Security For The Best Things In Life
Posted by michelle on Nov 6, 2012 in Parenting | 34 comments
The Best Things In Life
I have this little sign in my kitchen that reads “The Best Things In Life Aren’t Things.” It’s hanging on my wall and I see it every single day. I know that these words are true. Look at that adorable little cartoon family up in the corner! Now, picture the kids being even cuter and sweeter in person and you can almost see my family. Obviously, I’m not always as well put together as my perfect cartoon, and Jeff wishes he had the metabolism of his avatar, but the kids are that sweet. They really are. I am one lucky mama! Because of this, I know the importance of keeping my home a safe and healthy place.
Baby Proofing Like A Boss
With such a chronological gap between our second and third babies, we pretty much had to start from scratch…again. We had to dig up all those annoying baby locks for our kitchen cabinets, the stairway gates, and then do a full “crawl through” of the house, putting everything hot, sharp, or valuable up higher than our littlest monster could reach. Being a tall, brave, athletically-advanced child works to her advantage, much to our chagrin. A few months ago, we had to put all of our dining room chairs in the basement. We then stack our breakfast room chairs on the dining room table. It’s not the fact that she can climb onto the chairs so much, but the fact that my smarty pants knows to push the chair up to the counter or table of her choosing to reach whatever it is that she wants. I just know that jumping off the refrigerator was next if we didn’t step it up.
Wallet warning: There are sites that will tell you that you absolutely must have every single item that’s ever been marketed as a baby safety device. I will not tell you what to buy or what not to buy, but I will caution you to use your best judgment at all times when making these purchases. Talk to friends and family and find out what you really need and what items are just being fed to naive first-time parents and marketed as must-haves.
Sleep Like A Baby, Safely
As for crib safety, the safest way for *most babies to sleep is on a flat, clean surface free of all stuffed animals, bumper pads, blankets, and crib toys. Thankfully, this is obviously very frugal! In the winter months, we dress our daughter in a footed blanket sleeper that zips all the way up. She stays nice and cozy and we don’t have to worry about her suffocating under a thick blanket. This helps everyone sleep easier at night!
*Note: please listen to your pediatrician when it comes to the safety of your child and how they should sleep. What is best for my child may not be best for yours.
If You Like It Then You Shoulda Put An HSS On It
Peace of mind is huge for me. I want to be able to relax and play with my kids and I don’t want to worry about someone breaking into the house. Home security systems don’t only protect your stuff; they protect your family and pets as well, and provide you with the peace of mind that everyone deserves. Since cleaning out most of our unnecessary clutter, we’re left with only the things that are important to us. I don’t have a lot of jewelry or valuable items in my home, but the valuable items we do own are either sentimental gifts or items that we’ve simply worked too hard for to let someone come in and just take them from us.
Healthy Home = Happy Home
This week, we are getting a home inspection, and next week we are getting our chimney swept. Since this is a blog about saving money, I’m sure you’re scratching your head right about now. We haven’t had our home inspected since we moved in over 8 years ago, and this is something you should have done every 5-10 years at least. A thorough home inspection does cost a couple hundred bucks, but it can end up saving you a lot of money if they are to find anything. I will be sure and update you with how that goes. As for the chimney sweep, this will end up saving us money…as well as keeping us from blowing up.
How do you keep your “best things in life” safe and healthy? Does anyone actually have a guard dog anymore, or is that just my fantasy from some 80′s movie?
34 Comments
Leave a Reply
eBook with Michelle & Jefferson for only $4.99!
As Seen On
About Us
Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media | © 2013 See Debt Run
Business
We don’t have a security system but it is something that we are thinking about. I would hope that my dog would scare them away though!
Michelle recently posted..$3,700 in Extra Income in October and My Goals
With your big dog, I’m sure it could scare away some people. However, if someone wants something in your house, there are ways to get past a dog. Bacon, anyone? Insta-friend! Works on me anyway…
Nice post. We feel pretty blessed ourselves with our three little munchkins. I hate those safety locks, they seem to keep us out of things and not the kids.
John S @ Frugal Rules recently posted..Festival of Frugality #361, Election Day Edition
John, I know right? I always forget about them, reach for something and end up either smacking myself in the face as the cabinet doesn’t give like I thought it would, or fumbling to try to open it with one hand because my other hand has raw meat or egg goo on it. And recently? My daughter has started chewing on the two cabinet doors that don’t have baby locks. They hold tupperware and cutting boards, so she can’t hurt herself on these things. However, it’s a pain now that she’s going through this “beaver phase.” Fun stuff!
I wouldn’t call my dog a “guard dog” but I do believe he serves that purpose. When you have a 150lb Bullmastiff and take him on the occasional walk, I don’t think it takes long for people to notice that we have a big animal roaming in our house.
Jason recently posted..Recipe: Corn Chowder with Chilies
True, Jason. Your dog will scare away a few people. Like I told Michelle though, don’t you think your dog would be nice to me if I broke into your house but brought BACON?
Something to chew on. Great…now I’m hungry.
I had a home alarm at my last house and it annoyed the crap out of me constantly getting triggered by the cat, we live in a safe neighborhood and if someone wants in our house bad enough I figured they’ll find a way in, that’s why we have insurance. The stuff I really care about no one else would (pictures, baby stuff). We’re going to have to start stocking up on baby-safety stuff soon, approaching 6months!
Catherine recently posted..My Friend Won The Lottery
Your cat is funny. I have one for my family, not for my stuff it’s true. After all, it’s just stuff, right?
I don’t really have any valuables except for my pets. Electronics and such could be replaced for a few thousand, so I make do with a lock on the door and a dog (though she doesn’t bark). If I ever have kids though, I’ll have to put a lot more thought into this!
Jordann @ My Alternate Life recently posted..My Minimalist Christmas
Exactly, Jordann. It’s something I never would think of unless I had kids! Although, if I didn’t have kids….I’d have more money? Ha!
Yeah, those baby-proofing locks really keep the parents out too. I’ve also hurt myself more times than I care to remember, on those hooks that you attach to the cabinet doors. Sheesh!
Mackenzie recently posted..When It’s Not Just Forgetfulness
Those are the ones, Mackenzie. They are awful! Oh well…they do work.
We don’t have a security system but have thought of putting one in. We don’t really keep very expensive things in our apartment anyway and we do have theft insurance. Still as you said, it would be great peace of mind.
Debt and the Girl recently posted..Doing Something Positive About It
We don’t have many expensive items either, but I would be so mad if anyone stole something someone had given me or that was meaningful to me.
Great post ! Your priorities in life are right on. Things have nothing on family and the relationships that are important to you.
Gillian @ Money After Graduation recently posted..The Problem With Mitt Romney’s Finances
Thanks, Gillian. I try to keep this in perspective.
I had no idea babies weren’t supposed to sleep with blankets! Mind.blown.
L Bee and the Money Tree recently posted..To my College Self- Featuring Author Jennifer Adams
Yep! It’s kind of a new thing. No pillows, no crib bumpers, nothing. They say just a tightly fitted sheet is all the baby needs. I always make sure the house is at a comfortable temperature or put her in a blanket sleeper that zips up and she sleeps like a baby!
This is great! We loved those baby sleep sack thingies. We would just put them over their pajamas and zip them up! I would worry too much letting them sleep with a blanket =(
Holly@ClubThrifty recently posted..Election Day: Do We Really Have a Choice?
I’m an anxious person, so I can’t put a blanket on my daughter either. She does have some really nice knitted blankets that have holes throughout, and I’ve let her nap with those. I’m just too paranoid.
The boyfriend’s parents totally have a guard dog! I think they have since the 80s. Not the same one, obviously. Baby proofing is a bit pricey. Then you realize the solution is actually less stuff rather than more. Those things that keep the door knob from turning have been A-MAZING!
femmefrugality recently posted..Lifestyle Carnival 27th Edition: Holiday Stress
Baby proofing can be insane. Good point that less is actually more…so true! I think that companies take advantage of new parents with all these gadgets and things.
The best things in life are relationships with your friends, family, loved ones, etc. Although, I have had a home security system, I got rid of it because of expense, need for a land line, and that it would at times go off for no reason. I’m not worried enough to get something else like a dog. They are expensive too.
Dogs can be expensive. You know there are wireless systems now? Too cool, right? As with all things, you have to weigh the pros and cons and decide what is right for your household. So true.
Kitty PoP couldn’t be further from a guard dog. Not only does he weigh a whopping 9 lbs, but he runs in terror to hide under the bed or in the bathtub if there are strangers around the house. =)
Mrs. Pop @ Planting Our Pennies recently posted..How To Recover From A Bad Budget Month
I just thought about getting a guard dog today
A friend said I should be armed, because my place is remote. It is common in Guatemala but I just hate firearms so I may settle for the dog!
Pauline recently posted..November goals and October goals review
I think about the only things I do are have a fire alarm, carbon monoxide detector, and I’m pretty obsessed about checking all the locks every night. And I’m pretty sure my cat be completely useless in the event of a break in.
Budget and the Beach recently posted..Paying for Convenience
It’s like one’s health – spending a little bit of time and money on prevention can save money and improve health in the long run.
We have a security system. It not only lets me know if someone is coming in, it would let me know if our rather adventurous daughter tries to go out. She’s only five, so it’s not like she’s sneaking out, but she has tried to go out early in the moring to play in the yard when we’ve still been asleep. When she figures out how to turn it off, we’re in trouble!
Kim@Eyesonthedollar recently posted..Rental Property Series: Let’s Drink to Having Tenants
We don’t have a home security system, but after everything we’ve been through with our crazy downstairs neighbors propping open our building’s front doors during the hurricane, I’ve been thinking that maybe we should get one. Or at least a more solid front door for our unit. We have a shih tzu. He has a nasty attitude sometimes, but he’s not much of an attack dog
KK @ Student Debt Survivor recently posted..Things I Learned During Hurricane Sandy
I dont believe home security systems are needed if you dont have valuable items. I understand they may have value to you. But this is an expense I like to call the “What if” catagory. For example, What if my washer breaks, I’ll buy an extended warranty. What if my cell phone breaks, I need phone insurance. Safety is important but if you live in a decent neighborhood, just lock your doors and windows. Truth is if someone wanted something or wanted to harm you or your family, they would be studying the best way to do it and even with a security system, they will try to get in but that is why we have a police force and 911 for emergencys like that. There are some what ifs we cant live without like health insurance, homeowners and car insurance. But I personally believe this is not a needed expense.
Eventhough, Bacon may be able to sway a dog…there are still some people very afraid of dogs and animals in general. Some dogs are loud and sound more vicious than they are, that alone could scare someone away.
The “best” things in life arent things just as your blog states. The best things are loved ones, friends and your children. Your children wont remember the home security system but they will remember all the fun they had with you during their childhood.
We get a home inspection before we buy a house here in Canada although it is optional yet advised. We paid around 500.00 for an inspector but it was worth it in my opinion. We also have a security system and a guard dog that sleeps on the job so we fired him lol… Cheers Mr.CBB
Canadianbudgetbinder recently posted..Turning Leaves Into Compost- Where There’s Muck There’s Brass
Interesting idea on the home inspection. This is something I never thought to do, but makes perfect sense to avoid future problems. I’m very interested to hear how it turns out and if you felt it was worth it…
Jason Clayton | frugal habits recently posted..What’s with all the Closing Costs and Fees when getting a Mortgage
I guess you could say my 30 lb. cocka-poo is somewhat of a guard dog in that she barks at EVERYTHING. I actually did a little bit of research on baby items when my friend got pregnant and realized that a lot of what advertising tells you you need, is crap (gasp!). The only things you really NEED to buy new are “safety” items like you said, a crib, a car seat and the like. Everything else can pretty much be hand-me-downs or discount.
Kelly@Financial-Lessons recently posted..6 Investing Tips for Beginners