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Moving in Together? Forwarding Your Mail Should Be a Top Priority
Moving soon? Get organized with our free moving checklist.
Forwarding your mail might not seem like a top priority when moving in with your significant other, but Camryn R. from Rhode Island will tell you why it’s important to complete this task as soon as you move.
“As someone who’s moved a lot, I’ve learned to be diligent about mail forwarding, and I had mine set up the same day my boyfriend and I moved into our new apartment together,” she explains. “I kept telling my boyfriend to do the same, but he never did and his mail kept being sent to his parents’ house.”
“He didn’t think it was a big deal because he doesn’t get a lot of mail, but he ended up missing several bills from a large medical procedure. A few months later, the doctor’s office called to warn him the bill was going to be sent to collections. Thankfully, he was able to pay it in time — he would have been devastated if it went to collections, as he had spent years building up his credit score. Needless to say, he forwarded his mail that same day.”
Forwarding your mail can prevent missteps like these, and it’s extremely easy to set up. All you have to do is file a change of address with the United States Postal Service — the form takes just a few minutes to complete online, and it only costs $1.05 (it’s free if you have access to Updater!). Alternatively, you can file a change of address at your local post office for free.
During the process, you’re able to select the date of your move, and any mail that’s sent to your old address will automatically be forwarded to your new home. The post office will forward your mail for the next 12 months, giving you plenty of time to update any accounts with your new address. Bear in mind that it generally takes the USPS 10-12 days to being forwarding your mail, so you’ll want to make that change two weeks before you move in order to receive mail at your new home.
However, it’s important to keep in mind there are some limitations to mail forwarding. For instance, magazines and newsletters are only forwarded for 60 days, and packages sent through other shipping services, such as FedEx or UPS, will not be forwarded. So, again, don’t forget to eventually update any accounts with your new address.
You don’t want to be left wondering if you’ve missed any mail after you move. Taking the time to forward it can help you avoid any hassle and add some peace of mind as you settle into your new home.
Moving soon? Get organized with our free moving checklist.
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