If money is an issue when you can still do things to help protect your home and your valuables. Here are a few free home security tips that anyone can do regardless of their budget.

If you have any valuables outside such as in a storage shed keep it locked. There is no sense inviting a burglar in to steal a lawnmower, tools, shovels, et cetera.

Keep the outside of your home maintained so that it always appears there someone living there.

If any of your outdoor lights burn out be sure and change those immediately. You always want to keep the exterior of your home as well lit as possible.

If you purchase a new expensive toy such as a big screen TV, do not leave the boxes out on the curb where it can be seen. The only time you want to put that out is on trash day where it will be picked up immediately.

Do not set expensive things by a window where a thief can see them. Keep stereo systems, TVs, computers, and other expensive valuables in other places in the room.

Find another place to hide a spare key being up besides under the doormat or rock by the front door. It’s almost hard to believe that people still do that but they do.

Plant thorny bushes around windows so it makes it difficult to climb on.