Roommates are there with ice cream and chocolate when you're going through a breakup. They're also there when you bring home Rebound Guy at 2 a.m. and just want a little privacy. Yup, there are definitely pros and cons to having roommates. Recently we gave you five reasons why living alone rules. But for the sake of this post, we'll focus on five reasons why roommates rock.

1. Lower rent and utilities. In almost every situation, it's cheaper to split the rent and utilities than pay for HBO all on your own. Just make sure that everyone is pulling their weight financially or you could end up spending even more than money than you would on a studio apartment.

2. Expanded repertoire of clothes, movies, etc. OK, not all roommates are going to share their vintage bomber jacket or DVD of "Bridget Jones' Diary." But some are happy to lend you a purse or a pair of shoes for a special occasion or swap movies when you decide to stay in. They can also help you step outside your cultural comfort zone and introduce you to some kick-ass films or music or food you've never heard of before. Just be sure to return the favor once in awhile and return anything you borrow in pristine condition.

3. Built-in drinking buddies. Again, not all roommates are going to be your cup of tequila. But if you're a social butterfly, then having roommates can be way more fun than flying solo. You can dish after a date or swap horror stories about your co-workers. And if you and your roomies throw a joint party together, then that can be a great way to meet new people (read: potentially hot guys).

4. Shared household responsibilities. One of my college roommates was an amazing cook (another was a bulimic who ate all my food, but that's another story). If you're lucky enough to have a roommate like her, then you know that this is a major, major plus. Even if she's no Giada or Rachael Ray, it's kind of nice to take turns cooking for each other.

And if you're the amateur Julia Child, then it's nice to have someone to share the fruits of your labor, and you won't eat an entire cheesecake yourself. Plus, with roommates around, you can (theoretically) take turns doing the dishes or taking out the trash.

5. Someone to look out for you. There are many situations where having roommates can help you feel safe. If you bring home a guy and things go seriously awry, most roommates (especially male roommates) can help. If you're out until all hours of the morning on a weeknight and you're usually home by 10 p.m., many roommates would call to make sure you're OK. If your apartment gets broken into, it's nice to have other people in the apartment to help you deal.

What about you? What do you love (or hate) about having roommates?

Susan Johnston is a blogger/writer in Boston. Check out her musings on the fabulous freelance life at The Urban Muse.