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You don't need a $500 ADT system or a $60/month monitoring plan to secure your home. A smart speaker, two cameras, a smart lock, and a couple of sensors cover 90% of what a professional system does — for a one-time cost of about $150.

Here's the exact setup I recommend, what each piece does, and why you don't need the expensive stuff.

The $150 Security Setup

Add a smart lock ($80-150) when budget allows. That brings it to $220-286 for a complete system.

What Each Piece Does

Cameras: Your Eyes

Two cameras cover the two most common entry points (front and back doors). With local recording on microSD, you have 24/7 footage with no subscription.

What cameras catch:

• Package deliveries and theft
• Who's at the door before you open it
• Evidence if someone breaks in
• Motion alerts when you're away

What cameras don't do: They don't prevent break-ins. They record evidence. The deterrent value is real — studies show visible cameras reduce property crime by 50% — but they won't physically stop someone.

Entry Sensors: Your Early Warning

A $6 sensor on each door tells you the instant it opens. Put them on:

• Front door
• Back door
• Garage door to house
• Any first-floor window that could be an entry point

When a sensor trips, you get an instant notification. If you're home, you know someone opened a door. If you're away, you know something is wrong.

The key advantage over cameras: Sensors are instant. Cameras have a 0.5-2 second delay before they start recording. A sensor triggers the moment the door moves — before a camera even wakes up.

Motion-Activated Light: The Simplest Deterrent

A $15 battery-powered motion light on the back door serves two purposes:

1. Deters anyone lurking in the dark
2. Provides light for the camera's color night vision

Most break-ins happen at the back of the house because it's darker. A motion light makes the back as exposed as the front.

Smart Plug: The Vacation Trick

A lamp on a smart plug, scheduled to turn on at sunset and off at 11pm, makes an empty house look occupied. Add randomization (on between 6:00-6:30pm, off between 10:30-11:00pm) so it doesn't look robotic.

Cost: $7 for the plug + a lamp you already own. The cheapest security measure that exists.

What You DON'T Need (And What the Industry Wants to Sell You)

Professional Monitoring ($15-60/month) — Skip It

Professional monitoring means a call center watches your cameras and calls the police if something happens.

Why skip it:

• Your phone already gets instant alerts. You can call the police yourself.
• Response time for professional monitoring averages 8-15 minutes. You can call 911 in 30 seconds.
• The monthly cost ($180-720/year) buys a lot of cameras over time.

Exception: If you travel frequently and want someone watching while you're in a different time zone, professional monitoring has value. But for most homeowners, self-monitoring through phone alerts is sufficient.

Glass Break Sensors ($25-40 each) — Skip It

In theory, these detect the sound of breaking glass. In practice:

• They trigger on dropped dishes, loud music, and the TV
• A door/window sensor covers the same entry point more reliably
• If someone breaks a window, the entry sensor on that window still triggers when they open it

Indoor Sirens ($30-50) — Maybe Later

A loud siren that triggers when a sensor is tripped. It's effective but also triggers on false alarms (kid opens the door, cat knocks a sensor). Add this after your system is tuned and false alarms are rare.

Yard Signs ("Protected by ADT") — Free or $5

Actually, these work. Multiple studies show that security signs and stickers deter burglars, even without an actual system. Buy a generic "24/7 Video Surveillance" sign on Amazon for $5.

Is it dishonest? You DO have cameras. The sign just makes them more visible.

Setting Up Automations

"Away Mode" Routine

Trigger: "Alexa, I'm leaving" (or geofencing when phone leaves)

• Camera alerts: ON
• Entry sensor alerts: ON
• Smart plug lamp: scheduled mode
• Thermostat: away mode (saves energy)

"Home Mode" Routine

Trigger: "Alexa, I'm home" (or geofencing when phone arrives)

• Camera alerts: OFF (or reduced sensitivity)
• Entry sensor alerts: OFF
• Smart plug lamp: normal mode

"Night Mode" Routine

Trigger: "Alexa, goodnight"

• Camera alerts: ON (outside cameras only)
• Entry sensor alerts: ON
• All lights off
• Smart lock: locked

Adding a Smart Lock ($80-150)

A smart lock is the single biggest upgrade to this basic system. It lets you:

• Lock/unlock remotely (forgot to lock? Fix it from your phone)
• Auto-lock after 30 seconds of closing
• Give temporary codes to guests or delivery people
• Check lock status in your goodnight routine
• Get alerts when the door is unlocked

Recommended: August Wi-Fi Smart Lock ($150) or Wyze Lock Bolt ($80). Both work without replacing your existing deadbolt — they attach to the inside of your current lock.

The Complete Budget Security Timeline

Start with cameras. They're the highest-impact item. Add sensors and the lock when budget allows. You don't need everything at once.

Is This As Good As a Professional System?

The professional system's only real advantage is monitoring while you can't check your phone (sleeping, on a plane). For everything else, the DIY setup is equivalent at 5-20% of the cost.

Dana Park's apartment security setup cost $143. Her landlord's ADT system costs $45/month. They have the same cameras and sensors. She checks her phone when she gets alerts. He pays someone to check their phone when he gets alerts.

Where to Buy

Affiliate links — if you buy through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

• Wyze Cam v4