First things first, ditch that “set it and forget it” vibe—security’s a marathon, not a sprint. Start with the basics: a solid router with WPA3, a reliable firewall, and make sure firmware’s always up to date. That’ll cost you a decent $150‑200. Next, lock down every device: use unique, long passwords and enable 2FA where possible. For the budget‑hunters, a free VPN client is fine for home use, but if you want serious traffic sniffing, budget in $30‑$50 for a small NAS that can run open-source tools. Finally, invest in a good power backup—just a cheap UPS for the router and router’s firmware will keep your network humming when the lights go out. The trick? Over‑provision a little on the gear you’re most scared to lose, then keep the rest in a “future‑upgrade” pot. That way, you’re protected now and can upgrade without blowing a hole in your wallet later.

Nice, that’s a tight plan. Just remember to run a quick port scan after you’re set up so you know what’s exposed. And maybe keep a spare firmware backup on a thumb drive—just in case a bad update hits you. Keep hacking that budget, and you’ll stay two steps ahead.