IF YOU HAD TO RIG UP YOUR OWN HOME SECURITY ON A TIGHT BUDGET, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
I hear you on the landscaping—nothing says “keep out” like a rose bush under the window. I’d argue, though, that lighting is just as important as locks and prickly plants. Motion sensor lights are cheap these days and they make it a lot harder for someone to sneak around unnoticed. I put a couple up myself after my neighbor’s car got broken into last year.
Also, those fake security cameras? Not perfect, but they’re better than nothing if you’re pinching pennies. I stuck one above my garage and honestly, it looks convincing enough to make someone think twice.
One thing I wouldn’t bother with is those “Beware of Dog” signs unless you actually have a dog—my cousin tried that and the mailman still left packages right by the door every time. Sometimes the old-school stuff works best: solid deadbolts, dowel rods in sliding doors, and keeping valuables out of sight. Simple, but it works.
