Cheap Home Security Tricks

Here are some valuable tips to prevent burglars from making themselves at home in your house.

In the security of your own home, it’s easy to avoid thinking about how comfortable a burglar could get while you’re away or even fast asleep. According to the FBI, the number of home burglaries ticked down a bit last year, but they’re still frequent enough that the Bureau’s one-burglary-every-15-seconds estimate holds. That means every home is at risk for a burglary or break-in, especially those offering easy entry to thieves through the neglected details that lead to big losses.

If installing a top-of-the-line home security system is beyond your budget, fear not--there are many cheap home security tips and tricks you can use to keep your family and property secure.

Light It Up

• A well-lit home is much less likely to be broken into, so make sure your home's exterior is fully illuminated with motion-detector spotlights and other strategic outdoor lighting fixtures.
• When you’re away, use timers on interior lights to give the impression of home life as usual. Manual and digital timers can be found at your local hardware store or home center for a few dollars a pop. 

Keep the Landscape in Shape

• Tall trees can be accessories to crime when dense branches come close to your home and create pockets of darkness where burglars can hide. Keep trees well-trimmed to avoid giving thugs a place to hang out.
• Dense shrubs can also create a hideout, so keep hedges low and plantings near doors and windows neat and transparent. 

Door Stops

• A door with only a handle lock is an easy mark for a crook armed with finesse, a plastic credit card and the desire to break your home security. Instead, add a good-quality deadbolt at each entry. The best deadbolts require a key on the outside and incorporate a thumb latch on the inside. Further strengthen every installation by substituting long, heavy-duty screws for those provided by the manufacturer so that entry doors can be secured to the wood-framed door opening in the wall.
• No matter which lock you choose, it’s only as strong as the door itself, which is generally weakest around the lock. Add a decorative door reinforcement plate (about $10) to make this zone more secure. For more entry door security tips, check out our Front Door Entryways tips.
• Improve home security at the patio door by adding a patio bar, which can stop the inside door from sliding open or being pried off if the lock is broken. A sturdy piece of wood strategically placed in the open track can also improve door security.
• When leaving home for day trips or longer, keep your garage closed to intruders by inserting a large stove bolt through one of the side track holes to prevent the door from being slid open.
• Install a wide-angle (200-degree) peephole in your front door so that you can easily see who’s come knocking. 

Secure Your Keys

• Never hide spare keys in “secret” places outside your home, because smart burglars know which flowerpots to look under.
• Be smart about issuing spare keys. Even though you may be careful about who they’re issued to, you can’t control the paths they may cross or situations in which your key may be exposed to duplication.

Weak Windows

• Windows can be the weakest link in home security, especially if left open and unattended. Make sure all units are closed and locked before you leave home for even the shortest errand, and add window dressings and shades to discourage prying eyes.
• Modern windows include sash locks, but you can improve security by drilling a hole from front to back where the top and bottom windows overlap and installing a long nail in the hole. If the integrated window lock breaks, the nail will stop the window from sliding open. Security bars on ground-level windows are also an option, but make sure they’re fitted with quick-release mechanisms that allow them to be opened from the inside in an emergency. 

Self-Service Security Systems

• Low-cost, high-technology home security systems incorporating infrared motion detection, remote controls and easy-to-install door and window break-in sensors are available for application in apartments and small homes. If you have pets, you can prevent false alarms by looking for systems incorporating “pet alley” settings that keep detection just above their usual paths.
• For more security with doors and windows, purchase individual alarms to supplement existing security measures. 

Make a Thorough Inventory

• Perhaps the most important home security measure of all is to document your home’s contents, particularly the valuables. Get out the video camera and take a thorough tour of your home, then deliver a copy of the resulting tape and any other helpful documentation to your safe deposit box. If your home security is ever really threatened by a burglary, you’ll have the proof you need to supply to the police and to your homeowners insurance company.

Resource: moneypit.com


Another option of protecting your home and family is with a Tomboy Tools Home Security System.  Our easy-to-install, state-of-the-art GE Wireless Home Security System has five flexible packages to meet your needs, budget, and lifestyle.  Contact your local Tomboy Tools Consultant for more information.

Tips for a Waste-Less School Year

Here are some great tips that you can incorporate as the kids head back to school this year.

Choose and use a wide assortment of products made from recycled products, such as pencils made from old blue jeans; binders made from old shipping boxes; and many types of recycled paper products. You can also reuse items like refillable pens, rechargeable batteries, and scrap paper for notes. Using recycled-content and reusing supplies prevents waste and saves you money.

Before starting a new school year, sort through your materials. Many supplies can be reused or recycled. Notebooks, folders, and binders can be reused. Recycle unwanted papers and reuse your old folders and binders. Share your used books with friends, relatives, or younger schoolchildren.

Waste from packaging accounts for more than 30 percent of all the waste generated each year. Use school supplies wrapped with minimal packaging; use compact or concentrated products; or buy products that come in bulk sizes. Save packaging, colored paper, egg cartons and other items for arts and crafts projects. Look for other ways you can reduce the amount of packaging you throw away!

Many schools reuse text books to save money and reduce waste. Covering your textbooks with cut-up grocery or shopping bags helps reduce waste and keeps your books in good condition. Be creative—use markers or colored pencils to give your covers unique and fun designs. Paper grocery bags are also great for wrapping packages.

Use nontoxic products, inks and art supplies, such as batteries with less mercury, vegetable-based inks, and water-based paints.

Use and maintain durable products. Sturdy backpacks and notebooks can be reused for many years, which helps reduce the amount of broken items tossed away each year. Put long-lasting, high-quality tires on your car and bicycle. Be sure to keep your tires properly inflated.

If you bring your lunch to school, package it in reusable containers instead of disposable ones, and carry them in a reusable plastic or cloth bag, or lunch box. Bring drinks in a thermos instead of disposable bottles or cartons.

If you buy lunch, take and use only what you need: One napkin, one ketchup packet, one salt packet, one pepper packet, one set of flatware. And, remember to recycle your cans and bottles. 

If you drive to school, try carpooling or take public transportation. Get your parents' permission to try walking, biking, or skating. You can prevent wasted fuel, reduce air pollution, and decrease traffic in your community.

Borrow or rent your decorations and supplies for parties, dances, and proms. If you buy these supplies, try adopting a theme that can be used from year-to-year, so that you can reuse your decorations and supplies.

Pass it on. Share the message with your friends and schoolmates. Waste less by reducing, reusing, and recycling. Volunteer for, or start , an environmental club or recycling project in your school.

Work with your teachers and friends to find ways to encourage everyone in your community to make waste reduction a part of their everyday lives. You can also look for unique ways to make your school more waste-free, such as starting a school composting project.

Resource:  EPA.gov

Vinegar: The Magic Cleaning Product

If you have any sense of smell, you know the pungent scent of vinegar. Think of it as the smell of clean.  This mild, organic acidic can clean and sanitize a coffeepot, keep drains running clear and smelling fresh, and among other uses too numerous to mention, it can even repel insects. And if that’s not enough, it’s safe and inexpensive to use.

But first, a few cleaning tips:

- Removing lipstick from carpet can be tedious. Use a mild solution of liquid dish soap and warm water. Work in gently with a soft cloth and flush with club soda or water. A carpet spotter may also work on the stain.

- To clean solid brass, mix lemon juice and salt together, dip a cloth into the mixture and clean the brass. Rinse and dry. An application of car wax on the clean brass will help repel future tarnish.

- Keep white wine handy to neutralize the color in red wine if a tile grout stain occurs. Clean the stain with a paste of lemon juice and cream of tartar, or use hydrogen peroxide. The process may have to be repeated to remove the stain completely.

Vinegar and Its Applications:

- Cleaning eyeglasses: Rub with vinegar and dry with a soft cloth. Don’t worry about any odor from vinegar remaining on the glasses -- it will quickly dissipate.

- Repelling Bugs: Dab vinegar on skin when working outdoors; bugs will hate the taste of the skin and leave.

- Getting rid of musty odor in trunks, drawers and closets: Place a slice of white bread (it must be white bread) in a bowl and cover with vinegar. Leave the bowl in the musty area for 24 hours. The yeast action in the bread combines with the acid values of the vinegar to absorb the odor. Close doors and drawers for the best result.

- Eliminating fish frying odors: Place a shallow dish of vinegar by the pan while frying fish.

- Eliminating onion odors: Spray vinegar on hands, knife and cutting board while chopping onions.

Resource:  DIY Network

10 Must-Know Room Measurements

Get your measurements right: here's a handy guide to home measurements that's worth printing and saving.

1. Dining Room Table
A 36-inch-wide rectangular table is perfect for conversation. A round table with a diameter of 48 inches seats six; a 60-inch round will handle eight standard dining chairs or 10 ballroom chairs.

2. Light Fixtures
How big should an overhead light fixture be? Just add the length and width of the room in feet, and whatever number you come up with is, in inches, your guide for the fixture's diameter. So a 15-by-20-foot room would need a 35-inch-wide chandelier.

3. Paint Coverage
One gallon of paint will cover about 400 square feet of wall.

4. Curtain Height
Mount curtains as high as possible to give the room more height, and let them break 1½ inches on the floor.

5. Kitchen Island
A kitchen island should be about 38 inches high-a little taller than the countertops-to be comfortable for prep.

6. Window Treatment Width
Curtains should be 2½ to 3 times the width of the window. So if you're doing two panels, each should be 1¼ to 1½ times the window width. Buy a rod that's 20 inches wider than your window so it extends 10 inches on either side. Your window will seem much wider than it really is.

7. Dining-Room Chandelier
The bottom of a dining-room chandelier should hang 36 inches above the table.

8. Light Switches
Install light switches 36 inches above the floor and 1½ to 2 inches to the side of the door trim.

9. Fabric for a Sofa
For a standard 84-inch sofa with exposed legs and a tight back, you'll need 14 yards of plain 54-inch-wide fabric. Add two yards for a skirt.

10. The Golden Ratio
From classical times to today, the golden ratio has always been the perfect proportion: 1 to 1.62.

Resource:  By House Beautiful Magazine | Decorating Guide – Fri, May 18, 2012 12:42 PM EDT















Make Your Air Conditioning Dollars Go Farther

Make your air conditioning dollars
go farther this summer.

When temperatures rise outside, it's natural to seek cool shelter indoors. For many people, that means flipping on the air conditioning unit and taking it easy. Keeping the air cool is more than a luxury for some families; elderly parents and young children cannot tolerate excessively high temperatures. However, the need for air conditioning puts many families at financial risk. A pricey combination of rising fuel costs and high electrical demand make summertime electric bills hard to manage.

According to Energy Star, the American family pays nearly $1,000 a year on heating and cooling their homes; that figure is above other electrical costs! You don't have to risk exposing your loved ones to brutal heat to save money. Take advantage of some money-saving tips and beat the summer heat.

-- Help circulate cool air through the home by placing an oscillating fan in family rooms, like a living room or dining room.

-- Keep the temperature at constant temperature and avoid dropping the thermostat too low. Lowering the temperature costs you money and won't cool the home any faster.

-- Raise the thermostat 2 to 3 degrees before you leave for work if no one will be home. The energy experts at APS say that moving the temperature up 5 degrees for eight hours a day can save you $3 to $5 a month.

-- Install a whole house fan system. Whole house fans pull the hot attic air out of the home and keeps the air circulating, giving your home a cooling effect. This move could chill your home by a few degrees.

-- Replace old air conditioning units. If your window unit is a decade old, it needs to be replaced with an energy efficient unit. If your home has central AC, have the thermostat calibrated and the system charged yearly. APS says homeowners should replace their older SEER units (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) to save energy bucks. Replacing a unit with a SEER rating of 10 with one that has an 18 SEER rating you could save up to 50% on your AC costs annually.

-- Change the air conditioning filters regularly; once a month is suitable. Good air flow across the filter will cut down on cooling costs and stop allergens from floating around your home. FPL Energy Services say that air filters cost between $10 and $25 a piece, but replacing them can save you 5 to 15 percent on your monthly bill.

-- Hang insulated curtains in your windows. Sheer curtains look nice, but they don't provide any barrier between you and the outdoor heat. Keep windows covered during hot afternoons.

Also, do a walk through of your home while the air is on. Check for leaks around windows and doors.

Sometimes your energy dollars simply float out the window!

Resource:  By Monica Bullock | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:32 AM EDT

June Weekend Home Improvement Projects

Summer is here, and it's time to get busy with home improvement projects during the warmest season of the year. June is a great month to organize your garage, sharpen up your home safety skills, celebrate Father's Day with a new work space for Dad, and entertain guests in comfort with your newly installed low voltage lighting.

Here are some tips to get your home in tip top shape for the season!

Weekend #1:  Safety First!

June is National Safety Month, brought to you by our friends at the National Safety Council. The NSC's main goal is to encourage individuals to learn about safety education for the home and workplace. Their provided safety advice is designed to greatly reduce the risk of unintentional injury and death during everyday activities.

The National Safety Council website is filled with useful safety advice about making your home less hazardous by correcting situations that might cause falls, improving indoor air quality, poisoning prevention, and fire prevention. Some of the tips include:

• keeping outdoor walkways in good condition
• removing clutter from walkways
• maintaining  well lit steps and pathway inside and out of the home
• using proper step ladders
• testing smoke detectors
• having fire extinguishers in multiple places inside your home
• installing CO detectors 
• storing hazardous materials out of reach of small children

Most of the information may seem like common sense, but can easily be forgotten as the business of life takes over. Take this first weekend to review the NSC's safety materials and create a true safe haven in your home for your family and friends.

Weekend #2:  Home and Garage Organization!

June is a great month to organize your home's garage. As humans, we love to acquire stuff, which means we easily run out of space. Our natural instinct is to cram items we use everyday into the garage. But kids play things, seasonal items, tools, sporting equipment, and the things we just can't bring ourselves to toss should not go into the garage. There is absolutely no reason why all of those items can happily coexist in the garage in an organized and tidy manner with a workshop, the car, or gardening table.

First, take everything out of the garage and sort through it. Create a giveaway pile for donations, a pile for trash, and a pile for the things you are going to hold onto. Then go through the items you are keeping and divide them into everyday common items, seasonal décor, sporting equipment, tools, garden, etc. Once you see what you need to put back into the garage, you can then go and buy or build proper storage units and containers.

Keep items organized and off the floor with wall and ceiling mounted hangers. Put items you use more frequently toward the front, making sure kids items are where they can easily reach them. Hazardous items should be placed where children can't get their hands on them. Be sure to properly anchor storage shelves and cabinets, as the items you organize and store on the shelves in the garage tend to be heavy. With all that new tidy organized space in your garage, you might even find you have room to create a Father's Day gift; a new work shop for Dad.

Weekend #3 : Celebrate Father's Day and remember Dad this weekend with a surprise home workshop.

Happy Father's Day everyone! Dads do so much for the family, so take this weekend to do something really special for the dad in your life.  Create a workshop in your newly organized garage and stock it with his favorite tools. Organize all of the small items, such as nails, screws, washers, wood plugs, etc. into compartmentalized storage bins in the work space, and label each drawer with the contents. Dad will easily find whatever he needs. 

Pegboards are a great way for Dad to organize hand tools and keep them off the work table. Paint the shape of the tool onto the pegboard so it will always go back to the same place. If you are in the market to buy tools for your dad this Father's Day, buy him tools in the same brand as his current tools so they can operate off the same battery and keep clutter in the workshop to a minimum. Once Dad gets over the shock and surprise of his brand new work shop, treat him to a tasty barbecue with all his grilled favorites. Whatever you and Dad choose to do this Father's Day, be sure to enjoy your time together and have fun!

Weekend #4:  Enjoy your outdoor retreat day or night with the perfect lightscaping for your yard and garden.

Now that summer has officially arrived, lazy days of hanging out around your yard and deck entertaining friends and family will get into full swing, no doubt continuing into the twilight hours. Take full advantage of what your outdoor escape has to offer by adding some lighting.  Low voltage lighting has made it easy to create beautiful areas of light on your garden or to highlight architectural details of your home.

Low voltage lighting fixtures are available in many styles, so you can find ones that suit your tastes. Low voltage is a great improvement for outdoor lighting because it casts an even glow, which is great for highlighting flower beds or walkways. You can attach a fixture in a tree to cast a moonlit glow, or use low voltage lights to highlight your favorite tree or arbor. Many low voltage items are sold as kits at your local home center, and are a perfect weekend do-it your self project. Not only does low voltage lighting help to enhance your outdoor escape, it adds value to your home and helps keep everyone safe on those newly lit pathways.


Resource:  The Money Pit

6 Most Popular Projects Home Owners Target With Remodeling

Kitchens and bathrooms remain the top jobs home owners are taking on in remodeling projects, according to a new survey by the National Association of Home Builders.

The top remodeling projects of home owners, according to the latest survey of remodelers, are:

1. Bathrooms
2. Kitchens
3. Window/door replacements
4. Whole house remodels
5. Room additions
6. Handyman services

The report’s finding of the main motivation behind home owners’ decision to remodel is not too surprising: To repair and replace old components and to upgrade amenities.

But more than 20 percent of remodelers surveyed said they’ve been noticing a drop in the number of customers who are remodeling to try to increase their home’s value.

The survey is yet another indication that more home owners are happy staying put–at least for now–and instead are looking at how to enhance what they already have.

Nearly half of the remodelers surveyed said they’ve been seeing an increase over the last year in the number of home owners who are undertaking remodeling projects so they can avoid moving.

“Home owners are repurposing spaces and making more efficient use of their home’s square footage,” says NAHB Remodelers Chairman George “Geep” Moore Jr. “Whether it be young families or couples aging in their homes, people want to let their house adapt with their needs as they change over time.”

According to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, home remodeling is expected to post its best year this year since 2006.

But while home owners want to enhance, they also want to save.

“Before it was curb appeal, showiness and keeping up with the Joneses,” Duo Dickinson, author of Staying Put: Remodel Your House to Get the Home You Want (Taunton Press), told USA Today in a recent article on remodeling trends. But now more home owners want their homes to reflect who they are. “The house is the most direct mirror of your personal values. When people renovate to change their lives, they waste money.”

These more “me-centered” remodeling projects may include livening up outdoor spaces, creating “livable kitchens” that are multi-purpose and make the kitchen serve as a room for more than just cooking, and smaller master baths (like removing that luxurious spa tub for a larger shower).

Also in saving a buck, more home owners are looking at doing more of the work themselves. According to a new report from Bank of America, 70 percent of home owners are taking on home improvement projects that they once hired out in order to cut costs, tackling everything from plumbing to painting.

Resource:  Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine