One product that I have used and seems effective is "Fungi Nail". Its active ingredient is Undecyleric Acid 25%. It is available at Walgreen's and other pharmacies. A 1 fl oz bottle will provide many treatments, and many trreatments are required to rid you nail bed of fungus. Painting the top of nail with medication is not effective since it will not penetrate the nail. The treatment area is around the entire perimeter of the nail. Brush on the solution on and slightly under the cuticle and under the tip of the nail - everywhere flesh meets nail. Nothing can be done about the discolored nail with the fungus already trapped inside the nail material. The idea is to rid the growth area of fungus and keep it that way. As the old nail grows out, it gets snipped off and hopefully with treatment, the colony under the tip of the nail is wiped out to and will not get re-established from the infected nail at it grows outward. Treatment is complete after new nail has completely grown out. As you can see, treatment is lengthy since toenails are slow growing. Athelete's foot: - is caused by a similar fungus. I am very susectible to it and must guard against it whenever my feet may come into contact where the fungus may exist, principally motel/hotel showers, public showers at camp grounds, and public swiming places. There is always an infected foot stomping around in those places. (I went through the 8th grade at a country grade school and spent many hours during the summer bare footed and never got a foot fungus. After being exposed to the shower room during my freshman year at high school, I had a case of athelete's foot and battled that problem for the next 4 years. Prevention methods were poor at that time. The PE instructor urged us boys to step into a box of foot powder before we put our shoes on. Apparently, there was no antifungal agent in that powder, and for me it was sure exposure to the fungus. A number of years ago, I took internal medication for athelete's foot as prescribed by a podiatrist. It was a long process; I believe it was lamisil. He had to take blood samples periodically to check on liver and other functions. Doctors are getting more reluctant to use internal medication. For me, the best medicine is prevention. What has worked for me is to use an anti-fungal powder in my shoes after showering in non-home places or after occasions where I might have come in contact with the fungus. I have found only two, non-prescription foot powders that are effective. These are "Desenex" and "Tinactin". Desenex is the better of the two. The active ingredient in Desenex is 2% miconazole nitrate. All other foot powders that I have found do provided benefits, but do not contain antifugal components and do little against fungal infections. If you buy either Desenex or Tinactin, I recommend the power form in a shaker container. The most popular form, found on store shelves, is the spray can. I don't know the reason for this except maybe customer convenience. I had suspected a profit motive and ease of sales. The spray cans do not contain much active ingredient; The powder containers are the better buy. Keep a watch for the powder form, and when you find it, buy an extra container or 2 to stock your supply. Places where I have found the powder form: Target, Walgreens', and big box grocery stores.

I save in many other ways, but my one personal splurge is having my nails done every 3 weeks. No pics, but I've stayed with French manicures for the past 10 or more years. I'm very tough on my nails, and French works best for me. Pedicures are more infrequent splurges but oh how I love them (and am getting both tomorrow)! I always go with a pale pink or medium rose color polish on my toes. I'm very conservative when it comes to my nails. No designs painted on. No colors other than clear (French), pinks and very occasionally a red.

I only like the barest hint of color, too, for my fingers, and suggest you do only ONE COAT of whichever light, natural color you choose. (I also do a clear base and top coat with the one coat of color.) If you go with two coats of even the really natural colors, it's more opaque. I just saw Essie and OPI polishes at TJ Maxx the other day for only $3.99 each. Not sure if they are past their prime or what, but if I just wanted to do a few polishes this summer, I would probably give them a try.

I've never had the pleasure of meeting one, but what creeps me out are the people who are hired as store detectives. There are times I watch people around me to see if anyone looks suspicious. ;) "A store detective is a member of loss prevention whose main role is to prevent and detect theft and reduce shrink in retail outlets. They do this by patrolling the store in plain clothes looking to identify members of the public who are stealing from the store. Wikipedia"