There are many advantages to living by yourself. You have the freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want, wearing whatever you want! Of course, a solo living situation has its downsides, too, one of the most obvious of which is safety. So if you feel nervous about living on your own and want to know what steps you can take to be prepared and keep yourself safe, here are our top tips.
Choose a safe neighborhood
Living someplace safe is always important, but especially so when you live alone. Do your research online to find out about the crime rates in an area, talk to anyone you know who lives nearby, and visit in person. You should do this both during the day and after dark – with a friend, of course – to get a feel for what the place is truly like. For an extra layer of safety, avoid apartments on the ground level.
Do a security check
If you already live alone, it’s a good idea to do a security check of your home and see where improvements might need to be made. For example, how strong are the door locks and handles? Are the windows secure? How about the balcony? Do you have a fire alarm, burglar alarm, and carbon monoxide alarm? Any issues that you discover during your check should be rectified as soon as possible. For those who are renting, speak to your landlord if you feel there’s a problem – some of these are legal requirements.
Get to know your neighbors
If you’re friendly with your neighbors, they’re more likely to keep an eye out for you and also notice if there’s anything strange going on with your apartment. It additionally means you have someone to call on if you have a workman coming around and you want another person in the house with you or to keep hold of a spare key just in case.
Be sociable
Just because you live alone, it doesn’t mean you always have to be alone! Inviting friends and family to come over is a great way to feel safer and also deter burglars by showing your home is bustling and occupied. Alternatively, you could always consider finding a house share through a website such as roomclub.com rather than living by yourself. This can be a great way to save money on rent and bills too.
Act sensibly
Many of the most important changes we can make when it comes to safety involve the way we behave. For example, don’t announce on social media when you’re away for the night or home alone, close your curtains at night, report any suspicious activity you see, and don’t leave a spare key in an obvious place. Other tips include always checking through the peephole to see who is at your door before opening it and always locking your door when you leave the house – even if you’re just popping out for a moment. It also pays to be vigilant of your surroundings when you’re coming home, just in case.
