Be sure all's secure on the home front.

• Position: Winter Getaways

Some 63,900,000 U.S. residents traveled last year during the winter holidays, according to the American Automobile Association. This translates into a lot of homes that will be left unoccupied during Christmas, New Year's, etc. for opportunistic criminals. To ensure a safe worry-free trip, Protection One, Chicago, a provider of security systems, recommends these simple cost-free tips for securing your home:

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* Lock all windows, including those upstairs, and cut tree limbs away from second-story windows to reduce the chance of easy entry.

* Have a neighbor remove snow from walkways and driveways. If this is not possible, have a friend put tire tracks in your driveway to make it appear that someone is there.

* Keep high-ticket items like gifts out of window view.

* Ensure the address of your house always is visible from the street in case of emergency. Have a friend or family member clear snow and ice from house numbers and mailboxes.

* Keep the heat at 55 [degrees]F or higher to ensure that pipes do not freeze and cause flooding.

* Remove objects that may allow access to your home, such as ladders or trash cans that could be used to enter a window or scale a fence.

* Do not leave Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, or any other online message letting people know that you will be out of town.

* Turn your telephone ringer...