Yeah, yeah, home is where the heart is. But when your heart decides to find a new pad, everything else has to follow: your furniture, your valuables - oh, and your mail, too. Most of these items can be tossed carelessly into a moving van and glued back together later… but how do you make sure you keep getting your important (and unimportant) correspondence?

As much as you'd love to dodge annoying relatives and overdue credit card bills, there are certain things you still want to receive (e.g., paychecks, magazine subscriptions, Publisher's Clearing House notifications). Besides, you've got an obligation as a member of society to let friends, family, and pertinent government agencies know your current whereabouts. But don't worry. Changing your address isn't all that complicated - and we promise it won't involve any heavy lifting. After all, you've gotta save your strength for that grand piano.

1. PICK UP A CHANGE-OF-ADDRESS FORM FROM THE POST OFFICE

You're done packing your life into a bunch of cardboard boxes, and your shiny new palace awaits. So where are you? You're headed to the post office, of course, to pick up a change-of-address kit.

The United States Postal Service distributes a handy Mover's Guide free of charge - and within this one magical envelope, you'll find everything you need to make your transition from one residency to another as smooth as possible. If you can't find it, just ask for it at the counter. Here's what to expect inside the Kit:

  • The Official Change of Address Form (PS Form 3575, if you're into technical names). You can also find this form online, print it out, sign it, and give it to your mail carrier or mail it to your local Post Office. You have to sign the form as a promise that you are changing your own address and not changing someone else's (say, an enemy upon whom you are attempting to exact revenge).

  • Address Notification cards, a fancy name for postcards that you can use to inform businesses and friends directly of your address change. You can print out your own personalized cards from the same online address.

  • An assortment of coupons that can be used for discounts on various moving needs, from telephone services to personalized address labels. And yes, the services are high-quality - a quick peek inside will reveal brand names like AT&T, Geico Direct, and Chase, just to name a few.

  • Perhaps the most useful item in the Guide is a cool little pamphlet that guides you through the entire moving process. It's filled with useful numbers and websites, as well as suggestions and tips on every aspect of moving, from transporting your pets to switching utilities. And there's even a week-by-week timeline to help you stay on schedule.

But we digress. After all, this isn't an article on how to move; you just want to change address. So read on to continue the process.