Simply Thrifty

Break a Window or Call in a Locksmith? What Will Cost More in the Long Run?

by Deborah Ng on February 12th, 2008

Thanks to a power outage, my family and I found ourselves locked out of our house the other night, on the coldest night of the year. You see, we usually enter through the garage. Since the power was out, the doors wouldn’t raise and we were locked out. Normally I’d have my keys, but since we were just running out for a minute, and we normally use the garage, I didn’t feel like lugging along my purse.

My husband tried to get into the house for about 45 minutes while I kept our son occupied in the car. Finally we realized our house was Ft. Knox and we’d have to do something drastic. The options were to break out one of the windows in our brand news side entryway, or call a locksmith. A locksmith was sure to cost between $250 - $300. What would it cost to have the window custom replaced.

After discussing it, we also realized it was the coldest night of the year and if the power was out we didn’t have heat. If and when the heat did come on it would be a problem heating a house with a broken window, even if it was boarded up. The locksmith (costing $270) won.

The moral of the story? Don’t forget your keys. The other moral? Stuff happens, sometimes it’s expensive stuff. Always prepare for the unexpected. Sock away a little money and hide a key outside your home. Otherwise you may end up paying a premium later.

Share This

Related Stories

DIY Window Seat
Save Money All the Time
Reuse Window Covering
7 Phone Bill Saving Tips and a FREE E-Book
Save money on long distance with Skype

POSTED IN: Around the House