diff --git a/includes/update-email.php b/includes/update-email.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6f8e655
--- /dev/null
+++ b/includes/update-email.php
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+<?php
+echo 'code to verify & sanitize a users updated e-mail address goes here!<br /><br />';
+?>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/preferences.php b/preferences.php
index 2e8cd80..c2c6762 100644
--- a/preferences.php
+++ b/preferences.php
@@ -1,6 +1,25 @@
 <?php
 $pagetitle = "Account options";
 include_once ('header.php');
-echo '<h2>Change e-mail and / or password</h2><br /><br />';
+if (!empty($_POST['usermail'])) {
+	//this section contains code to update the users e-mail address, maybe via an include?
+	include_once ('includes/update-email.php');
+} else {
+	//should get rid of this whole else statement, or use it to display an error?
+	echo 'this should probably be the !empty section instead<br />';
+	echo 'the post usermail vaiable should be blank: <b>' . $_POST['usermail'] . '</b> <- Is there a blank spot to the left?<br />';
+}
+echo '<h3>Change e-mail and / or password</h3><br /><br />';
+
+// listing all session variables currently set for debugging purposes
+echo '<pre>';
+var_dump($_SESSION);
+echo '</pre><br /><br />';
+// delete the above 3 lines when done
+
+echo '<form action="preferences.php" method="post"><table border="1">';
+echo '<caption>Update e-mail address</caption>';
+echo '<tr><td><input type="text" name="usermail" value="' . $_SESSION['usermail'] . '"></td><td><input type="submit" value="Update e-mail"></td></tr>';
+echo '</table></form><br />';
 include_once ('footer.php');
 ?>
\ No newline at end of file