By Brianna Logan

I've rented a private mailbox for nearly 12 years and I can't imagine my life without it.

During these past 12 years, I've moved seven times. I first rented the mailbox when I lived in a college dorm and needed a safe place to receive mail and packages. Since the dorms, I've lived in five apartment complexes and two houses. Because of my private mailbox, I've managed to keep my mail going to the same address for those 12 years.

The first apartment complex I lived in had a rash of mail theft. In fact, my roommate had three birthday cards that were sent to her stolen because the mail thieves thought there might be money inside. I never had that problem because none of my mail went to the apartment's address.

Every now and then, my husband and I get packages from family back East. I also order quite a few things (okay, too many things) from EBay and other Internet stores. I always have the packages sent to my private mailbox so I don't have to worry about being home to sign for them.

For me, the biggest advantage of having a private mailbox as opposed to a Post Office mailbox is receiving packages. The Post Office won't receive mail or packages from any carrier accept the US Post Office. Most of my Internet orders are shipped via UPS or DHL, so a mailbox from the Post Office is not an option for me.

Another huge perk of having my private mailbox is privacy. Now that I'm older and hopefully wiser, I don't want every Tom, Dick and Harry to know where I live. Whenever I fill out anything that asks for my address, guess which address I write down? That's right, my private mailbox address. I even have use my mailbox address on my personal checks.

My goal this year is to start a home-based business so that I can spend more time at home with my family. I've done consulting and marketing work at a national company for six years and it's been consuming nearly all my time and energy - especially the last two years. I'm eager to get out on my own, set my own hours and enjoy my kids while they're still young. I don't want any of my clients to know where I live, or even that I run my business out of my house, so my private mailbox will essentially be my business location.

When I first rented my private mailbox, I didn't pay much attention to the address. I got it because it was convenient for me to pick up my mail. I realize, now, how lucky I was to get a mailbox with just a street address followed by my box number. Most mailbox address have the street address, then the suite or strip mall number that the mail store is located in, an then finally the box number. It's obvious to anyone that the address is a mailbox. With my new business starting up, my address looks like an official business address.

Twelve years ago, I never would have thought that I would have kept my private mailbox for so many years. It's grown to become not only my personal mailing and delivery address, but also my husband's, my kids', and soon to be my business's address. After we retire, I'll still keep it since I plan to travel the world.

Rent A Private Mailbox in Nevada

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