Your home is your sanctuary. It’s where you spend a significant amount of your time, host loved ones, keep your most valuable belongings, and, most importantly, a safe place. Crime can happen anywhere, even in the seemingly safest neighborhoods. Even if you are on a tight budget, home security is a top priority.
For newlyweds, beginning your life together is an exciting adventure. While you might be sad that the wedding is over, this time is sacred, and you’ll cherish it forever. If, like many, you spent most of your money on the wedding day and are now feeling the financial aftermath, then you might be worried about neglecting certain aspects of home ownership. While waiting to paint your dining room or buy a new TV set is okay, don’t let your home’s security fall below the radar.
1. Knowing the Basics
Before diving into products you should consider purchasing, let’s review the basics. Say you bought your home in a low-crime neighborhood where you know all your neighbors. Your guard is probably lowered, as you see no reason to worry about locking your door every time you leave the house or even closing the blinds. Trusting your neighbors is invaluable, but that’s only one line of defense.
Burglars can enter your home anytime, especially if you’re a newlywed couple and your home is full of expensive gifts you were given on your big day. While you can’t guarantee you’ll never be targeted, you should identify weaknesses in your home setup that will make you less attractive to one.
Home invaders aren’t as creative as you might think. Well, at least not at first. They typically look for an accessible entrance to the house, such as the front door or a first-floor window. If you keep both locked, you may have inconvenienced them enough that they could completely give up on finding another way into the house.
2. Keeping Doors, Locks, and Windows in Good Condition
Try reinforcing your windows, locks, and doors. Your locks might be in excellent condition, but they will be easily opened if your door is weak. The same goes for your windows, and locks are only part of each entry’s defense mechanism. If any doors, locks, or windows show signs of wear or seem weak, don’t wait to replace them.
Nobody wants people outside to be able to see inside their homes, and not only is it an invasion of privacy for nosy neighbors or passers-by to gawk inside, but it’s also dangerous. Each window unit should have some form of covering, such as blinds or curtains, but you can take it up a notch and install window tints. 3M window tint works by blocking up to 95% of visible light from entering, thus keeping your home private.
3. Finding Budget-Friendly Security Devices
Security devices can be expensive. Americans spend $20 billion yearly on security devices. Of course, their pricing ranges widely depending on the features and quality. A solid alarm system, cameras, and strong lighting will serve you well. Do some research, as there are many budget-friendly options on the market. Don’t let your concerns over money cause you to buy a faulty or unreliable product.
4. Prioritizing Home Security for Moving
Are you unsure if you’ll be staying in your home long-term? It’s normal to move around. In fact, a third of all people in their 20s move in a given year. Fortunately, the habits and tools you use to keep your current home safe can be applied to wherever you live.
Newlyweds are almost always concerned about money following their weddings. It can be tough to return to regular life after such a big event, but you should never neglect to secure your home, no matter how tight the purse strings are.
