First I cannot say enough about the clear blue easy Ovulation tests. We had been trying for one and a half years and used other tests and never got a result, then my new doctor suggested this clear blue and if worked and we got pregnant that month! As far as when to start testing I do not have regular cycles either but they are much shorter than yours I ovulated last month on cycle day 15 and started them a week earlier and the last test I had gave me the smiley face. If you know that you are usually around cd28 or there about you could use it on cd26 and be fine with that. In my opinion these tests are well worth the money! The best of luck to you!
I have the same dilema. What I do is use the cheap Answer brand 20pk opks every day, even 2x a day *blush* Then, when I get a pos one, I use the same urine in the cup to use a smiley one. I hate the $ of them, but they are so good. I hate wasting them and this way I don't.
I use a ferning microscope and it has saved me tons of cash so far. It's a lipstick sized microscope that you put a little dab of saliva on first thing in the morning. When your saliva dries, it makes little patterns that look like fern leaves if you are or close to O'ing and is just splotchy if you're not. It's a one time charge of $20-40 dollars and can be used over and over again because you just clean off the lense and call it a day. It's very easy to read and when I thought it was reading a positive, I used it in conjuction with the OPK's and it was very accurate. I love this little thing and considering how much money one can spend buying sticks every month, it has been a life saver. I bought it online at CVS.com because I didn't see it at the actual drugstore and the one I have is called MaybeMom. There are a few different brands now that are cheaper though. Good luck!
peeingonastick.com is awesome! Meg can answer most of your qustions
I think Griggsy means peeonastick or as we ttc'ers say poas