There are quite a few of you who are stuck in a jam this week. All the chaos crescendos up until Friday. Finals don't finish until then, so you could be cramming for your last exam. Freshmen, you've got to pack up your dorm room at the same time.

But even worse, for those of you who live off campus, your lease probably runs out at the end of this week.

Kicked out.

That's what a lot of my friends are. They're all hustling around, trying to find a place to stay, someone to crash with for just two weeks until they get to move into their new place. After all that hustle and bustle, and you drag your duffel bags, clothes hangers and posters into your new apartment, be sure to be nice to your neighbors.

For the last two years I've lived in an apartment and my neighbors have become some of my closest friends. On your first day, try to make sure to start a great relationship with those living around you. You will find nothing but benefits from doing so.

First of all, you're probably going to see them more than anyone else — in the elevator, out on the porch, in the hallway — so you might as well be able to speak with them when you see them. Seeing someone you despise every day just sucks.

Second of all, neighbors can save you money. Seriously. You can share car rides, split loads of laundry and share meals. I always find it more enjoyable to eat with a few other people than by myself, so if my roommates aren't around, I just head on over to the neighbors and see if anyone's hungry.

And, when I can't find a ride and I need to run to the store, I can ask one of them.

And the benefits can work both ways. Since some of my neighbors can't cook, and are always eating my food, they'll take me out to dinner every once in a while or buy me a drink when we head out at night.

I can't tell you how glad our neighbors are finding out someone's home at our place after one of them finds herself locked out. If we weren't all friends, she would be stuck or feeling awkward banging on our door at 1 a.m.

Another good reason to be well acquainted with your neighbors is because your roommates have friends too. And you will probably meet them. And one or two of them just may be attractive.

Get it?

One of the most important reasons to befriend your neighbors is parties. If you like to throw loud, crowded parties, having a good relationship with your neighbors is key. First off, if you all pitch in, you can get more beer for less money and have more people at a bigger party. Everyone wins there.

Second of all, you really don't want them calling the police to your house. A bitter someone next door is usually the first person to blame when the police show up.

So what's the best way to keep them from picking up that phone?

Invite them!

They're not going to call the cops to a party they're at and they're going to feel awfully guilty busting a party they attended. So if you want to keep your parties pumping for hours, make sure all the neighbors are invited.

Neighbors can be friends who you can always find easily because they're front door is right next to yours. Our apartment and my neighbors have had great times together. We've had numerous barbecues together on my grill, we've had omelets the morning before football games, and we've had so many multi-apartment parties I can't even count them all.

The point is that living next to someone is an easy way to make a friend, and doing so will make everyone's life much easier.

So after you get your things situated around in your apartment, pick up some flowers, a snack, or if you're of age maybe some beverages and head on over to your neighbor's place.

Jane Austen might have put it best when she said, "For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors and laugh at them in our turn?"