Best Home Security Upgrades for Under $100

You don’t need thousands of dollars or a fancy security system to keep your home safe. In fact, for less than $100, you can make upgrades that drastically increase your home’s security. Today, I’ll show you the best home security upgrades under $100 that actually work and keep you on budget.

The truth is, burglars look for the easiest target. By adding these low-cost upgrades, you’ll make your home harder to break into — and most criminals will move on to an easier house. I'm David and have been trying to be prepared for whatever life throws at me for a long time and have spent a lot of money to try and keep my wife and kids safe.  Some of that was a complete waste, but I've learned a lot and have some great products and ideas for you today. 

The first line of defense is always keeping intruders out — strong doors, reinforced locks, lights, cameras, all the things we’ve been talking about. But here’s the reality: no security setup is perfect. If someone is determined enough, they might still get in. Your job is to buy yourself time — time to react, time to call for help, time to get your family to safety. And if all else fails, you need to be mentally and physically prepared to defend your home. Security gear delays threats, but your planning, training, and mental readiness stand as the last line of defense.

Door Reinforcement ($20–$50) 
    - Reinforcement plates for deadbolts. https://amzn.to/4m5mRHu
    - Stronger strike plates with longer screws.  https://amzn.to/4nfclhG & https://amzn.to/4gfPws9
    - Door jammers or security bars. https://amzn.to/3V8ZGRI      
Window Security ($15–$40)    
    - Window locks https://amzn.to/3VLM7Yp
    - Window security film. https://amzn.to/4nkMtRF
    - Simple dowels/rods in sliding windows.  https://amzn.to/46uFaBa      
Lighting ($20–$40) 
    - Motion-activated outdoor lights. https://amzn.to/46iwhtp 
    - Solar-powered options for low cost, easy install.       https://amzn.to/4gcDyPP       
Surveillance ($25–$80)   
    - Budget Wi-Fi security cameras (Wyze, Blink, Eufy.). https://amzn.to/4m5npx2
    - Indoor cameras pointing out windows as a cheaper alt.  https://amzn.to/3KbVpug    
    - Visible “alarm system” stickers or signs (even if you don’t have one). https://amzn.to/4nqKKdO & https://amzn.to/45YiA3O

At the end of the day, home security isn’t about building an impenetrable fortress — it’s about stacking layer upon layer of protection that make your home a harder target, give you more time to react, and keep your family safer. For under a hundred bucks, you can massively upgrade your doors, windows, lighting, and locks. And remember — prevention is always the priority, but you still need a plan for when prevention fails. Security is about balance: deter and delay on the outside, prepare and defend on the inside. Start with one or two of these upgrades this week, and you’ll already be helping keep your family safe. Because your security doesn’t have to be complicated — it just has to be smart.