I don't know about you guys, but I did nearly all of my holiday shopping online. I'm still waiting for some gifts to come in the mail! But online shopping can be super convenient when it comes to having a busy work and school schedule - especially with all of the great deals online. 

Did you know that 80% of the population will buy at least one thing online? Think of all the packages arriving on people's doorsteps and front porches! 

23 million Americans had packages stolen from their homes last year alone - which is why it's so important to protect your house and anything that may be delivered to it. Today I'm teaming up with SimpliSafe to give you guys some tips on staying protected this season! 

1. Be Neighborly 

I have a few neighbors where I live, so we all try to look out for each other. It's no different when we are expecting packages to be delivered, especially if someone won't be home. If you know you're going to be receiving something on a day where you're out or you're at work or school, ask a neighbor who might be home if they can keep an eye out for when it gets delivered - that way they can hold it until you get home. Do the same for them! 

2. Check Your Email

Nearly all online stores send out shipping confirmation emails, and if you have the tracking number you can always keep track of where your package is and when it'll be delivered. When I order something, I always star or flag the email so that I can check it as easily as possible and know if there's any delays. Amazon is usually really great about letting you know when your order is delivered as soon as they leave it on your front porch.

3. Notify Your Delivery Service 

If you're away from home a lot and are worried about leaving your packages unattended, call your post office and ask them to hold the package until you can pick it up. This may be a bit of a hassle and not ideally fit into everyone's schedule, but at least you won't have to worry about your packages sitting outside until you're home.

Stay safe this holiday season!