According to burglary experts Matt Johnston and Jon Douglas Rainey, hosts of It Takes a Thief, most homes are cased from the outside. Seasoned thieves know what to look for and focus on being able to get in and out of a home quickly, quietly and without being seen. There are a variety of affordable options, all of which help deter thieves and add security and safety to your home.

According to Johnston and Rainey, the most common way for a burglar to enter a home is through an unlocked or unsecured door. Because of this, always lock all doors and windows, including the second floor, even if leaving for only a few minutes. When leaving the house, an inexpensive way to deter a thief is to install a brace bar on the door. These are heavy, adjustable steel bars that wedge against the door at an angle, preventing it from being opened. The Mace Big Jammer, for example, retails at $17.95. However, if your door is wooden, the bar will do little to deter a thief since the door can be kicked in relatively easily.

A good way to prevent a door from being kicked in is to ensure exterior doors are solid-core doors installed in a strong frame with long screws. Adding heavy-duty dead bolts also provides another layer of protection against kick-ins. The best choice is a double-keyed deadbolt that requires a key to get both in and out of the house. If a thief does get into your home (such as through a window) and you have double-keyed locks, only items that will fit through the windows can be taken. A good double-keyed deadbolt can be purchased at your local hardware store for approximately $45.00 and installation is relatively quick and easy.
Another way to deter criminals is to make noise upon entry, which prevents the burglar from entering your home quietly and unnoticed. For approximately $15, you can buy a door stop alarm which is a wedge shaped device that when placed against a door makes a very loud noise once the door is opened. Similar devices can be purchased for windows and sliding doors that will alarm with vibration or movement, such as breakage of glass.

When it comes to securing your windows, a good place to start is with self-tapping screws. When placed into the frame of the window, the screws prevent the window from being opened from the outside by burglars. Another viable option is to apply tinted window film which not only makes your windows shatterproof, but also prevents thieves from window shopping when you're not home. Window tint can be purchased for approximately $2.50 per cubic foot.

Man's best friend is also among the highly recommended home security options according to Wayne Schultz, a security expert with the Harris County, Texas Constable's office. Dogs make noise and are among the best deterrents against a burglar according to Schultz. Not ready to add a furry friend to the household? Then get creative! Having chewed up dog toys laying on the porch or in the yard can deter a thief by suggestion alone. A good idea is to speak to a neighbor or friend that happens to be a dog owner and offer to replace the chewed up toys with a few brand new ones. After making your small investment at the pet store, take the old toys and place them at your home and the implication of a dog is there. Keep in mind that bigger toys imply a bigger dog. Even more creative is the Electronic Watch Dog, which uses microwave technology to sense presence within 20 feet of the device. When someone enters the detection radius, the device starts barking like a man-hungry German Sheppard. The device retails at approximately $85, but offers a creative and effective warning to burglars. To top off the act, add a water bowl inscribed with the name "Killer." The burglar may never know that your only pet is a goldfish!

Finally, if you're going out of town, make sure you stop your mail and newspaper (or have a trusted friend or neighbor pick it up). Also, arrange to have your lawn mowed or sidewalks shoveled if you will be gone for an extended period- nothing says "I'm not home" quite like tall grass or sidewalks free of footprints in the snow. In addition, leave a car in your driveway or ask a trusted neighbor to park there throughout the week. It is also a good time to pull the timer from your Christmas lights out the Tupperware and connect some of your electronic devices or lighting to it. Set the timer to turn on a television or light for a period of time each evening to appear as if you are home.


Ki's website provides a search for Austin homes. He has worked in Austin, Texas for over three years. He created a website to make Austin real estate and Westlake Hills real estate information easily accessible to future buyers.

Budgeting and financial planning are the cornerstones of responsible money management. Not only that, but they are vital in developing a workable plan for the future, and can even reduce stress. While many people shy away from the accountability and responsibility required to create and maintain an accurate budget, buckling down and building a budget can ultimately help reduce stress and worry, and lead to a more pleasant and fulfilling life. So, what are you waiting for?

Before getting started, it's important to define what a budget is, and what it is not. It is not just a list of where your money goes each month, and it is not a hard and fast rule that can't be bent or broken. A budget is a comprehensive overall picture of your financial situation where money comes in, where it goes out, and what it's spent on. A budget is a plan, a map of the financial future. It should include salaries, bonuses, bills, insurance, savings, and other expenditures. It should be divided into wants and needs and should be organized as a line-item list, with each item categorized and accounted for.

Most importantly, a budget should be accurate. Creating a budget that is inaccurate is a complete waste of time. People often create budgets that reflect where they want to be financially, or that ignore certain one-time-only expenditure this is not going to be effective. Instead of focusing on where you want to be and fudging the lines of where you are, make your budget an accurate and honest reflection of your current economic situation. Once you have that in place, you will be able to more easily identify where changes can and should be made, and you can begin to transform your financial situation by spending and saving responsibly.

Just as a budget should be honest and accurate, it should also be flexible. While, whenever possible, we try to plan for the unexpected, it is a fact of life that there will be times you need to go beyond your budget a family emergency, for example. This is understandable, and does not indicate some failure on your part to plan. In such situations, simply keep account of your spending and adjust your budget for subsequent months, where possible, to make up for the extra expenditures. Situations like these are not negative, in fact, they are one of the reasons saving is so important, and should be made a habit. One way to begin this habit is to include saving in your budget, as if it were a monthly bill. Determine what you can afford, and pay it out as you would any other necessary expense, like your mortgage or electric bill. When circumstances arise out of your control that require more spending than you had planned for or anticipated, having a healthy savings can save you an immense amount of stress and frustration.

The most important thing to remember about a budget is that it is a living, breathing thing "well, not really, but it should be treated as such. A budget will do you no good if you create it then put it aside and never look at it again. A budget should be updated monthly and kept on hand for quick reference and revision. Keeping your budget up to date will allow you to see not only where you are financially, but will help you see how to get where you'd like to be.

Ki helps investors in Austin Texas. He manages a site which provides a graphical search of the Austin MLS. Their is also statistics on their site about Austin real estate and Round Rock Texas real estate.

With living costs rising at a seemingly constant rate, simple, everyday expenses are getting more and more difficult to accommodate, and many people are finding their budgets getting tighter than ever. While there are plenty of areas people can trim their budgets, such as spending on entertainment or shoe shopping, the rising costs of necessary items like food and gasoline make it harder and harder for people to cut enough spending elsewhere in their budgets to accommodate the increased expense of these everyday necessities. And despite the need, it's simply unrealistic to eliminate all extraneous spending in order to make room for the ever-increasing expense of groceries and gasoline.

Thankfully, with a little budgetary reorganization, some planning, and a dash of creativity, you can maximize your food budget to make sure you get the best value for your dollar. Here are a few tips to help you spend wisely at the grocery store, and stretch your food budget as far as possible.

Plan ahead
All too often, people approach grocery shopping with an impulse-buy mentality. "I'll just go see what's on sale," is an extremely ineffective approach to grocery shopping. Sit down with a cookbook and plan your meals at least a week in advance. Scheduling meals out in advance will allow you to maximize your food spending, as you can organize meals by primary ingredients, using them from one day to the next. Also, planning ahead will help you avoid impulse buys when you get to the store. Make a list and stick to it.

Buy in bulk
The larger quantities you're able to buy, the more you'll save. While memberships at wholesale discount clubs aren't cheap, they pay for themselves almost immediately in big savings. Buying items like individually packaged frozen meats, toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, etc., is significantly more cost effective than buying these items in smaller amounts at your local grocery.

Keep it simple
Sticking to simple, basic ingredients is a great way to save at the grocery store. Creative recipes and exotic spices can make even the simplest items (chicken breasts, for example) a culinary treat. So skip the fillet and get creative with your recipes. You'll still eat well, and your budget will go much farther.

Be prudent with produce
While buying in bulk is great for some items, it's rarely wise when it comes to produce and other perishables. Less is more when it comes to items that have a shorter shelf life. When buying produce, only buy what you're certain you'll use. This will help you avoid unnecessary waste, and will help you save money.

Keep it close to home
Eating out is one of the fastest ways to blow through your food budget. Between overprices meals, drinks, tax, and tip, it's extremely difficult to get enough value in a meal out to justify it over eating in. Sure, there's more work involved in cooking for yourself, but it's significantly more cost effective. Save eating out for special occasions only, and you'll find your food budget will go much farther.

Escapeso Realty is a small real estate company assisting buyers looking for Austin homes. Their site provides a search of the Austin MLS and information on mortgage interest rates.

Many Americans are foregoing luxury expenses like high car payments, vacations, and gym memberships in order to combat the struggling economy and rising costs of everyday expenses like food, gasoline, and other essentials. Fast food restaurants are beefing up their value menus in attempts to lure budget-conscious consumers through the door, and people everywhere are feeling the crunch of fewer and fewer resources. But being on a tight budget doesn't mean you have to abandon your fitness regimen, or skip a healthy meal for a cheaper, high calorie alternative. Instead, follow these simple tips to maximize your budget without sacrificing your health, or the health of your family.

Go pedestrian
Recent commuter studies have found that the average car trip covers a distance of less than three miles. Not only is driving such short distances a huge waste of gas and a major problem for the environment, it's just plain lazy. Next time you need to run an errand close by, walk there instead of driving. If it's a bit too far to walk, hop on a bike either option is healthier (and more economical) than relying on your car to get you everywhere you need to go.

Embrace public transportation
If you live in a city that has a decent public transportation system, use it! Odds are you'll have to walk a ways to get to the nearest bus or commuter rail stop, but since walking is one of the healthiest forms of exercise you can find, it's a win-win situation. Not only will you get more activity into your day, you'll save money on gas, and help cut back on pollution.

Avoid over-processed foods
People constantly seem to operate under the misconception that unhealthy foods are cheaper than healthy ones. While this certainly can be true, it doesn't have to be, especially if you practice smart shopping habits. Instead of opting for prepared foods or worse, fast food, stock up on basic staples like chicken breast, rice, and frozen vegetables. Buy chicken breasts in bulk and package them individually, then throw them in the freezer for convenience. The great thing about chicken is, it's healthy, and it can take on almost any flavor, giving you literally hundreds of preparation options. Similarly, rice is inexpensive and extremely versatile, and frozen vegetables are cheap and just plain easy. In the long run, eating smart will keep your family healthier, and shopping smart will keep your budget going strong. Also, always keep an eye out for which fruits and vegetables are on sale!

Get active
One of the leading causes of American's poor health and fitness is a lack of activity. Sitting at a desk all day is not a healthy routine, so do what you can to mix it up as much as possible. Skip a coffee break in favor of a quick, brisk walk outside. Or, make it a point to take a walk as a family in the evening after dinner. It will help promote healthy digestion, and it will give you some quality family time, away from all the distractions you find at home. Another great, inexpensive exercise option is to buy a workout video. They're cheap, and can be very effective (just be sure you pick one that you'll enjoy dance aerobics and belly dancing workouts are fun, effective, and never boring).

Ki is a realtor working in the Austin real estate market. His website provides a graphical search of the Austin MLS along with a free mortgage calculator.

Responsible budgeting and money management are skills everyone needs to learn as is the discipline required to put these skills into action. Many people find it difficult to stick to a budget; oftentimes, this is because the budget they created is not realistic. Regardless of the economic climate, it is important to know how to manage your finances and keep track of your spending. In order to do this, you need a budget that you can live with. Here are a few simple steps to get you started.

First things first: before you can put together a reasonable, livable budget, you have to know what the greater scope of your financial situation actually looks like. This doesn't just mean knowing how much money you make every month you need to take into account your income, your fixed expenses (like rent, gas, groceries, day care, and insurance) you pre-existing debt, as well as other random spending needs (summer vacation, birthdays, etc.).

Once you have all of this information in front of you, organize it into three categories: Income, Needs, and Wants. Income will obviously be your salary and any other wages you may receive. Needs are your fixed expenses, not including entertainment and other superfluous expenditures (just because you like going out to dinner and a movie once a week, doesn't mean you need to). You should, however, include monthly bill payments in your fixed expenses, as paying off debt is a crucial step in establishing financial stability. Finally, "Wants" are things like entertainment spending, new clothes or jewelry, trips, etc.

Now that you have an accurate picture of your financial situation in front of you, it's time to do the dirty work. What can you afford, and where do you have to make cuts? The first things that need to be taken into account when determining where your money goes each month are your "Needs". Once those are accounted for (including, if at all possible, paying into a savings account), you can start adding some of your "Wants" to the list prioritize these, as it's unlikely you'll be able to accommodate them all. Also, be honest with yourself when identifying "Needs" vs. "Wants". A top-tier cable service with 1,000 channels is not necessary. Neither is a fancy gym membership (especially if you don't use it much). Being honest with yourself and limiting over-the-top expenses is not only the financially responsible thing to do, it will free up more cash for other items (like occasional dinners out, or a movie rental membership).

Once you have a budget worked out for yourself, make sure you keep it on hand a budget is useless if you don't use it. Update it often, and feel free to make changes and alterations if you need to. Think of your budget as a fluid, living document. Your needs may change from month to month or quarter to quarter, and your budget should reflect that. Finally, don't get discouraged if you go over budget one month. Remember, it's a tool, a guideline. If you use it correctly, it will help you achieve long-term financial stability.

Escape Austin real estate operates in central Austin. Their site has map based search for Austin homes along with a Austin real estate blog.