Everyone wants to try and get the best deal they can when it comes to taxes. You’ve probably heard plenty about the home buyer tax credit, but unless you are a first time home buyer, or haven’t bought a home in several years, you don’t qualify. Additionally, there are different income eligibility requirements, depending on when you bought your home in 2009. With all these requirements, chances are good that you can’t take advantage of this one.

Don’t be discouraged though, because there are other new tax breaks available for the 2009 tax year. They may even help you get an unexpected tax refund, so let’s get on with these four tax breaks that you might have more luck with:

1. American Opportunity Credit: This tax credit is available to parents and students who pay at least $4,000 in qualified education costs during 2009. Right now, the Hope Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit phase out rather early. The American Opportunity Credit, though, begins to phase out at $80,000 for individuals (disappearing at $90,000) and at $160,000 for married filing jointly (doesn’t disappear until $180,000). If you or a dependent are an undergraduate (sorry, no grad students) going to college, you can take advantage of this credit, which maxes out at $2,500.
2. Purchase of a New Vehicle: If you bought a new car between February 16, 2009 and December 31, 2009, you could be eligible to deduct the state or local sales/excise tax that you paid on the car. The amount you can deduct maxes out at $49,500 of the purchase price, but qualifying vehicles (light truck, motor home and motorcycle in addition to a car) are unlimited. You can get a full deduction if you make less than $125,000 as a single, or $250,000 when married filing jointly, then the deduction phases out. You don’t even have to itemize in order to take this deduction if you file a Schedule L. However, if you do want to itemize, you can enter the deduction on line 5 or line 7 on the Schedule A.
3. Home Energy Credits: You have access to tax credits if you made efforts to increase the energy efficiency of your home in 2009. There are no income limits on these, and there are two expanded credits. The first offers 30% of the cost of certain home improvements, up to $1,500. These home improvements include high-efficiency home heating and cooling, energy-efficiency windows and/or doors, and insulation. The second tax credit offers 30% of the cost plus installation of solar systems, wind turbines and geothermal heat pumps. There is no cap on the credit amount on this version of the tax credit either.
4. Unemployment Benefits: It may not seem fair, but unemployment benefits are taxed as income. However, if you received unemployment benefits in 2009, the first $2,400 can be excluded. It may not seem like much, but it does lower your taxable income. (Every little bit helps right?)

Before you file your tax return, make sure that you understand your options, and that you are aware of what is available for you. The U.S. tax code is complicated, and there are a number of credits and deductions that you can take. Make sure to double check the new tax breaks, and determine whether or not you are eligible for them. If in doubt, you can always consult a tax professional. It may cost you a bit of money, but missing a tax credit can easily cost you more.

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Let’s have some fun today with a giveaway!

Emma’s pregnancy is at 35 weeks, 4 days today, which means that Sara will soon enter this world! I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your support, and since I haven’t really done one in a long time, let’s do a giveaway!

How to Enter

It’s easy to enter.

• Leave a comment below (one comment per person please)
• Include your estimate of when Sara will be born along with her birth weight.
• For example, a comment with “Sara will be born on March 11, with a weight of 7 lb 4 oz” or something similar will suffice.

How and When the Winner will be Picked

The winner will be the person with the closest estimated delivery date. In the event that two people is tied with the date alone, the weight will be used to determine the winner. If there are more than one winner, then one of them will be randomly picked for the first prize and the other(s) will get the second prize.

I will announce the winner after Sara is born, whenever it happens to be

What are the Prizes

The first prize for the winner will be awarded based on the winner’s participation of this contest. The winner (at the time when Sara is born) who:

• leave a comment (by default) will win $50
• follow me on Twitter at @MoneyNing (add $50 to your prize)
• tweet this contest with @MoneyNing (so I can track it) and the link of this post to get another $50
• is a newsletter subscriber to get yet another $55 (sign up below)
  

  
  

Basically, the winner can get over $200 here ($205 to be exact)!. The second prize isn’t bad either. It will be $48.

Some Help on Your Answer

If you don’t know where to even begin guessing, here’s some information you will find useful.
Date:
40 weeks is the standard time for a pregnancy, and March 11th has always been the “expected” due date. However, many modern moms deliver early. In fact, medically speaking, any babies who are born at 37 weeks are considered full term.

Also, note that doctors probably won’t allow Sara to stay in her mother’s tummy past one week over 40 weeks. So, I won’t guess a date past March 18th.

Weight:
Sara is rapidly growing and gaining weight right now, but at 40 weeks, a baby normally ranges from 5 lb 8 oz (small baby) to 8 lb 13 oz (huge baby). Obviously, the earlier the delivery date, the lighter the baby should be.

Good Luck!

Alright. I think that’s enough information. Good luck with the contest and have fun thinking about your answer! It will probably last through the month, but put in your estimate as soon as you have one!

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With a lackluster economy, unemployment rising, and tax revenues plunging, Uncle Sam would love for you to generate more revenue for him. In fact, the IRS with increased funding has more personnel and capital than ever before, and will issue a penalty whenever you fail to file, fail to pay, or forget to file certain tax forms. Penalties are typically assessed by computers, but IRS personnel can add them to your tax bill as well. During these tough times, there are many things you can do to prevent unnecessary penalties. Below, you find the most common penalties imposed by the IRS and ways you can avoid them.

• Prevent an Unfiled Tax Return – If you cannot pay your total tax bill, still file a tax return. If you fail to file the return, you will be charged five percent per month (up to 25% percent total) on the unpaid tax balance which will only lead to larger tax liabilities. If there are any penalties to avoid, the failure to file penalty is at the top of the list. Even if you do not owe any taxes, there are still many drawbacks to not filing.
• Request An Extension If Needed – If you cannot file by April 15th, you can request an extension by filling out IRS form 4868. This automatic extension will give you until October 15th, 2010 to get your tax return filed. The benefit here again is to avoid the “failure to file” penalty. However, the caveat is that this is an extension to file, but not pay.
• Pay As Much As You Can – If you cannot pay your total tax bill, pay as much as you can to reduce the failure to pay penalty when filing your return. If you are filing a tax extension, it is important to make sure that the IRS has at least ninety percent of your total tax bill. If the IRS does not have at least ninety percent of your actual tax liability, a failure to pay penalty will become applicable on the remaining balance. This penalty starts at a rate of 0.5% per month and can increase to 1% per month if you don’t pay and 10 days have passed after the IRS issues a notice of intent to levy (notice to seize your wages, bank, or property). In addition to the failure to pay penalty, there is an interest rate compounded monthly you must pay on the unpaid balance which for individuals currently stands at four percent (this interest rate can change every quarter as it is influenced by the federal short term interest rate). If you know you will not be able to pay all of your taxes, apply for an IRS Installment Agreement (apply here with the Online Payment Agreement), which will give you the ability to pay off your taxes over a series of monthly payments. The benefit is that the failure to pay penalty could be reduced by 50%.
• Be Accurate and Cognizant – If you are negligent or you substantially understate your tax bill, and you are audited, the IRS can impose a 20% accuracy-related tax penalty on the total underpayment amount. This penalty can not be more than twenty percent but as you can see it is a bit excessive in comparison to other penalties. The moral of the story here, whether you are working with a tax professional or using a software program, is to make sure the information you provide is accurate and not exaggerated.
• Do Not Be Malicious – Yes, no one likes to pay taxes, but fraudulently under-reporting income will lead you into deep water with the IRS. How deep? How does a 75% percent penalty on the tax underpayment amount sound? In fact, this is the harshest of all penalties the IRS will impose, so don’t understate your income!

Overall, the IRS imposes penalties to make sure taxpayers pay, file, be accurate, and honest. Now that you have an understanding of how these penalties work and what you can do to avoid or mitigate them, you can prevent Uncle Sam from getting more than his fair share. Of course, these penalties are to prevent people from intentionally gaming the system, and you can abate these penalties or get them removed or reduced if you have reasonable cause under certain situations. Basically, the IRS will work with you if you are honest, so don’t worry too much.

This is a guest post from Manny Davis, tax accountant and writer for Back Taxes Help, which is a tax settlement firm that specializes in helping taxpayers with major state and Federal tax problems including back tax returns, tax liens, tax levies, irs tax penalties, tax audits and more.

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You can save money on appliances both before and after the purchase. The first thing to do is assess if you really need a new one in the first place. Repairs on machines that are less than five years old are generally worthwhile, so as long as the total cost is less than half the price of a new machine, go ahead and make the repairs. If done properly, the machine should last for several more years.

Get Only What You Need

If you determine that you really need to get a new appliance, there are things you can do to save money on the purchase. First figure out what you need. An extra large washer or fridge are tempting and exciting, but if you live alone or have a small household, the money spent is pointless. Get appliances that fit your lifestyle. If you have several children, a larger machine makes sense. Otherwise, there is no need for a giant washing system even if they look awesome.

Check Consumer Reviews

Check out the consumer reviews before you head to the stores. Purchasing something that costs a few dollars less, but has a much higher incidence of problems will cost you in the end. Energy Star ratings are helpful in determining how much energy an appliance will use, but each category is graded individually, so it isn’t as helpful as you might think.

Scratches Save Money

If you are looking for new appliances but don’t mind a little scratch or damage, you can often save quite a lot of money purchasing from the “scratch and dent” section of a store. The damage is only cosmetic, and it won’t affect the way the appliance works. Another option is to request the floor model; this technique works best at the end of a model year. Make sure that all warranties still apply to either type of purchase.

Holidays Means Discounts for Consumers

If you must purchase a truly new appliance then it is time to start checking out sales and incentives. Appliances often go on sale in late fall, just before Thanksgiving. Stores feel that people are ready to purchase just before the holidays in order to display a “spruced up” home to anticipated guests. New models start turning up and there is more incentive for stores to get rid of their old inventory.

Compare Store Ads

It pays to get the Sunday papers at this point of the year if you are looking for new appliances. You can compare prices at different stores before you head out the door. Know how much you are able to spend and have several different, but comparable models in mind. Lower end appliances often work just as well as higher end models, but for a fraction of the cost. You really don’t need the fanciest washer on the block to get your clothes clean.

Don’t Forget Delivery

If you are able to pay cash, and you avoid the big super stores, you may be able to negotiate on price a bit. Outlets and single stores are much more flexible in pricing than chains. Unless you have several strong and willing friends, make sure you arrange for delivery and set up as well. If you have ever had to haul a new front loading washing machine up the stairs, you will completely understand why. My wall and back will never be the same.

There is no need to purchase appliances of any kind for full price. Do your homework, budget yourself and strike when you see the price you want for the appliance you need.

This is again another article from the How to Save Money on Everything ebook. Get yours today by signing up to the free newsletter!

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What do you think of the iPad?
No other product has even come close to the buzz that iPad generated. We were talking about it amongst friends, family and colleagues; at dinner, home and twitter too.

Yet, many of us are spending our time wondering why anyone on earth will pay for this, while others are scratching their head with its name choice. Still, there are a select few who are very excited about this announcement. These people, who are making millions with the iPhone, told me about some of the apps that they are thinking of developing. I will list 10 of these, which should help get your own creative juices flowing.

1. Board Games

The size of the iPad brings multi-player games to the next level. Can you imagine how much better Monopoly is without needing to pick someone as the banker? No more clean ups too.

And how about using the iPad to display a Texas Holdem table while everyone has their hand shown on their own iPhone?

2. Advertising

This is a bit commercial, but no more HDTVs in the corner of the restaurant that becomes more of a wall art. With the iPad, you can have lots of them, and they can be much more interactive.

3. Digital Menus

Better yet, how about a waiter bringing over a digital menu without a taped over price because they want to make more money? Or, how about a popular menu based on actual data that changes every month, week or even day?

4. Kiosks

Did you know that the kiosks you see everyday costs $20,000 or more and it’s really nothing but a computer hiding under a chunk of metal? How about shrinking the size by ten times and just having an iPad there to do the same thing? Self serving iPad station to buy Starbucks coffee. It could actually speed up service!

5. Smart Home

It would be cool if someone came up with a software that can control the thermostat, or actually, any device in the house. Oh while we are at it, how many adding a baby monitor in there too?

6. Portable Devices

If I were any portable device maker, I’d be scared out of my minds right now. Hand held gaming devices, portable DVD players can all be replaced with one machine with a better and faster processing power.

7. In Car GPS

I still think that the commercialization of GPSs is one of the best advancement of the last decade, but $3,000 is a very steep price to pay for one inside the car. Now, with the iPad, I have a device that will naturally have the most up-to-date maps and routes.

8. Sales Professional

I see too many uses for someone who’s on the road 24/7. It’s light, easy to turn on in a rush and pretty much does most tasks of a laptop. Who can say no to less luggage?

9. Digital Picture Frames

I know what you are thinking. $500 for a picture frame? No, I’m not kidding, because if you think about it, the $50 picture frame is sort of a waste. If you already have the iPad, you can just set it there so it stays with you. Added bonus: No need to teach your parents how to get the pictures onto the memory stick!

10. Stock Trading Geeks

If geeks are labeled by those people who has no life and sits in front of computers all day, then those who are into stocks definitely fit the bill with their multiple screen setup. My friend already said he’s buying an iPad for his wife because she is always trying to carry her laptop everywhere to check stock prices, trends and stay up to date.

This is Interesting and All, But Why Does it Matter?

This site, after all, talks about personal finance. Why does this matter at all you ask? I labeled this post make money, because while we are all complaining about this new device, there are people thinking about capitalizing on this opportunity.

Luck is a huge part of life, but spotting and then acting on it is even more important.

When the iPhone came out, we were talking about its bad reception, the soft ringer, the bulkiness, its weird keyboard and its weight. Yet, two years later, we read headlines of companies who made $25 million last year with a few iPhone apps.

Most people complain and then admire, but you can seize the opportunity instead. The possibilities are limitless. But then again, when everyone is busy making fun of the name, there’s no spare time to think creatively.

Spot, Seize, Do. Train yourself to prosper.

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After 10 months, and multiple 5 figures invested with Lending Club, here are more thoughts on this alternative investment.

I’ve been thinking about and gathering notes for this article for a while now. Partly because many of you actually wrote to me with questions after my initial Lending Club review, and also because of the concerns of whether our reviews are even genuine.

The following represent what I think you need to know about Lending Club before you invest with them.

First things first. Many people, myself included, are compensated if you click through our links and sign up an account with
Lending Club. I would love to say that writing about this has absolutely nothing to do with the compensation, but the fact of the matter is that it at least subconsciously affects my decisions, whether I like it or not. Keep that in mind while you read the rest of the article.

Lending Club for the Investor

Make sure you understand every point below before you start investing with Lending Club.

1. Fees – Not sure if many people actually read the prospectus, but Lending Club charges a 1% fee for their service, which cuts into your returns. On top of that, if you were to sell the notes before they mature, you are charged another 1% of the note amount by the company that handles the transaction.
2. Keep Reinvesting – People pay off their loans early all the time, and some of the loans don’t even start. It’s not really a set it and forget it type investment that most people think it is. If you don’t reinvest your funds, the money will sit in your account collecting no interest.
3. Play by the Numbers – Most people think they can pick the winners from the losers, but in reality, all they are doing is making emotional decisions based on someone’s “story”. The most successful way to invest with Lending Club is to have as many loans as you are allowed so your returns come close to the average returns and just accept that. (Remember that each note needs to at least be $25 dollars, so you can only have a maximum of 100 loans with $2,500 invested).
4. Prime Account – If you have $10,000 or more in your balance,
   Lending Club actually has a service where they will help you invest your funds. The system isn’t perfect (for example, they don’t reinvest your funds every day and their notes are generally $100 each, but it’s a good alternative for those who don’t want the hassle of keeping up with the administrative side of this type of investment).
5. Liquidity – Statistics have shown that selling your notes at what it’s worth takes approximately 3 days, so expect at least a week or more for your funds to get to your checking account if you absolutely need your money back (3 business days to sell, then at least 3 more business days for it to be transferred out to you). Also, imagine trying to liquidate hundreds of these notes all at once. Not exactly a piece of cake.
6. Default – People default, and that’s one of the biggest risks. I’ve heard others do well by selling their notes at a discount when someone is late with their payments, but that’s much more work involved.
7. No Long Term Track Record – Let’s face it. This is a completely new way of investing. The returns look pretty good so far (it’s published on their website and I am getting a good return too), but who knows what’s going to happen 5, 10, 20 years down the line.
8. Company Risk – There’s always a chance that Lending Club will go under. Although they’ve made arrangements for another company, Foliofn, Inc., to take over all the notes, there’s no guarantee what exactly will happen in terms of how easily you can get your money back. After all, this is not the same as a FDIC insurance.
9. High Risk Investment – This is considered a high risk investment, and definitely not guaranteed. Yet, I keep hearing everyone compare this to their savings account interest rates. IT IS NOT THE SAME. Don’t compare them that way. The Lending Club investing system can give you better returns, but it comes with more risks. Make sure you think about the consequences and are comfortable with this before you invest.

You can sign up for a Lending Club account here (and you will get a free $25 to start), but only if you are ready.

Lending Club for the Borrower

My experiences are mainly on the lending side, but a borrower with high interest debt is crazy not to at least try getting a lower interest loan with Lending Club. It’s a legitimate business, and it’s borrower’s heaven to get a lower interest rate loan. I mean, don’t go check it out just because, but if you are paying high interest debt on your credit cards, you are doing yourself injustice by not taking advantage of this new alternative investment.

And What Do You Think?

So far, my loans are working out which I’m extremely glad because while 5 figures may not be a lot of money for some of you, it is for me. What about you? Have you used the Lending Club service yet? Good or bad, help others learn from your experiences. At the very least, I will very much appreciate your thoughts as I’m a user and need to learn about it as much as possible too.

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Identity theft is one of the biggest concerns we have today. When your wallet or purse is stolen, it’s about more than losing the credit card or cash you have; your entire financial well-being is at risk unless you move fast. Here is what you need to do if your wallet or purse is stolen:

1. Call the police: File a report as soon as possible. You will want a copy of the report, or at least the record number. Even if the police never catch the perp, there is a record of the theft. This might be necessary for insurance claims (if your car was damaged, etc.), and will bolster your case in the event of fraudulent charges on a lost credit card or debit card.
2. Call your bank and credit issuers: While you are waiting for the police to come, you can call your bank and credit issuers. You might need to find a phone book or computer where you can look up the proper numbers, but it needs to be done quickly. It’s best to open new accounts, but credit card issuers can give you new numbers and close the stolen ones.
3. Let credit reporting agencies know: Contact all the major credit bureaus and let them know what happened. They can put a note on your report that your identity might have been stolen, and this will help you when you apply for credit later. You can also have a credit freeze put on your account, meaning that no one can open up a new account in your name. You will have to lift the freeze if you want to apply for credit in the future.
4. Suspend cell phone service: If your cell phone was taken along with your wallet or purse, you will need to call your service provider to deactivate the account so that you don’t end up with charges run up by the thief.
5. Change the locks: If your wallet or purse has been stolen, chances are that the thieves now have your house keys, and your address. It can be expensive to change the locks, so if you are concerned about the cost, you can have your lock cylinder re-tooled for a different key.
6. Call the government: The DMV, Social Security Administration and other agencies (Medicare, Medicaid, etc.) need to know if your cards and information have been taken. Alert them to the problem so that your benefits are intact, and so that replacements for things like driver’s licenses can be obtained.
7. Call the insurance company: If you keep insurance information in your car (health, pharmacy, auto, etc.), you need to let your insurers know. Otherwise, thieves can get services using your information (and sticking you with the cost).
8. Cancel memberships: If you have memberships to gyms, movie clubs, library cards and more, you should cancel them. Or at least cancel the cards and get a new one, with a different membership number.

Limiting your exposure to theft

One way to protect yourself is to carry as little as possible. You can’t lose what you don’t have. Only carry what you need. Most people only need to carry one credit card and one debit card around during the day, with a limited amount of cash. This makes it easy for you to remember what was in your wallet or purse in the unfortunately event that it’s stolen, as well as limiting the avenues thieves have to rip you off.

You can also limit your exposure to theft by not leaving yourself open to it. Thieves often stake out daycare centers, gyms and churches, since these are common places where purses and wallets get left in cars. It takes less than a minute to smash your window and take off with your wallet or purse. Take your sensitive items with you, even if you are just running your child into the daycare. And don’t make the mistake of thinking that your valuables are safe because you’re in church. If you feel like you must leave your wallet or purse in the car, lock it in the glove box. It won’t be visible or easy to get to, and most thieves will pass your car by in favor of an easier mark.

It’s never fun to be the victim of theft, but if you move fast, you can limit the damage it does to your financial life.

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As I turn 30, it’s all about preparing for a new chapter of my life. As you may remember, I’m going to be a dad soon and with Baby Sara expected on March 11th and many moms giving birth earlier than anticipated, Emma and I could be new parents any day now.

We are excited for Sara’s arrival, and I’m sure we will get a deeper understanding of life, happiness and how that relates to finances. I look forward to sharing it with you.

Before that though, here are some posts you should check out from the month of January.

Personal Finance Articles of January

• Being Wealthy is Only a Feeling
• Forget Your Senses to Make Cents
• The Brilliance of Carelessness
• No One Became Wealthy Worrying for Others

Saving Money

• 10 Dates to Remember That Will Save You Money
• How to Save Money on Your First Date and Not Look Cheap Doing It
• Stop Using Your Tax Refund As a Savings Account

Others

• Add an “S” to SMART Goals This Year
• Best Jobs in 2010
• Should I Pay Off My Mortgage or Have One at All?
• Have You Maxed Out Your Roth IRA Yet?

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18 months ago, people will call you crazy if you even suggested that the US will be issuing new currency. But do you think it’s possible now? Well, at least one person thinks so. Watch (listen) to this conversation and judge for yourself.

What do you think? Do you agree with Bob Chapman’s statement that the fed will issue a new currency because the dollar will be severely devalued?

A Little Background about Bob Chapman

I did a little digging, and here’s a little background info on the person making those claims in the recording.

Bob Chapman made his name in the stock broker space, where he owned his brokerage firm for 18 years. During that time, he was also one of the largest broker of silver and gold.

After he retired, Bob Chapman began writing The International Forecaster, where he owns and is the current editor. His opinions and insights reaches 10,000 investors and brokers directly and indirectly reaches 10 million investors each week through syndication from different publications.

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When you finally make the decision to move, the process can seem overwhelming. Packing up an entire household with furniture, clothes, toys and everything that goes with it is daunting, but turning the job over to the professionals is painfully expensive. There are some relatively simple ways to cut costs and still get the job done right, so let me list them out below.

Know where you are going

This sounds simple, right? Yet, not many people take the time to measure out your new floor plan and make sure they know exactly where everything is going. The sofa that fit in this home may not fit in the next, so why move it? Get your floor plan, figure out what fits and what doesn’t, and sell, give away or donate anything you won’t need in the new house.

Once you know where everything is going, put a big numbered sign in each room in the new house. Label all your boxes and furniture with the same number and you won’t have to haul things around the house when the movers leave.

Get Rid of It

I admit I’m a bad wife. Before my family moved cross-country, I started a surreptitious plan to get rid of my pack-rat husband’s collection of “we might need it someday” junk. We got rid of anything we hadn’t touched for more than a year and donated or sold about a third of our stuff. The cash paid for moving the big items we didn’t want to handle.

Books, toys, exercise equipment, planters and clothes all add weight very quickly. If you are paying movers, the less you move, the cheaper it is. Even if you pack yourself and just pay for the shipping, every box adds to your cost.

There are things you need to get rid of because moving them costs more than buying new. Toiletries, swing sets, pianos, rugs, pantry staples and plants are expensive to move and are just as available in your new home. If you are moving locally they may be worth moving, but with a long distance move everything should be considered with an eye to replacement.

The Nitty Gritty
Many moving companies will sell you used boxes for a lot less than new ones, so call around first. Don’t use liquor store boxes and grocery store boxes if you can avoid them. They come in odd sizes that don’t pack well into a truck. Purchase some newssheets from the moving company since regular newspaper is dirty, and some bubble wrap from your local office supply warehouse for fragile items.

Use your linens and towels to wrap fragile items, that way you don’t have to pack them on their own, and you provide additional protection to special things. Pack heavy items like books in small boxes and light items in larger ones. Label every box.

Take out the trash!

Friends of mine moved from New Jersey to California and took 3 weeks to travel during the move. Imagine their surprise when they started opening boxes and found month old trash inside. The moving company was told to move everything and they did.

Trucking Along

If you are renting a truck make sure you reserve it for enough time to pack up, move and unpack. Shop around for deals on one-way fees and mileage, but always check out the company with the Better Business Bureau before you sign a contract.

If you are hiring movers, packing on your own saves a lot of money. Only work with reliable companies and insist upon a weigh in before and after they load your stuff. That way you only pay for what you put on, not an estimate.

Hit the Road

Nothing is left to do once everything is packed up but hit the road. Make sure you arrive first and are there to let the movers in. In a long distance move they will just leave after a certain amount of time and store your stuff, as yours is not the only house packed on that truck and they have a schedule to keep. You don’t want the extra fees anyway. Make sure you have an old phone book with you in case you need those numbers, and drive safely.

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