If you're going on vacation, be sure to have the U.S. Postal service put a temporary hold on your mail delivery. Remember: a pile of accumulated mail sends a clear signal to burglars and possible intruders that you are not at home. Don't forget to also suspend your newspaper deliveries or ask a neighbor to collect your mail and/or your paper.

Requesting a postal service hold is easy. Simply go to the USPS Web site and fill out a form online. You'll also find options for forwarding your mail, changing your address, and more.

If you have questions, call the USPS Customer Help Line at 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).