It is possible to let a LCD display scroll text horizontaly, left to right or right to left, like a newsreel. In this way you van even with a siple 16x2 LCD achieve a lot.
My challenge was to display 10 heat sources and their temperatures. This was done on a 20x4 LCD by presenting four objects/temperatures, then clear the screen, present the next four objects/temperatures/ clear screen, etcetera.
After a year I switched to 240x320 TFT screen. Such screens can display all 10 objects/temperatures in one screen and have space for more information. See https://thesolaruniverse.wordpress.com
by the way I am making 'to do' notes on my smartphone. No wires, always with me.