Chances are you’re probably already using a variety of apps on your smartphone to keep track of everyday reminders and help yourself stay organized. But your device has one other particularly powerful memory aid that you might not be using to its full potential: the camera.
In many ways, your smartphone photo album is like the ultimate list of things you need to remember in the easiest possible format to record, store, and access. Using your phone’s camera is quicker and more accurate than taking notes, and the stored photos provide the most comprehensive and detailed picture (literally) of whatever it is that you need to remember.
Here is our round-up of 12 extremely helpful pictures to keep in your smartphone’s photo album. Note that because some of these pictures contain sensitive information, it’s very important to make sure that you’re taking proper security measures (click here for tips on boosting your smartphone’s security).
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Your identification
Keeping a picture of your driver’s license or passport in a secure vault or locker app on your phone can come in extremely useful if your wallet, purse, or bag is lost or stolen. This is an especially good idea if you’re traveling outside of your home country or city.
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Your child
No, this isn’t just to show everyone at the office how cute your kid is. It’s a helpful precaution to snap a picture of your child before you head off to a busy place or location, like a shopping mall or sporting event, so that you can provide an exact description of what they look like and what they’re wearing in case you get separated.
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Your vehicle license plate
Especially useful when dealing with automated machines in parking lots that require you to enter your license plate number to confirm that you’ve paid for parking, a picture of your license plate also comes in handy when filling out many official forms.
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Your parking spot
Speaking of parking, snapping a quick picture of your stall number can help you avoid the frustration of wandering around a parkade trying to remember where you left your vehicle. This is an especially useful technique for finding your way around parkades and parking lots that you aren’t familiar with.
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Serial numbers of home electronics
If home electronics items, such as your television or desktop computer, have been stolen or damaged in a flood or fire, having handy pictures of the serial numbers to pass on to the police and your insurance company can save you a lot of hassle.
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The inside of your fridge
On days when you’re pretty sure you’ll be stopping by the grocery store after work, take a quick picture of the inside of your fridge. That way you won’t have to wonder whether or not you need to buy more milk; you’ll be able to see for yourself!
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Reward program cards and membership numbers
Almost every big box store these days has some kind of loyalty or reward program, complete with its own membership card. Eliminate the need to carry several different cards around in your wallet by taking a picture of each; that way you’ll always have the numbers on hand when you need them.
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Your home’s wireless network name and password
If “It’s so good to see you” is the first sentence that visitors to your home say to you, then “What’s your wireless password?” is often the second. Texting a picture of these details to your guests makes it easy for them to get connected, even if you’re not at home.
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Cable placement on audio or video equipment
It’s frustrating when you unplug your elaborate cable arrangement on your laptop or television to fix a minor problem, and then can’t remember what to plug back in where. Avoid this problem by taking a picture of cable placements before you unplug.
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Map routes
If you’re traveling to areas where there is no network service or where you might be charged expensive roaming fees to access data, taking pictures of handy routes and maps of the area means that you can find your way around even if you’re offline.
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Business hours
You’re planning to drop by the post office on your way to work, but does it open at 8:30 a.m. or 9 a.m.? Eliminate the uncertainty by taking pictures of the posted business hours for establishments you visit fairly often, like the bank, library, or community center.
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Borrowed items
If you’re someone who often lends things to friends but doesn’t always get them back in a timely fashion, start taking pictures of your friends alongside whatever items you’re lending them. That will make it much easier to know whom to call when you realize it’s been months since you’ve seen your favorite sweater or pair of shoes.