Honestly that $15 app was probably fine. My friend runs a whole design shop on a free spreadsheet. The real issue is relying on any single tool to remember deadlines for you. You gotta check things yourself.

Oh totally, burying the food is the key! I had the same wet, sour mess until I started making sure every bit of food was under a good blanket of bedding. It keeps the fruit flies out and lets everything break down without getting nasty.