'Never watch true crime shows right before bed.' 10 women on the do's and don'ts of living alone.

When I was in my 20s, I lived in an incredible apartment by the beach with two housemates. It was by all accounts a perfect set up - I got to split the rent on a unit that I could never afford on my own. 

Then when one of my housemates started leaving food out on the bench overnight and behaving erratically, I quickly realised that my days of flat sharing were coming to an end. It had been a fun run, but I needed to get into my own space - and fast. 

Moving into a small one-bedroom apartment was liberating. 

I could come home and enjoy all the perks of living alone on my own terms. Sure there was a hole chipped through the bathroom sink but I had autonomy and freedom and space and that was all the luxury I needed.

Watch: The Mamamia team shares the things they do when they're home alone. Post continues below.

In 2023, it's not outrageous to understand why women living alone has become the norm. 

In a recent Reddit forum a poster asked: "What are some important tips for someone who will start living alone? I just want to avoid wasting time, money and efforts with trials and errors trying to figure it out on my own."

As women embark on this new living situation there are definitely things to consider. I decided to dig around and see what is on women's list of do's and don'ts when it comes to living alone.

The Do's:

Polly: "When I get food delivered, I always pretend to call to someone in the house when the delivery man is outside my door."

Christie: "Live somewhere close to the things you love doing."

"Find a building where you feel safe. My building has security gates and cameras."

Danielle: "Do learn to cook meals that make great leftovers, even better if those leftovers can be frozen to spread out consumption."

Lisa: "Enjoy it! You never know where life is going to take you so relish the opportunity to live in a space that is yours and yours alone. Luxuriate in the bathtub while watching re-runs of Gossip Girl just because you bloody can."

"Add things in the social calendar to stop yourself from feeling too ~alone~ if you know what I mean. Host a book club or invite friends around on Fridays for dinner."

Morgan: "Living close to cafes and beaches to get my social hit - especially as a WFH girlie - is crucial for mental health."

Alex: "Sleep with a knife in your bedside table because you live alone in a ground-floor flat #justgirlythings."

Angel: "Build yourself a budget and stick to it. Figure out what your monthly expenses are likely going to be and then do your best to not spend more than that. But be flexible and understanding. If you go two months in a row spending more on groceries and find that you're not splurging or being wasteful, then maybe you need to increase your food budget."

Tahli: "Having a dog helps. You aren't fully on your own and you can go walking in your area and meet all the other people who also have dogs."

Annaliese: "I have a bat in my wardrobe near my bed - not sure I would know how to inflict an injury with it but it's there."

The Don'ts:

Alex: "Remember to take your keys out of your front door when you close up for the night. Yep. I've left my keys hanging in the front door all night."

Polly: "I never answer the door if I'm not already expecting someone. And never watch true crime shows right before bed."

Lisa: "It's easy to get in the habit of wanting to come home from work, kick off your shoes and veg out on the couch. While there are definitely some instances where this is a perk of living alone, this habit can turn into a bit of unintentional isolation."

Karen: "Don't make a habit of drinking alone."

Feature Image: Canva/Mamamia.