Being proactive is a great way to save time and avoid mishaps in the future. But, it isn't just a business term - you can take steps to be proactive in your personal life too. Here are ten things you can do to be proactive today:

Prepare for uninvited guests

You never know when uninvited guests will pop in right around dinner time, so instead of cooking just enough for one dinner tonight, double your recipe and freeze one for that "just in case" visit.

Never run out of frequently used items

Review your grocery list for the items you buy most frequently so the next time they go on sale you can stock up - ensuring you will always have enough in the house.

Greeting cards for every occasion

Buy at least five birthday, anniversary and sympathy cards during the first of the year and keep them in your planner or file folder. This allows you to always have them on hand when you need them - especially for those celebrations that you may overlook until the last minute. Also, purchase Father's Day and Mother's Day cards in quantity during the holiday season - you'll always have them on hand just in case.

Get your dates straight

Transfer birthdays, anniversaries and other important annual dates right when you change out your planner or calendar - if you wait until later, you may forget or accidentally throw away the previous year's calendar.

Never run out of school supplies

During the school season, stock up on several packs of paper, glue bottles, crayons, markers, pencils and other commonly used school equipment and place in a labeled bin in the office. The next time your child comes home with a note requesting more supplies you won't have to run to the store.

Cuts and scrapes always taken care of

Stock your first aid kit every six months so you never run out of bandages, compresses, pain relievers and antiseptics.

Make lunches once a week

Instead of making sandwiches every day of the week, make enough on Sunday and stick in the freezer to last the whole week - it saves time in the long run and will keep your child's or husband's lunch cold until lunch time.

Bright idea so the house is never dark

Never run out of light bulbs - stock up when a sale occurs or buy enough at the first of the year and store in the garage. The next time one blows, you already have your replacement right at your fingertips.

Gifts at your fingertips

When you see a great generic gift on sale (candles, picture frames, etc.) buy at least five at a time. This way you always have a gift on hand for your child's teacher or other acquaintance.

A stocked office is a happy office

Buy printer cartridges, batteries, printer paper, CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs when they are on sale - be sure to purchase a few at a time and store so they are always on hand when you need them.