Here's one for starters. The cheapest and most effective manicure you can get is with a 79-cent pair of nail nippers. Leave the cuticles alone -- it's their job to seal the junction of nail and skin. But here's the good part. Forget filing. To get them smooth, rub them lightly against a concrete sidewalk. They'll file down quickly and evenly. Feel for sharp spots and give 'em another brush or two. Carry a nipper in your car so you can do it before a date if you forget.