Living alone has become very common in recent times. A report by the U.S Census Bureau has stated that ‘37 million adults age 18 and over lived alone in early 2021, up from 33 million in 2011.’ Living on your own comes with many pros such as independence, freedom to live as you please, and not to mention getting to walk around in your birthday suit all day.

However, if you’re living alone, especially for the first time, it’s perfectly natural to feel very conscious of your safety. As much as it’s great to realize the risks, try not to think up scenarios that will make you more uneasy.

In this blog, we’ll be sharing some tips to help you know how to feel safe living alone. Get ready to say goodbye to anxiety and hello to peaceful nights in your apartment.

Safety Tips for Living Alone

1. Don’t ignore the peephole

When you’re living alone, always check your door peephole before letting anyone in. This seems like an obvious line of action, but some people tend to forget. If you don’t have a peephole, it wouldn’t hurt to make one yourself.

2. Get tons of spare keys, and hide them well

If you want to prevent being stranded in the future, get a lot of spare keys. Once you get these keys, you need to be really smart about where you hide them. Don’t be captain obvious and hide them under your doormat; burglars know where to look these days.

3. Know your neighbors

One of the best safety tips for living alone is cultivating friendships with your neighbors. A lot of people would prefer to keep to themselves and keep their distance.

However, getting to know your neighbors may go a long way in giving you a sense of security.

4. Don’t let workers in when you’re all by yourself

Let’s imagine you need your plumbing fixed. Try inviting a few friends over before the plumber comes to work. It’ll show that you’re not an easy target.

5. Install a security system

Investing in a home security system is a good apartment safety tip. They’ll help you monitor your home surroundings and alert you when something isn’t right.

If you’re bothered about the prices of these systems, you’ll be pleased to know that there are some affordable options available.

6. Hear any noise? Call somebody

Always remember to trust your instincts. Whenever you feel like there’s something wrong, call somebody. Don’t shake it off as paranoia— call the police, a neighbor, or even a friend who’s living nearby.

7. Mind your social media activity

If you’re living on your own, be careful what you post on social media. Try not to post anything that reveals that you’re living alone, or when you’re out on, say, a weeklong vacation.

8. Keep emergency numbers on standby

Here’s another safety tip for living alone: have easy and quick access to emergency numbers and contacts.

9. Make an emergency escape plan

To come up with a full-proof emergency exit plan, you have to examine every scenario. Place yourself in the shoes of an intruder and think up endless ways you imagine the person may gain access to your apartment.

Concocting a strong escape strategy is sure to give you peace of mind if you’re living alone.

10. Report unusual activities

Don’t be hesitant to report any strange or weird activities you notice in your surroundings. Call the cops and let them know your fears. Even if it turns out to be nothing, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

11. Learn self-defense training

If you’re living alone, going for martial arts classes can go a long way in guaranteeing your safety. It’ll help sharpen your instincts during emergencies and boost your confidence.

12. Use smart locks

Making use of smart locks is a safer alternative for your apartment. Smart locks use passcodes and fingerprints to grant access into the home. Some of them also come with features that you can check to make sure all the doors are locked.

This way, you’ll feel relaxed knowing that your locks are more secure.

13. Be a social butterfly

Try hosting dinners or throwing small house parties often. Why? It’ll let potential intruders know that you’re not always alone. Intruders don’t usually target occupied homes.

14. Try not to forget to lock the doors and windows

LOCK YOUR DOORS. Notice how the last sentence is in all caps? That’s how important this tip is. Don’t let locking your doors and windows skip your mind, especially when you’re going out.

15. Man’s best friend

They say that dogs are a man’s best friend, and you’ll be doing yourself a world of good by getting a dog. You may feel safer knowing that there’s an animal around that can ward off intruders.

16. Let people think you’re home…even when you’re not

Create the illusion that you’re at home, even when you may be 100 miles away. You could leave your porch light on, and if it won’t drain your electric bill, keep a TV or radio playing in the background, just like Kevin did in the movie, Home Alone!

Finding a Roommate

Living alone isn’t easy. The constant paranoia, anxiety, and expenses — it’s enough to make anyone stressed. In this case, it may be a good idea to find a roommate.

If you’re comfortable sharing your space with someone else, all that’s left is to find a roomie you can peacefully live with. The question is, where can you find a roommate that you’re compatible with?

This is where Roomi comes in. Roomi’s designed to make searching for roommates easy and safe. You can use the app’s perfect roommate matching algorithm to find a good roommate match.

With filters relating to age, interest, gender, budget, and even house rules, Roomi is definitely one of the best roommate finders out there.

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