3. ESTABLISH YOUR NEW LIFE.

(6 to 3 weeks before Moving Day)
Medium Range Items (2 weeks to 5 days before Moving Day)
Close Combat (4 days before Moving Day up until you get there)

Long Range Items

1. Find a place to live [at least 6 weeks before Moving Day]

Depending on where you plan to move to, this can be the single most exasperating task of all. If your destination is NYC, for example, you could spend weeks and even months on just this one task alone. Thankfully, we've already contemplated such a dilemma in SoYouWanna find an apartment in NYC, and for those West Coast types, there's also SoYouWanna find an apartment in LA. For other places (i.e., the Boondocks) check out Move.com for places to live.

2. Reroute your subscriptions [MD minus 4 weeks]

Magazines are painfully slow about changing your address and sending your stuff to the right place. Mercifully, many now have web sites that allow you to change your subscription information online, which theoretically should be more efficient than calling up or mailing back postcards. Whichever way you choose to do it, let's be sure to get your priorities in order and make sure the entertainment is there waiting -- it's not like you're going to know anyone when you get there. You should do this with the rest of your mail too -- like credit card bills, car payments, insurance plans, etc. Don't fool yourself, you don't get out of owing all that money just because the bills don't reach you.

3. Consult your employer's moving policy [MD minus 4 weeks]

Obviously, if you don't have an employer or don't have one that is underwriting any part of your move, this is irrelevant. If you do, though, take a good look at their policies to make sure that you adhere to their guidelines. They may agree to let you use a professional mover, but limit the list of approved vendors, for example.

4. Book your travel arrangements [MD minus 4 weeks]

Unless you're strolling across campus, you're going to need transportation for your move. If you and your stuff are traveling together, you'll probably locomote personally via plane, train, or automobile. Okay, you'd probably take a bus before you'd ride a train, but we just liked the sound of that. For plane tickets particularly, you should be booking at least a month in advance to avoid getting reamed on the last-minute prices. Check out travelocity.com or expedia.com for airline tickets and rental car information.

Medium Range Items

1. Set up new insurance policies [MD minus 2 weeks]

If you've got a car, you'll need to adjust your insurance policies to take into account your move. Believe us, if you total your car in the new city and you haven't told your insurer, they're not going to find it anywhere near as funny as you do. Which means not at all.

2. New utilities [MD minus 10 days]

There's nothing more depressing than sitting in an unfurnished new apartment and not even being able to call anyone to stop you from hurling yourself out the window -- be sure the phone is working by the time you get there. We'd feel really guilty if you didn't. So call the phone company and have your phone connection start a day or two before you get there. You may also need to set up gas, electricity, water, cable, and trash collection at the new place. You can get the number for all these utilities from the Yellow Pages; for new cable, try callling 1-888-668-3759.

3. Maps

Do you have ANY idea how to get there? You can always get maps online at Yahoo Maps or Mapquest, but having good old hard copies would also be a good idea.

Close Combat

1. Sign lease [MD minus 1 day]

If you want to make sure that you have a place in which to live, we suggest you take care of this little item.

2. List of things to buy [MD minus 1 day]

There is going to be an arsenal of things you'll need to set up your new home. Before you leave your old place, you should make a list of the things that you think are key. Here's one tip: food. Here's another: cleaning products.

3. Reserve the elevator [MD minus 1 day]

Many apartment buildings will allow you to reserve the elevator for your own personal use, which greatly reduces the hassle and time it takes to move in. Call your new landlord and set up a reservation.

4. New bank account [MD plus 1 day]

You may not be able to take care of this task until you arrive and can visit the bank yourself, but you can probably make phone calls before you get there to inquire about what kinds of accounts the competing banks are offering.

5. Driver's licenses, plates [MD plus 1 day]

Again, you'll probably have to hike over to the DMV and waste a day there once you arrive -- and you often have a grace period to get your car set up -- but just remember to take care of this item.