TITLE: IF YOU HAD TO RIG UP YOUR OWN HOME SECURITY ON A TIGHT BUDGET, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Honestly, I think most people overcomplicate it. You don’t need a fancy system to make your place less appealing. I swapped out the screws in my door strike plates for longer ones—cost a couple bucks, but way harder to kick in now. For windows, I just used dowels in the tracks. Not pretty, but it works and you can’t open them from the outside.
I’m on the fence about the fake camera thing too. If someone’s determined, they’ll probably know it’s not real. A motion sensor light by the back door made a bigger difference for me—caught a raccoon once, but at least I knew it worked.
One thing I’d add is trimming bushes near windows. Doesn’t cost anything but time, and it takes away hiding spots. If you’ve got a neighbor you trust, swapping phone numbers helps too. Sometimes just having someone to keep an eye out is worth more than any gadget.
Totally agree about the longer screws and dowels—those little upgrades make a huge difference. I’d add that even on a tight budget, you can get some pretty convincing solar-powered motion lights these days. They’re not just for raccoons, either... I’ve seen them startle delivery folks and random passersby. I’m not sold on fake cameras either—if you’re going to put something up, might as well get a real one, even if it’s just a cheap WiFi cam. And yeah, keeping the landscaping tidy is underrated. I’ve seen some gorgeous homes basically hidden behind overgrown shrubs—just asking for trouble.
Title: If You Had To Rig Up Your Own Home Security On A Tight Budget, What Would You Do?
Can’t argue with you on the fake cameras—never really understood the point if you can get a basic real one for about the same price. I’m curious though, has anyone actually had issues with solar lights not lasting through the night? I’ve seen some that seem to fade out by 2am, which sort of defeats the purpose. Also, when it comes to landscaping, do you think low hedges are enough, or is it better to just keep everything trimmed way back?
I’m curious though, has anyone actually had issues with solar lights not lasting through the night? I’ve seen some that seem to fade out by 2am, which sort of defeats the purpose.
That’s definitely a real issue. I tried a few budget solar lights around my place last year and noticed the same thing—by the early morning hours, they were barely glowing. It seems like the cheaper models just don’t hold enough charge, especially in winter when daylight is limited. If you’re relying on them for security, it’s worth investing in higher-capacity ones or at least supplementing with a few plug-in lights on timers.
As for landscaping, I’d say keeping everything trimmed back is more effective than just low hedges. Overgrown shrubs can create hiding spots, which isn’t ideal. I once worked on a renovation where we replaced tall bushes near entry points with lower plantings and some gravel—looked good and made it harder for anyone to lurk unnoticed. Low hedges are fine if you want some privacy, but visibility is key for security.
NOT SURE LOW HEDGES ARE ALWAYS BETTER
Funny thing—when I first moved in, I actually thought trimming everything super low would make the place safer, but I ended up feeling way more exposed. Maybe it’s just me, but I like having a bit of a buffer between the house and the street. I get that overgrown bushes can be risky, but if you keep things tidy and not too tall, you can still have some privacy without creating hiding spots. Plus, I’ve noticed my neighbors’ dogs are more likely to bark at someone coming through low shrubs than if there’s nothing there at all... maybe that’s a bonus security feature?
