The holidays are a busy time full of fun parties and events. The truth is, crooks are well aware of this fact. Working in news, I can tell you every year we do at least a few stories about a heartbroken family who had all of their gifts stolen just days before Christmas. Home security systems are proven to deter crooks… but they can be pricey and are not in everyone’s budget. But now you can help protect your home for less than 50 bucks! (& make your home smarter in the process!)
TP Link sent me two of their products to try and let me tell you, they are awesome! Both items work from your smart phone or tablet using the free Kasa app. First, let’s talk about the smart plug. You can plug whatever you want into this plug, to have the ability to control it remotely. Leave your coffee maker on all the time? Now you can check it from your phone and even turn it off, no matter how far away you are from home!
We hooked our plug up to a light in our living room. When we go out of town or get home late, we put the light on remotely in the evenings, to give the impression that we are home. The plug works with your wi-fi so there is nothing to set up. You can use it in any plug and easily move it around to different locations in your home, depending on what you need it for. This awesomeness regularly starts st $29.99, but through December 31, 2016 you can get 20% off with the code TPLinkSmart. That is crazy! The energy monitoring version is normally $39.99 which has real-time power consumption.
Another great smart plug feature is the “Away Mode.” It allows you to program your devices to turn on at different times to make it appear like you are home. It also works with Amazon Echo, if you have one. (but you don’t need an Echo to use this, just the free app) My husband and I are obsessed with this plug and I am buying more, especially since we get an extra 20% off!
Now my kids are obsessed with the color-changing Smart Bulb. This bulb can also be controlled remotely using the app, or with voice commands using Amazon Alexa. Using the app, you can create any color light you can imagine. In fact, you can fine-tune up to 16 million colors and adjust brightness as well as light appearance from soft white to daylight. It even has a “Circadian Mode” which can adjust the light intensity and temperature to mimic natural light patterns.
Like the smart plug, you can move this wherever you want in the home and it will work instantly. It was in the kids bathroom for awhile, but now it is in my son’s room and I have a feeling I will have a tough time getting it back from him. The color changing bulb is regularly $49.99, with a dimmable white light version starting at just $19.99. (check out this Instagram video of the smart bulb in action!)
You need to check out TP Link’s website. They have some seriously amazing products to help keep your home safe and make life easier. I know this is a sponsored post, and while these items sounded cool, I had no idea how much my family would love them. And they are SO AFFORDABLE! Don’t forget to use the code TPLinkSmart for 20% off your entire purchase through the end of this month.
What an informative post! I can’t believe how crazy technology is now days.
Oh that is so neat! The color changing looks cool and fun! Thanks for the ideas!
I need to check these out! I have a weird paranoia about electrical outlets and my children… haha
That plug sounds amazing… I need one! I generally have someone at my home when gone watching the cat..but be great to have one anyway!
Valerie
I love all the new and innovative things they are coming out with! I love that you can change the color on the lights to fit your mood! That’s pretty cool!
Great tips for something that is easily overlooked during the holidays.
I definately need to get one of those plugs and the changing light is pretty cool. Thanks for the info I will be checking these items out.
Wow! I really appreciate the introduction to the Smart Wi-Fi Plug. I hadn’t heard of it before. I love all of its great features as well as the price! Affordable protection is something everyone needs this holiday season and beyond. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Oooooh, these looks great! I love things like this. My son would be all over that color-changing light bulb. What a great idea!
I can’t believe all of the technology we have these days (also…does that make me sound old?!?)
These are really great products that I didn’t know about! I am going to have to try them out!
Will have to check this out. Love the color changing.
Great post! All of these tips are super useful!
Ooo those products are awesome! I’ve heard a lot about this brand lately! ‘
We are surprised by how much we use and love them. I never thought I needed this technology, but we use it all the time now that we have it!
Ha this is pretty cool! I’ve seen before if someone I know is gone, but yet in the evenings their light is on,I’d always wondered what they used for that. I guess now I know. I’m going to have to look into this for a Christmas gift! I’m always leaving things on.
We use the plug ALL the TIME. It is so handy and it works great right from the app, no matter where we are!
I definitely need to check these out! Such great products
I definitely need to check these out! My husband would love to use these around our house.
They are so awesome. I cant believe how cheap they are considering everything they do!
Have to check this out! I’ve heard about them, but I’ve never tried them myself. Thanks for sharing!