Freshome

Though it’s not true for all home security systems, a common rule of thumb is that systems that cost more up front typically have lower monthly fees, whereas systems that are cheap (or even free) to install will likely cost you more in monthly monitoring fees. DIY systems frequently have optional monthly monitoring, so you’ll pay anywhere from $0 to $30 a month for monitoring. You can have a basic system professionally installed from $49 to $99, but your monthly fee will probably be between $20 and $30 or more, because it includes the cost of the equipment along with monitoring. With no upfront costs and monthly monitoring starting at $19.99, Protect America offers a pretty good deal on DIY home security, but there’s a catch: The low monthly fee is only for landline monitoring, and it comes with a 36-month contract.

To help you daydream about other places you could be stuck in, we rounded up some of the most beautiful, peaceful and social-distance friendly Airbnb homes. This home also has a hot tub, basketball court, golf driving net, a putt-putt course, shuffleboard, a fire pit, and a game room — suffice it to say, you’ll never be bored. It has a large yard with a volleyball net and plenty of shade beneath a variety of tree species. With vine-covered brick, shuttered windows, gothic fireplaces, a reading nook under a staircase, and a small creaky attic in a tower

Performing an internet speed test online can tell you a few things about your home internet such as download speed, upload speed and ping. For the highest-bandwidth internet users, like live streamers and online video creators, fiber-optic speeds can give all the download and upload speed they’d need to keep creating. Like download speeds, upload speeds are also measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Most providers of DSL and cable internet will prioritize download speed, but you’ll find that fiber internet often supports upload speeds as high as download speeds.

For most newer iPhones, for example, you can easily find this feature by navigating to Settings, tapping Personal Hotspot and setting it to “on.” Finding free internet services for your home is a little more challenging, though not impossible, especially if you don’t mind using a dial-up connection. When visiting these locations, you’ll often see a link posted to the company’s free WiFi or, when you click on your WiFi icon on your phone, you’ll find a connection option in your list. You can also find free WiFi at your local library, at some public parks, in museums and when you’re traveling by bus or train. Unless you’re using an encrypted connection, avoid sharing data when using hotspots or public WiFi.