This weekend I tried to install a curbside mailbox at (hopefully) my soon to be new house.

I purchased a cheap mailbox and post set at Walmart ($36 total) and began work. I first began hammering in a wood post into the ground. It is important to place an additional piece of wood above the wood post you are hammering in, while hammering. So I got that wood piece about 8 inches into the ground, it was solid. I then placed the black plastic post around the wood post. It was at that point where I think I put the wood post in the ground at the wrong angle.

As I was re-reading the directions, that come in a different language, my new neighbor drove by. He said, hey! You are allowed to put the mailbox over there? I said, I don't know. Why? He replied that there are laws at to where you must place your mailbox. At that point I gave up. I decided to take the post out and put it back in the box. I asked the contractor who is making modifications to the house to install it. He did, and I assume he put it in the right location.

So my advice on how to install a mailbox? Get a professional. :)

Well, honestly, it was easy, if you know what to do. eHow has a nice step by step on How to Install a Curbside Mailbox, if you want to be brave and do it yourself.