“It must have gotten lost in the mail…”

Tomorrow is moving day, and we’ve been changing addresses like crazy, which leads us to our next preparation pointer:

Make a checklist of all the institutions and organizations that have your address on file. Then let each one of them know that you’ve got a new mailing address. Doing this will take some time, but it can help you avoid frustration in the long run. Of course, you can – and should – have your mail forwarded through the U.S. post office (coughing up $1 to do it online at https://moversguide.usps.com/?referral=USPS will save you from waiting in line), but trust us: snow, rain, and sleet might not stop your friendly mailman from delivering your mail, but we know from personal experience that asking him to forward it might – especially if you’re moving out of state. There’s no failsafe time to begin doing this, but about a week to a week and a half before you move should be good; that way your mail won’t arrive at your new place way before you do. Feel free to use our list to get started…

Institutions and organizations to notify:
– your credit card company (or companies)
– your bank, unless you’re closing all your accounts because of your move
– any other financial providers you work with (say, for investing in a mutual fund or 401k)
– your insurance provider
– the DMV, if you’ve got a car
– magazines you subscribe to
– your current employer, if you’re moving but not switching jobs
– your current employer, even if you’re quitting … and this goes for non-“career” jobs too … because you’ll still be receiving tax documents from that employer for up to a year after you move
– your cell phone provider
– AAA, if you have a membership
– your alumni association (provided you still want to receive the various mailings they send you)

Alright, back to packing. We’ll let you know how the move goes!