I have experimented on and off for over 20 years with video security systems outside my house, going all the way back to a low light camera recording on a VHS tape recorder.

I usually throw in the towel after a few months for one reason or another.

Since I now park 3-4 MB's outside each night, I decided to give it another try.

TOTAL EQUIPMENT COST: $90.

I had three basic requirements:

1. Have a system that recorded three full days of camera video before recording over from the beginning. That way if I was away for the weekend and something ill had happened to one of my cars, I could review the recorded video to see the culprits.

2. The quality of the recorded image, both day and at night, had to be sufficient that I could clearly see the face on a person near the cars and be able to make out a car make and model of vehicles on the street (past driveway).

3. Cost low enough that I did not have to explain it to wife.

Couldn't be happier with the results (so far). Not sure how long my made in China camera and DVR will last, but time will tell.

I do not have it set up to watch the video feed real time.

If I want to see the video, I pop the SD card out of the DVR and put it into my PC's SD card slot.

Got it all on Amazon Prime, under $90 delivered.

I mounted the camera on the roof of my garage, ran the cable down the backside of the garage, drilled a hole in the back wall, ran the cable through the hole, and mounted the DVR on the inside wall near the 110 v. outlet.

Here's the hardware list if you want to take a look:

Camera: VideoSecu CCTV Home Surveillance Outdoor IR Bullet Security Camera Color CCD Day Night 24 Infrared LEDs with Bonus Power Supply IR24W C2M

DVR: (digital video recorder) Mini Security DVR Micro Sd Card Recording
by eBoTrade-Tech

Memory for DVR: (I get 4 full days of recording, using motion sensing) SanDisk 32GB Mobile MicroSDHC Class 4 Flash Memory Card, Frustration-Free Packaging- SDSDQ-032G-AFFP

Cable: VideoSecu Video & Power 50 Feet BNC RCA Cable for Security Cameras 1JD

I should also mention I do have a light outside my garage. I use this one:
Lights of America 9027 Fluorex 27W Flood Light.

BTW, not including the driveway light, the camera and the DVR use a grand total of under 20 watts.