How to upgrade to 5.0.1 without losing apps and contacts?

[LALakers]

My 3gs is on 4.0.1 and the baseband is 5.13.04. How do I update to 5.0.1 and not lose all of my stuff on my phone? I can go through the pwnage tool and all of that but I forget how to keep all of my stuff? Thanks a bunch for any help.

 

[LALakers]

Any suggestions? I would really like to upgrade to 5.0.1 but don't want to lose all my stuff! Thanks!

 

[Applejuiced]

Yes, you can make a custom ipsw using pwnage tool or redsnow.
Every time you restore or update your firmware all your stuff will be gone.
You just gotta restore from backup to get all your stuff back and then reinstall all your cydia packages.
There's some programs that will reinstall all your cydia stuff all at once in a batch format but if you dont have many just write them down and install them again when finished.