I spent $400 automating my house last year. My wife said "that's a lot of money for lights that turn on by themselves." Fair point.
But here's what actually happened: we stopped leaving the garage door open overnight. The kids' room dims automatically at bedtime. I can see who's at the door without getting up. And the thermostat learned our schedule and cut our energy bill by $30/month.
That $400 pays for itself in under a year. And more importantly, it solved 4 daily annoyances that were draining small amounts of energy from both of us.
You don't need to automate your whole house. Start with these five things.
Dad Math: How We Ranked These
Every ranking on Dadzilluh uses a simple scoring system. No black boxes. Here's what we weighed:
Smart Thermostat (Ecobee or Nest)
Best for: The single best return on investment in your whole house.
✓ Saves $30-50/month on energy bills
✓ Learns your schedule automatically
✓ Control from your phone when you're away
✓ Room sensors handle hot/cold spots
— Installation takes 30-60 minutes (or pay $75 for pro install)
— Needs a C-wire (most houses built after 1980 have one)
— Another app on your phone
Best for: See who's at the door without getting up. Watch packages.
✓ See and talk to visitors from your phone
✓ Records package deliveries
✓ Motion alerts when someone approaches
✓ Night vision works great
— Subscription required for video history ($4-8/month)
— WiFi needs to reach your front door
— Installation requires drilling (or use a battery version)
Best for: Automated bedtime routines and 'I forgot to turn off the lights' insurance.
✓ Set schedules (dim at 7:30pm for bedtime, off at 9pm)
✓ Control from phone or voice
✓ Wyze bulbs are $8 each and work great
✓ No electrician needed, they screw into regular sockets
— Can get expensive if you do the whole house
— Another app
— Smart switches are better long-term but need wiring
Best for: Never wonder 'did I close the garage?' again.
✓ Costs $30 and installs in 15 minutes
✓ Get alerts if the garage is left open
✓ Auto-close on a schedule
✓ Check status from anywhere
— Requires WiFi signal in the garage
— App is basic but functional
— Some models need a specific opener brand
Best for: Making dumb things smart for almost no money.
✓ $7 per plug, works with Alexa/Google
✓ Turn anything on/off by schedule or voice
✓ Great for lamps, fans, coffee makers
✓ No wiring, just plug it in
— Only works with things that have a physical on/off switch
— Can't dim, just on or off
— One more thing connected to your WiFi
The $250 starter setup
If I had to start over with $250, here's exactly what I'd buy:
Smart thermostat: $180 (Ecobee). Pays for itself in 5-6 months.
Garage controller: $30 (myQ). Pays for itself in peace of mind on night one.
Smart plugs (3-pack): $20 (Kasa). Coffee maker, fan, lamp.
Smart bulbs (2-pack): $16 (Wyze). Kids' rooms.
Total: $246. Everything installs without an electrician. Everything works by bedtime.
Add the video doorbell next month when the budget allows. Then stop. You don't need more than this. The rest of smart home tech is cool but not essential. These five things solve real problems.
About these links: Dadzilluh may earn a commission through Amazon and other affiliate links on this page. It costs you nothing extra. Rankings use Dad Math. Prices accurate as of March 2026.