In our current economic situation, we’re extremely focused on saving money. As stocks of many high-end clothing stores fell, more people began buying their clothes from thrift stores, or Wal-Mart. As food got more expensive, many people opted for less expensive (and sometimes less healthy) food to save money. Our society’s focus has shifted – now, we’re all more economically conscious, and not willing to spend money on something that we don’t deem worth the cost.
A side effect of this trend has been that many people have been cutting down on extraneous expenses, such as HBO, cell phones and monthly gym memberships. However, many people are now also questioning the value of keeping a monitored security system service, or spending the extra money on reinforced deadbolt locks. By scaling back on our home security, are we really saving money? What are the effects of sacrificing home security to save money for other expenses?
What’s the Least Expensive Home Security System?
This is one of the most common questions that many people have about a monitored home security system. Our economic mindset tells us to stick with the least expensive option, in order to save money each month. However, this question slightly misses the point of home security, and what you’re actually paying for. By having a monitored security system, you are paying for having your home be under 24/7 surveillance by the company’s monitoring station. When you’re away on vacation, you can rest assured that the event of a fire, burglary or other disaster, someone is looking after your home. If you have video surveillance, you can constantly assuage your parental concerns by watching your kids with their babysitter. Is peace of mind really something that can be given a monetary value?
Can I Afford It?
If you are severely financially unstable, you may wonder if you can really afford to upgrade your home’s security. Of course, it’s unwise to purchase an expensive home security monitoring plan if you aren’t going to be able to make your payments. Before making any sort of choice, you need to work out a real, viable budget plan. List all of your monthly expenses, including extraneous expenses (car repair, gas bills, home repair). Then, given your monthly income, find out exactly how much “extra” money you have left each month. Many people don’t take the time to budget, and end up miscalculating the expense of home security.
Paying for Quality
In today’s age of big-box stores, Wal-Mart and high-volume marketing, we’re trained to believe that the least expensive option is always worth it. However, in regards to home security, the phrase “you pay for what you get” really applies. For example, you may think that by purchasing a cheap deadbolt lock, you’re giving your home better protection than if you didn’t have a deadbolt. However, that cheap deadbolt may be just as easy for a burglar to break through as if your door was completely unsecured. In that case, you would have wasted money on an ineffective, low-quality product. Given that even high-end deadbolt locks are relatively affordable, you could spend 20% more and get an effective, “burglar-proof” deadbolt that will increase the security of your home.
Is it Really Worth the Cost?
The best way to evaluate the cost of purchasing quality home security products is to evaluate your home’s total security. Do you own expensive items, such as electronic game systems, a big-screen TV or an extensive DVD collection? The average burglary will cost its owner around $2,000, but that figure could be greatly increased if you own valuable items. By spending a bit of extra money on home security, you are helping to ensure that your home, valuables and family will be safe from unwanted intruders.
