A frequent question asked by renters is how much notice they're required to give before moving out. A minimum of 30 days notice -- in writing -- is standard procedure. (Make a copy of that letter for yourself.) That gives landlord or management company adequate time to find a new tenant to fill your apartment, and time for maintenance staff to clean unit prior to arrival of its new resident or residents.

Tenants moving out often find they need additional time to clean their apartments after packing is over. It stands to reason, then, that next most frequently asked question is how long they're allowed to remain in their apartments after their lease expires or they've given notice that they're breaking their leases. The safest answer to that question, and one you're most likely to get if you ask your landlord or leasing representative, is that you're required to be out by time your lease expires -- meaning by end of month.

Management companies and some landlords have been known to be flexible with departing tenants, and they generally appreciate a tenant's efforts to clean unit before he or she departs. Your request for a few extra days to vacuum and pack up last of your belongings will often be met with agreement, but don't be surprised if your landlord or management company asks for a daily fee in return for their flexibility. That's perfectly within their rights, according to real estate law books, so there's not much you can do when faced with a fee -- except to hurry up and ship out.

I just wanted to share an experience I just had with my daughters, Yee Ting and Yee Sin.

Yee Ting is three years old this month while Yee Sin is only one-month old. Yee Ting has always been a rather good girl, apart from occasional tantrum outbursts sprinkling our usual day. She would tell me when she wanted to eat, wear clothes I tell her to wear, watch her TV and then play with her toys, without much hassle. As a stay-at-home mom, I really appreciated her obedience because it made it possible for me to perform my household chores while she went along with her usual day. She has not attended preschool yet, although we're thinking about it. Maybe next year, we'll send her to a good one. I am very picky about kind of schools she goes to. Maybe that's why I have been delaying decision.

Yee Sin was born only a month ago and is generally a very happy baby but she's quite fussy. She tends to be very fussy about wanting me to feed her, even when my mother comes over to help once in a while. My mother has problems feeding, changing and helping her sleep. In end, my mother comes over to perform house chores while I find time to play and cuddle with Yee Sin.

Ever since Yee Sin was born, Yee Ting has been on edge. She has behaved very badly at times, screaming and shouting. She even kicked at me one time, which made me very mad with her. I lost my temper and shouted at her. I even hit her a few times. I know I shouldn't but I couldn't control myself because I felt all stressed out with piles of dishes waiting for me and I needed to feed and bathe Yee Sin before I attended to those things. Yee Ting was very sorry after that and she sat in one corner, ignoring me and my husband (when he came back). She read her books in that corner, took her milk and then went to sleep cuddling her dolly in that corner.

I felt terrible about hitting her and vow never to do it again.

Then I took both my daughters to buy some groceries one morning in a nearby shopping mall. Let me get this straight, going to shopping mall together happens to be one of those special activities for me and Yee Ting before Yee Sin was born. We would go there and run around like wild horses. She would play hide and seek in clothes department, hiding behind clothes for sale and I would pretend to look for her. Because we go there during office hours, there are usually not many people there and staff ignores us. So, we usually have a ball there.