LPT: Put your passport expiration date into your calendar's application and set a reminder 6-8 months in advance so that you have ample time to renew.

My friend spent the last week scrambling to get his passport, which would have expired in 2 weeks, renewed. He paid about $350 to get expedited processing and was stressed that he would miss a trip he had been planning for a few months.

Since I travel infrequently, and had no idea when my passport expired, I immediately went to look up my expiration date, even though I don't have a planned trip upcoming. I put that expiration date in my google calendars and set notifications to be sent to me 6 months in advance.

It took me 2 minutes to set it up and it potentially saves me hundreds of dollars, stress, and worst of all a missed trip lest I neglected the expiration date. You can avoid so much trouble just by doing a few minutes worth of work. Best do it now so you don't have to worry about it later.