After living with your family and with roommates, some people can’t wait to get a place of their own. Living by yourself can be a wonderful experience, but the world can be a scary place, especially when you’re a woman who lives alone. BuzzFeed readers share helpful advice for staying safe as a woman who lives on her own.
- "Vary up your routine. Don't leave on the same days at the same times or walk, run, or drive in the same direction."
- "NEVER let a first date or new friend pick you up. ALWAYS meet them someplace somewhat central, but still further for you. After the date/meet-up, don't bring them back to your place until you have known them a bit."
- "Keep your key fob on your nightstand. If someone breaks in, you can set your car alarm off to alert your neighbors or scare off the intruders."
- "I always put the address of a neighbor when I'm using rideshare apps. When I used to live in an apartment building, I would wait before turning the lights on after being dropped off."
- "On the advice of my retired police officer mother, I put sleigh bells around the interior front door handle, something I would hear immediately. This has become my go-to housewarming gift for my other single girlfriends who live alone."
- "The second I get in my car, I lock the door before doing anything else."
- "Solar-powered motion sensor lights around your house are cheap, easy to use, and helpful in so many ways."
- "Pretty simple, but always have your phone next to your bed, pepper spray, a safety keychain, or anything that you have that makes you feel safer. If someone's in your house or apartment, you can call for help immediately or spray their face with the pepper spray."
- "I highly recommend Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The very first thing an adequate instructor will teach you is how to escape someone that's on top of you. Your confidence and physical stamina will improve, making you confident."
- "Have an Alexa or other hands-free device that can call 911. If I fall off a step ladder, moving to grab my phone might be hard or unsafe depending on injuries. I can yell for Alexa to get me EMS from any room in my apartment."
- "I don't just check that my doors are locked at night. I immediately lock it behind [me] at all times. Never do I leave them unlocked no matter the time of day."
Source: BuzzFeed