You should never let a tight budget stop you from protecting your computers with antivirus and spyware solutions. Windows provides some built-in security features and what's missing can usually be downloaded for free. The biggest security expense is usually on software suites like McAfee or Norton, but there are totally free and good security suites out there waiting for you to download.

For example, AVG Antivirus Free Edition is free for only personal use on home computers. It includes virus, spyware, and rootkit protection, and offers protection from social networking threats and a link scanner to display safety information on sites before you visit them. Microsoft Security Essentials is also free for personal use and free for businesses on up to 10 PCs. It includes protection against viruses, spyware, rootkits, and other malware. The network inspection system detects malware before they hit your computer.