INXS Wireless Somewhere between the slickness of an AT&T and the shadiness of an unproven independent retailer lies INXS, an official carrier of T-Mobile. It's not flashy, but we trust them, and the customer service rules. T-Mobile's latest plan features 1,000 mins for $39.99, which includes a free phone (or cheap videophone), free long distance and roaming, plus downloadable ringtones, including Amerie's "1 Thing," which sounds good during any movie.
545 Boylston St., Boston. | MBTA: Green Line to Copley. Mon-Fri Noon-6 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (617) 262-2555
19 Winter St., Boston. | MBTA: Red, Orange Line to Downtown Crossing. Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (617) 695-0562
657 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. | MBTA: Red Line to Central. Mon-Fri Noon-6; Sat 10-8, Sun 10-7 p.m. (617) 876-6999

Liberty Wireless It sounds a little ... wrong, but bear with us. For $45, online-only retailer Liberty Wireless will send you an LG phone (free, after a mail-in rebate) with 1,000 pre-paid minutes - no credit check or driver's license (or strings) attached. We tried it. It works.
www.libertywireless.com

MicroCenter We went in looking for two EEE 1284 compliant cables and a copy of "Doom 3" and walked out happy. At this superstore, the salespeople actually know where to find things, and the computer repair staff is equally reliable. Bring your sick machine to them, or call a hotline (800-207-3434) for on-the-phone support - it's free 30 days after purchase, and $20 otherwise.
730 Memorial Dr., Cambridge. | MBTA: Red Line to Central, then 15 min. walk. Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (617) 234-6400
www.microcenter.com

Geek Housecalls Their Web site features a talking, animated man with curly hair, a moustache and pocket-protector - these are geeks all right, and for a price ($50 to start), they'll come to your place within 24-hours to fix your virus, crashed hard drive, or help install a wireless modem. Pricey, yes, but your 24-page paper on this is worth it.
(781) 863-8111
www.geekhousecalls.com

Connelly Hardware Looking for a new plant to spruce up your room? Have the urge to go crazy in your community garden? Or just wanna trash the awful fern your roommate clings onto for dear life? Try Connelly Hardware out in Brookline. They grow the goods, you plant 'em. Oh yeah, they sell hardware too
706 Washington St., Brookline. MTBA: Green Line to Washington Square. Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sat 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (617) 277-7349

Economy Hardware Beware: A five-minute trip to buy nails and double-sided tape could land you with a lava lamp and a green chair in the shape of a hand. Economy Hardware combines a traditional hardware store with contemporary accessories, furniture, and all sorts of stuff. Come prepared with a credit card - or your mom. That lava lamp won't come cheap.
219 Mass. Ave. | MBTA: Green Line to Symphony. Mon-Sat 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (617) 536-4280
144 Harvard Ave., Allston. | MBTA: Green Line to Harvard Ave. Mon-Sat 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (617) 789-5552
1012 Beacon St., Brookline. | MBTA: Green Line to St. Mary's. Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (617) 277-8811
438 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. | MBTA: Red Line to Central. Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (617) 864-3300
www.economyhardware.com

TAGS Hardware TAGS Hardware offers 7,000 gadgets of all kinds and a down-home family feel - a combo you don't experience ... ever. The Shapiros have owned and operated TAGS since 1957, so get that warm feeling of supporting a family business the next time you need to buy a toilet plunger and mouse traps.
Porter Square Shopping Center. | MBTA: Red Line to Porter Square. Mon-Sat 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. (617) 868-7711
www.tagshardware.com

CVS OK, so not every CVS is open 24 hours, but for shaving cream, tampons or Twizzlers at 3 a.m., try hitting up the Boylston Street, Charles Street or Porter Square locations. If you're in desperate need of meds, the pharmacy is open 24 hours, too.
587 Boylston St., Boston. | MBTA: Green Line to Hynes/ICA. (617) 437-8414
155 Charles St., Boston. | MBTA: Red Line to Charles MGH. (617) 523-1028
35 White St., Cambridge. | MBTA: Red Line to Porter. (617) 876-4037
www.cvs.com

7-Eleven You don't exactly know what the heck a taquito is (and chances are you don't wanna know), but they sure hit the spot. Offering Big Gulps and Big Bites (conveniently near the clubs, such as Aria, Rumor and, in Cambridge, the Middle East), 7-11 is guaranteed to be open all hours. Suburbia never tasted so good.
More than 10 locations in Boston and Cambridge.
www.7-eleven.com.

Store 24 For pre-, post- or during-the-party munchies, Store 24 (aka "Store two-four") is most likely right around your corner. It's hard to figure out what's sketchier at night - the day-old bananas or the crowd you'll find gathered inside - but it's always there if you need OJ, Doritos or last-minute lotto tickets.
More than 40 locations in Boston, Brighton, Cambridge, Charlestown and Waltham, among other areas.

Cappy's Corner Where else can you score some cigs, buy motor oil, down a slice of pizza and wash your underwear all at the same time - it's Cappy's Corner and it's freaking weird. The deli/pizza parlor/laundromat/candy shop/car supply store takes the something-for-everyone cliché literally. We love it. We don't understand it, but we love it
90A Westland Ave., Boston. | MBTA: Green Line to Boylston. 10 a.m. - 2 a.m., 7 days. (617) 247-8814
www.cappyscorner.com

Rent-A-Wreck Unlike most car rental services, Rent-A-Wreck has no 25-and-over policy. Don't let the name fool you - that Geo Metro you're about to rent is high-class.
2022 Commonwealth Ave., Brighton. | MBTA: Green Line to Boston College. Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat 7a.m.-2 p.m. (800) 640-7413
www.rentawreck.com

U-Save U-Save offers luxury cars and RVs, as well as a fine selection of Ford Focuses (if you can call those fine). It's pretty much like any other rental place in town, except it doesn't sock on a ridiculous under-25 surcharge (it's only $10) and they also have U-Haul-style trucks - without the U-Haul-style attitude.
25 Harvard Ave., Allston. | MBTA: Green Line to Harvard Avenue. Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat, Sun 7 a.m.-5 p.m. (866) 264-7368
70 Prospect St., Somerville. Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat, Sun 7 a.m.-5 p.m. | MBTA: Red Line to Central, then 15 min. walk. (800) 272-8728
219 Lexington St., Waltham. | MBTA: Commuter Rail to Waltham. Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat, Sun 7 a.m.-5 p.m. (800) 272-8728
www.usave.com

Carlson Wagonlit Travel The vacation packages through Carlson are typically more expensive than STA or Garber (see below), but for those last-minute travel plans to Rio, Carlson Wagonlit Travel might be your best shot. If you'd rather not risk crashing on a random Brazilian person's couch, check out the hotel discounts. 495 Summer St., Boston. | MBTA: Red, Orange Line to Downtown Crossing.
Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. (617) 482-2620
www.carlsontravel.com

Garber Travel For weekly specials and honeymoon soirees (if you're hitchin' for a shotgun wedding), Garber Travel offers expert advice for destinations all over the world. Maybe you're not planning on getting married anytime soon, but at the right price, jetset to Hawaii. Find out firsthand from Garber's travel agents how to avoid the lame tourist traps.
1406 Beacon St., Brookline. MBTA Green Line to Summit Ave. Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun Noon-5 p.m. (617) 353-2100
www.garbertravel.com.

STA Travel If it's good enough for "The Real World," it's good enough for us. STA Travel offers a number of ways to give your wallet a Spring Break, offering discounts to exotic destinations like Costa Rica, Thailand and a number of other places you're bound to get sick from. STA offers a student card for $22 a year, good for discounts in 33,000 stores, even Target. Also check out the discount rates for hostels and Eurail passes.
Curry Student Center Room 144, Northeastern University. | MBTA: Orange Line to Ruggles. Mon-Fri 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (617) 373-7900
www.statravel.com.