setSearch: function(event) {
            var timer = window.setTimeout( function() {
                // run function here
                alert('fired');
            }, 500);
    },

setSearch: function(event) {
    var self = this;
    if(self.timer)
        clearTimeout(self.timer);
    self.timer = setTimeout(function() {
        alert('fired');
        self.timer = null;
    }, 500);
}

setSearch: _.throttle(function() {
                //Do Stuff
              }, 500),

setSearch: function( ) {
    var firedRecently = false;
    return function(event) {
        if (firedRecently) {
            // it has fired recently. Do you want to do something here?
        } else {
            // not fired recently
            firedRecently = true;
            // run your function here
            alert('fired');
            var resetStatus = window.setTimeout( function () {
                firedRecently = false;
            }, 500);
        }
    }
}( );