Staying Safe on a Budget

Do you know your family is precious and want to protect them but simply can’t afford putting in a top-of-the-line home security system? Don’t ever let a limited budget stop you from keeping yourself and your loved ones safe. With a little bit of imagination and a little bit of elbow grease, anyone can put into action effective home security measures without breaking the bank.

Fake it Till You Make It – For just a few dollars it’s possible to purchase the yard signs and window stickers of various reputable home security companies. While posting the fake security signs and stickers doesn’t give you actual protection by a security company, they will scare away possible intruders and lessen the chances that your house will be broken into.

Give Your House a Facelift – And by this I don’t mean plant some azaleas and cut the grass. Make your house look dangerous and uninviting by placing a large, used dog bowl on your front porch. Cut into the plastic with a screwdriver or knife to simulate bite marks in the bowl and consider putting a ‘Beware of Dog’ sign in plain view on your property.  Aside from the dog bowl, putting a muddy pair of size 15 men’s work boots outside can also act as a deterrent.

Shape Up – Low hanging branches, hedges or bushes in front of windows and doors, even hanging planters can create pockets of shadow for an intruder to hide in. Keep your trees and landscape well trimmed and keep any hedges that are near doors and windows cut low to increase visibility. Additionally, make sure your windows have shades that can be drawn to prevent prying eyes from casing your house while you’re away.

Know Your Neighbors – Never hide your spare key outside, under a flowerpot, under the welcome mat, hanging behind a wall thermometer or anywhere else for that matter. A smart thief will know where to look and find your spare in no time. Additionally, be very careful to whom you give your spare keys because you never know where and when your key will be exposed to duplication.

Stop the Slide – Sliding patio doors can sometimes seem like an easy entryway to an unsuspecting house. To stop yours from being breached install a patio bar that will stop the inside door from sliding open or being pried off the lock. If a patio bar is still too costly a sturdy piece of strategically placed wood will do the trick.

Jennifer Harrinson is a freelance writer and independent researcher forhttp://www.tophomealarms.com.com. Her fortes include personal security and mobile technologies and she shares her insights on various mobile technology and home security blogs.