Low Budget Home Security Tips

You can get savings in many aspects of a home budget but home security is not something you should compromise on. Fortunately, low budget home security measures can be extremely effective.

• Get a dog. It doesn't need to be a big dog; it just has to be noisy to deter burglars, who think twice about entering a home that has a dog.
• Pretend to get a dog. If you can't or don't want a dog, you can pretend you have a dog. Take some chewed up toys that a friend's dog has finished with and leave them on your front porch or yard.
• Set noise "traps." Items placed on your window sills and in front of entry doors that make a noise if the windows or doors are opened can be as effective as an expensive alarm system.
• Make it look like someone's home. If you are going on vacation, put a hold on your post and your daily papers so they don't build up inside your porch. Ask a neighbor to pick up any other deliveries such as community papers or flyers. You may think it is safer to leave your car in the garage, but a car parked in the driveway makes it look as though there's someone home. You might ask a neighbor to park one of their family's cars in your driveway, which has the added advantage that the car comes and goes.
• Let there be light. You can install motion-sensitive outdoor lighting relatively cheaply to scare away anyone looking around your yard for an easy entry point. Light timers inside the house can likewise be a deterrent by making it appear as though there is someone at home.

These measures, alongside being vigilant about locking your doors and windows and putting your valuables out of sight, can help to maintain your home security without stretching your budget.

Ryan Stinson is a freelance writer with general home improvement knowledge, and expertise in outdoor lighting and home security.