We've heard the expression till we're blue in the face: "You get what you pay for." Still, we try to find shortcuts. And in many cases, that's a worthwhile endeavor, because true bargains can and do exist. However, there are occasions during which it's in your best interest to spend a bit more for your own peace of mind. So what are some of those "investment pieces" that are worthy of a bigger chunk of your bank account?

A reliable home security system. With so many of them on the market, it's easy to find yourself fooled by companies who claim to sell such systems cheaply. Some of these "bargain" systems do nothing but compromise your family's safety. All they provide is bad workmanship and poor or nonexistent service. The crew who appears at your home to install a system like this is often comprised of inexperienced novices. What you get for the bargain price is a system that doesn't function, trips at the wrong time and then won't shut off. You could get a system that breaks soon after installation, or that has boxes placed in logistically incorrect locations in your home. You're likely to experience a series of false alarms, which is going to cause both you and your neighbors headaches. If you've ever wanted to win friends and influence people, setting off your alarm at 3 a.m. isn't going to do it -- especially if you can't shut the alarm off and your fly-by-night service provider is on a permanent vacation and cannot assist you.

A good security system covers more than just the front and back doors of your home. After all, how many burglars do you know who would enter a home through the front door? A top-notch system is going to cover the numerous other entrances to your home -- side entrances, windows, garage door, etc. A good system also is likely to have a "panic button," enabling you to trigger the system in the event that you suspect a break-in in progress while you're at home. Some systems also have the invaluable feature of a "secret signal," which allows you to quietly alert the police if a burglar enters your home, confronts you and demands that you disarm your security system. You push the magic button, and the police are alerted to the presence of an intruder in your home.

Secure, energy-efficient windows. Selecting windows is another occasion during which you often get what you pay for, so make sure you're going to want to spend a bit more here. For starters, your security is at stake because burglars often enter homes through windows that can easily be forced open. So be prepared to make a considerable investment in top quality windows -- storm windows, if possible -- that lock securely. Particularly if you live in the southern states, where the summertime heat can be brutal and cause your energy bills to soar, it's a good idea to invest in storm windows. Hit the Internet or your local home improvement store, and select a well-insulated variety of storm window. For existing windows, purchase adequate shading -- whether it's a good pair of drapes, custom-made shutters (which can be fairly expensive) or solar film to shield you from the sun's scorching rays, which can, by the way, fade your carpeting and furniture. Good shading, then, is a purchase that pays large dividends later.

It hardly bears repeating that installing good locks on the doors of your home are worth their weight in gold. Approximately one out of every four burglarized homes was unlocked when the intruder entered the residence. In the other three cases, the burglars either entered through an insecure window or through a door that had a substandard lock. The doors on your home, according to security experts, should be solidly built -- at least 1 3/8 inches thick -- with a dead-bolt lock that slides from the door into the frame. The bolt should extend a minimum of inch from the edge of your door. Make sure that the "strike plate," which is where the bolt enters on the frame, is held in place with screws at least three inches long.

Sliding glass doors are being phased out in new construction these days, in favor of French doors or large windows. Make sure that any existing sliding glass doors in your home are secured by a secondary lock. Aside from evolving trends in new-home construction, one of the primary reasons that sliding glass doors are phasing out is security. These doors have been lifted off their tracks and forced open by intruders. Installing a secondary lock can prevent a burglar from entering your home. You can do it yourself simply by drilling holes in the rack above each corner of your door frame and inserting a screw in each hole. The head of each screw should clear the frame by a very slight margin when you move it back and forth. You may also consider installing a dowel into the track for extra protection. Use a dowel as a third security measure, though; it shouldn't become your secondary "lock."

Your garage door is another prime target for intruders. These doors have been forced open by countless burglars, giving them access to a region of your home that often contains some of your most expensive possessions. If the door leading from your garage into your home is unlocked, the results can be tragic. Police departments recommend that homeowners purchase doors with cane bolts and hasps. You'll also need to make sure that both sides of your garage door contain bolts or clamps so that an intruder cannot force open one side of the door and crawl underneath.

When deciding how to spend our disposable income, it's all too easy to empty our savings on home furnishings, entertainment systems and other staples of the good life. But one of the wisest investments you'll ever make is in the security of your home. Spending your hard-earned money in this area may not give you the same tangible rewards as a new car or leather sofa, but the peace of mind that comes from keeping your family safe is one of the biggest determinants of your quality of life. You can't afford not to invest your money here.