Living alone is the best, isn’t it? You don’t have to worry about anyone dirtying up your kitchen with dishes. Your bathroom is usually (sometimes) always clean. You can watch whatever movie you want in the living room without having to make a compromise. You can eat cake for dinner and no one gives you a judgmental look. You can leave your clothes in the dryer without someone bugging you to take them out and fold them since it’s their turn to do their own laundry. You can keep as many orders of Chinese take-out you want in the fridge without worrying if anyone is going to eat it while you are gone. And lastly, you don’t have to share any of the wine you just bought. The only downfall is the security factor. It’s kind of nice having a roommate to go check out the scary noise you both just heard come from the other room. Or, you know, just to kill the spider you saw walking across your bedroom floor. Here are three tips that will make living alone a lot safer for you.

1. Get a dog.

Dogs are the best. They are sweet, fluffy, and love you with their whole being. Not to mention the fact that you can leave them home alone all day and they still get excited to see you after eight hours of being cooped up in their kennel. My dog gets so excited to see me that he can’t even focus to go outside, even though he hasn’t gone out all day long. It’s adorable! Okay, I can talk about how great dogs are for forever until someone stops me. But dogs are especially great for people living alone! All a burglar needs to hear is a dog’s bark and they are instantly deterred from trying to break into your home. If an intruder does get inside, a dog’s first instinct is to protect you. Certain breeds are more protective than others, so you should do your research before you settle for a specific little pup.

2. Wasp spray.

This might sound silly, but it is actually a proven fact that wasp spray works better than pepper spray. Why? Because it has a longer shooting range. You should keep a can of this bad boy right on your bedside table in case an intruder comes breaking down your front door. Some cans of wasp spray have a shooting distance of 20 – 30 feet. You don’t have to wait for an intruder to get close to blind him. Wasp spray works well even from a great distance!

3. Take advantage of your built-in alarm systems.

Built-in home security systems are becoming more and more popular in newer homes and apartment complexes. This is a blessing for people who live alone. Take advantage of it! Without an alarm system, your home is that much more susceptible to theft. If you already have one installed or one is given to you by your complex, use it. It’s an extra pair of eyes on your home at all times.

About the Author

About the author: Carly is a writer, instagrammer, reader, tweeter, and baker. She can usually be found taking a nap or with her nose stuck in a book.