immediately in that box. When you go out the door, all you have to do is check the box to see if there is anything you want to take along and you have everything you need.

For example: you want to make your utility payment because you don't want the electricity shut off. Put the bill in the out-box. You have a letter that must be mailed but you're not sure of the postage, so you need to stop at the post office. Put the letter in the out-box. You want to pick up some milk. Put a note in the out-box with your grocery list on it. If you think of something else later that you want from the grocery store, add it to you list. Then when it is time to leave, pick up everything from your out-box and you are ready to go with everything you need. You'll feel more organized and you won't waste gas making trips back home for something you forgot.