BARGAINS : KEEPING YOUR HOUSE SAFE FOR LESS.

Byline: Trisha King & Deborah Newmark

Whether you want to keep curious children away from valuables or are thinking about Y2K, anyone considering the purchase of a safe or locker should check out the inventory and low prices offered by Dean Security.

Consumers will find something suitable for just about any budget. If you need to lock away items from children or inquisitive roommates, a large (59-1/2 inches tall, 22 inches wide, 22 inches deep, with four adjustable shelves) police evidence locker runs $699 (similar lockers retail for more than $1,000). Although the locker is not fire-rated, it is B-rated for burglaries by United Laboratories.

Licensed and bonded, Dean Security has more than 100 different safes designed for homes and businesses. If you know nothing about safes, just tell the staff what your particular needs are, and they will assist you in selecting the right safe - free-standing, wall or in-floor. Special designs are no problem.

The deepest discounts are on recycled safes. On the day of our interview, a jewelry safe with a four-hour fire rating (61 inches tall, 29 inches wide and 20 inches deep) was priced at $699. Repainted to look new, the safe originally sold for more than $2,000. As with all recycled products, selection varies from visit to visit.

Most safes at Dean Security are fire- and burglary-rated by UL. B ratings for burglaries are adequate for homes.

Collectors of firearms will find a separate showroom for gun safes. Prices run $749 to $3,000 instead of $1,500 to $4,400 retail.

A final note: standard one-sided house keys are made for 78 cents each ($1.75 elsewhere).

Dean Security is at 8616 Woodman Ave. Arleta; [phone]. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. MasterCard and Visa are accepted; layaway and financing available.

Inside info

Beautify your face with a deep European facial and eyebrow and lip wax for $25 (normally $65) at Tarzana Nail and Beauty Salon. The special is good through Dec. 24 by appointment only. Call Shoshana for an appointment at [phone]. Tarzana Nail and Beauty Salon is at 18405 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

If you're traveling to Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. - or even if you're expecting out-of-town guests in Los Angeles - and need to book a hotel room, call Quickbook, which offers prices normally 30 percent to 40 percent lower than quoted rates. Call [phone]. Hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.