Nothing can make a person feel more vulnerable than a burglary at their home or office. Though you may never be able to fully protect yourself from theft, you can protect your valuables by storing them in a safe. Safes are also useful for storing dangerous belongings, like guns, in a house with small children. And fireproof home safes can protect your important documents in a home fire.

Buying a safe is an investment in your home. Before you buy a safe, ask yourself the following questions to help you decide what kind of storage system you need:

How many belongings do you have to store? If you only have a few documents or pieces of jewelry, you may just want to keep them in your safe-deposit box at the bank. If you only have a few things you can ever see yourself storing, buy a small safe. But plan ahead so that you don't overgrow your safe. Small safes cost several hundreds of dollars.

Do you need the safe to be fireproof? Many safes are fire-resistant -- not fireproof -- but if you don't need it, don't pay for it.

Where will you keep your safe? You can put safes in a wall behind a painting, for example. You can attach one to the basement floor. Pick a space in your home or business that is safe, hidden, and can accommodate the type of safe you need.

How would you like to open your safe? Some safes are opened by key, others by combination.

How much money can you spend? Consider buying a used safe or a safe from a wholesaler to save money.

Will you be storing guns in your safe? If you have small children, it may be safer and cheaper to store your gun outside the house like at a gun club.

Good luck finding your ideal safe. It is an easy way to keep your home safe.