diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index fdfe2f1b..d196eefb 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -14,3 +14,4 @@ addons:
 script:
   - coverage run --source=hc manage.py test
 after_success: coveralls
+cache: pip
diff --git a/hc/accounts/tests/test_check_token.py b/hc/accounts/tests/test_check_token.py
index e902754f..51ca036b 100644
--- a/hc/accounts/tests/test_check_token.py
+++ b/hc/accounts/tests/test_check_token.py
@@ -1,19 +1,12 @@
 from django.contrib.auth.hashers import make_password
-from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.test import TestCase
-
 from hc.accounts.models import Profile
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
 
 
-class CheckTokenTestCase(TestCase):
+class CheckTokenTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(CheckTokenTestCase, self).setUp()
-
-        self.alice = User(username="alice", email="alice@example.org")
-        self.alice.set_password("password")
-        self.alice.save()
-
         self.profile = Profile(user=self.alice)
         self.profile.token = make_password("secret-token")
         self.profile.save()
diff --git a/hc/api/management/commands/ensuretriggers.py b/hc/api/management/commands/ensuretriggers.py
index 695977fd..fc699aba 100644
--- a/hc/api/management/commands/ensuretriggers.py
+++ b/hc/api/management/commands/ensuretriggers.py
@@ -25,10 +25,14 @@ def _pg(cursor):
 def _mysql(cursor):
     cursor.execute("""
     DROP TRIGGER IF EXISTS update_alert_after;
+    """)
 
+    cursor.execute("""
     CREATE TRIGGER update_alert_after
     BEFORE UPDATE ON api_check
-    FOR EACH ROW SET NEW.alert_after = NEW.last_ping + INTERVAL (NEW.timeout + NEW.grace) MICROSECOND;
+    FOR EACH ROW SET
+        NEW.alert_after =
+            NEW.last_ping + INTERVAL (NEW.timeout + NEW.grace) MICROSECOND;
     """)
 
 
@@ -42,7 +46,9 @@ def _sqlite(cursor):
     AFTER UPDATE OF last_ping, timeout, grace ON api_check
     FOR EACH ROW BEGIN
         UPDATE api_check
-        SET alert_after = datetime(strftime('%s', last_ping) + timeout/1000000 + grace/1000000, 'unixepoch')
+        SET alert_after =
+            datetime(strftime('%s', last_ping) +
+            timeout/1000000 + grace/1000000, 'unixepoch')
         WHERE id = OLD.id;
     END;
     """)
@@ -52,14 +58,13 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
     help = 'Ensures triggers exist in database'
 
     def handle(self, *args, **options):
-        cursor = connection.cursor()
-
-        if connection.vendor == "postgresql":
-            _pg(cursor)
-            return "Created PostgreSQL trigger"
-        if connection.vendor == "mysql":
-            _mysql(cursor)
-            return "Created MySQL trigger"
-        if connection.vendor == "sqlite":
-            _sqlite(cursor)
-            return "Created SQLite trigger"
+        with connection.cursor() as cursor:
+            if connection.vendor == "postgresql":
+                _pg(cursor)
+                return "Created PostgreSQL trigger"
+            if connection.vendor == "mysql":
+                _mysql(cursor)
+                return "Created MySQL trigger"
+            if connection.vendor == "sqlite":
+                _sqlite(cursor)
+                return "Created SQLite trigger"
diff --git a/hc/api/tests/test_email_webhook.py b/hc/api/tests/test_email_webhook.py
index d5ada880..64e80b3c 100644
--- a/hc/api/tests/test_email_webhook.py
+++ b/hc/api/tests/test_email_webhook.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import json
 
 from django.test import TestCase
+
 from hc.api.models import Check, Ping
 
 
diff --git a/hc/api/tests/test_ensuretriggers.py b/hc/api/tests/test_ensuretriggers.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..129f2661
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hc/api/tests/test_ensuretriggers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+from datetime import timedelta
+
+from django.test import TestCase
+from django.utils import timezone
+
+from hc.api.management.commands.ensuretriggers import Command
+from hc.api.models import Check
+
+
+class EnsureTriggersTestCase(TestCase):
+
+    def test_ensure_triggers(self):
+        Command().handle()
+
+        check = Check.objects.create()
+        assert check.alert_after is None
+
+        check.last_ping = timezone.now()
+        check.save()
+        check.refresh_from_db()
+        assert check.alert_after is not None
+        alert_after = check.alert_after
+
+        check.last_ping += timedelta(days=1)
+        check.save()
+        check.refresh_from_db()
+        assert check.alert_after > alert_after
diff --git a/hc/api/tests/test_notify.py b/hc/api/tests/test_notify.py
index 83114bab..459d483e 100644
--- a/hc/api/tests/test_notify.py
+++ b/hc/api/tests/test_notify.py
@@ -1,17 +1,14 @@
-from django.contrib.auth.models import User
 from django.core import mail
-from django.test import TestCase
-from hc.api.models import Channel, Check, Notification
 from mock import patch
 from requests.exceptions import ReadTimeout
 
+from hc.api.models import Channel, Check, Notification
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
+
 
-class NotifyTestCase(TestCase):
+class NotifyTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     def _setup_data(self, channel_kind, channel_value, email_verified=True):
-        self.alice = User(username="alice")
-        self.alice.save()
-
         self.check = Check()
         self.check.status = "down"
         self.check.save()
diff --git a/hc/api/tests/test_ping.py b/hc/api/tests/test_ping.py
index 8a885778..23194888 100644
--- a/hc/api/tests/test_ping.py
+++ b/hc/api/tests/test_ping.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from django.test import Client, TestCase
+
 from hc.api.models import Check, Ping
 
 
diff --git a/hc/api/tests/test_sendalerts.py b/hc/api/tests/test_sendalerts.py
index 52c27666..f21ca11e 100644
--- a/hc/api/tests/test_sendalerts.py
+++ b/hc/api/tests/test_sendalerts.py
@@ -1,24 +1,23 @@
-from datetime import datetime
+from datetime import timedelta
+
+from django.utils import timezone
+from mock import patch
 
-from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.test import TestCase
 from hc.api.management.commands.sendalerts import Command
 from hc.api.models import Check
-from mock import patch
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
 
 
-class SendAlertsTestCase(TestCase):
+class SendAlertsTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     @patch("hc.api.management.commands.sendalerts.Command.handle_one")
     def test_it_handles_few(self, mock):
-        alice = User(username="alice")
-        alice.save()
-
+        yesterday = timezone.now() - timedelta(days=1)
         names = ["Check %d" % d for d in range(0, 10)]
 
         for name in names:
-            check = Check(user=alice, name=name)
-            check.alert_after = datetime(2000, 1, 1)
+            check = Check(user=self.alice, name=name)
+            check.alert_after = yesterday
             check.status = "up"
             check.save()
 
diff --git a/hc/api/tests/test_status.py b/hc/api/tests/test_status.py
index d4290d25..21292da6 100644
--- a/hc/api/tests/test_status.py
+++ b/hc/api/tests/test_status.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from django.test import TestCase
+
 from hc.api.models import Check
 
 
diff --git a/hc/front/tests/test_add_channel.py b/hc/front/tests/test_add_channel.py
index dd381e4e..106a2290 100644
--- a/hc/front/tests/test_add_channel.py
+++ b/hc/front/tests/test_add_channel.py
@@ -1,19 +1,11 @@
-from django.conf import settings
-from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.test import TestCase
-from hc.api.models import Channel
-
+from django.test.utils import override_settings
 
-class AddChannelTestCase(TestCase):
+from hc.api.models import Channel
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
 
-    def setUp(self):
-        super(AddChannelTestCase, self).setUp()
-        self.alice = User(username="alice", email="alice@example.org")
-        self.alice.set_password("password")
-        self.alice.save()
 
-        settings.PUSHOVER_API_TOKEN = "bogus_token"
-        settings.PUSHOVER_SUBSCRIPTION_URL = "bogus_url"
+@override_settings(PUSHOVER_API_TOKEN="token", PUSHOVER_SUBSCRIPTION_URL="url")
+class AddChannelTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     def test_it_works(self):
         url = "/integrations/add/"
diff --git a/hc/front/tests/test_add_check.py b/hc/front/tests/test_add_check.py
index 343a3bfb..0bb813a9 100644
--- a/hc/front/tests/test_add_check.py
+++ b/hc/front/tests/test_add_check.py
@@ -1,15 +1,8 @@
-from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.test import TestCase
 from hc.api.models import Check
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
 
 
-class AddCheckTestCase(TestCase):
-
-    def setUp(self):
-        super(AddCheckTestCase, self).setUp()
-        self.alice = User(username="alice", email="alice@example.org")
-        self.alice.set_password("password")
-        self.alice.save()
+class AddCheckTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     def test_it_works(self):
         url = "/checks/add/"
diff --git a/hc/front/tests/test_basics.py b/hc/front/tests/test_basics.py
index 86425a79..98d08683 100644
--- a/hc/front/tests/test_basics.py
+++ b/hc/front/tests/test_basics.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from django.test import TestCase
+
 from hc.api.models import Check
 
 
diff --git a/hc/front/tests/test_channel_checks.py b/hc/front/tests/test_channel_checks.py
index 05730d6e..1dd8109c 100644
--- a/hc/front/tests/test_channel_checks.py
+++ b/hc/front/tests/test_channel_checks.py
@@ -1,16 +1,13 @@
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.test import TestCase
+
 from hc.api.models import Channel
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
 
 
-class ChannelChecksTestCase(TestCase):
+class ChannelChecksTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(ChannelChecksTestCase, self).setUp()
-        self.alice = User(username="alice", email="alice@example.org")
-        self.alice.set_password("password")
-        self.alice.save()
-
         self.channel = Channel(user=self.alice, kind="email")
         self.channel.value = "alice@example.org"
         self.channel.save()
diff --git a/hc/front/tests/test_log.py b/hc/front/tests/test_log.py
index 49952762..d4f420be 100644
--- a/hc/front/tests/test_log.py
+++ b/hc/front/tests/test_log.py
@@ -1,16 +1,13 @@
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.test import TestCase
+
 from hc.api.models import Check, Ping
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
 
 
-class LogTestCase(TestCase):
+class LogTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(LogTestCase, self).setUp()
-        self.alice = User(username="alice", email="alice@example.org")
-        self.alice.set_password("password")
-        self.alice.save()
-
         self.check = Check(user=self.alice)
         self.check.save()
 
diff --git a/hc/front/tests/test_my_checks.py b/hc/front/tests/test_my_checks.py
index 36a91f31..389aab42 100644
--- a/hc/front/tests/test_my_checks.py
+++ b/hc/front/tests/test_my_checks.py
@@ -1,16 +1,11 @@
-from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.test import TestCase
 from hc.api.models import Check
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
 
 
-class MyChecksTestCase(TestCase):
+class MyChecksTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(MyChecksTestCase, self).setUp()
-        self.alice = User(username="alice", email="alice@example.org")
-        self.alice.set_password("password")
-        self.alice.save()
-
         self.check = Check(user=self.alice, name="Alice Was Here")
         self.check.save()
 
diff --git a/hc/front/tests/test_remove_channel.py b/hc/front/tests/test_remove_channel.py
index 22253d26..9ea87c9d 100644
--- a/hc/front/tests/test_remove_channel.py
+++ b/hc/front/tests/test_remove_channel.py
@@ -1,16 +1,13 @@
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.test import TestCase
+
 from hc.api.models import Channel
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
 
 
-class RemoveChannelTestCase(TestCase):
+class RemoveChannelTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(RemoveChannelTestCase, self).setUp()
-        self.alice = User(username="alice", email="alice@example.org")
-        self.alice.set_password("password")
-        self.alice.save()
-
         self.channel = Channel(user=self.alice, kind="email")
         self.channel.value = "alice@example.org"
         self.channel.save()
diff --git a/hc/front/tests/test_remove_check.py b/hc/front/tests/test_remove_check.py
index 41d165c4..10dc73aa 100644
--- a/hc/front/tests/test_remove_check.py
+++ b/hc/front/tests/test_remove_check.py
@@ -1,16 +1,13 @@
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.test import TestCase
+
 from hc.api.models import Check
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
 
 
-class RemoveCheckTestCase(TestCase):
+class RemoveCheckTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(RemoveCheckTestCase, self).setUp()
-        self.alice = User(username="alice", email="alice@example.org")
-        self.alice.set_password("password")
-        self.alice.save()
-
         self.check = Check(user=self.alice)
         self.check.save()
 
diff --git a/hc/front/tests/test_update_channel.py b/hc/front/tests/test_update_channel.py
index 3e35d90b..d5900385 100644
--- a/hc/front/tests/test_update_channel.py
+++ b/hc/front/tests/test_update_channel.py
@@ -1,16 +1,13 @@
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.test import TestCase
+
 from hc.api.models import Channel, Check
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
 
 
-class UpdateChannelTestCase(TestCase):
+class UpdateChannelTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(UpdateChannelTestCase, self).setUp()
-        self.alice = User(username="alice", email="alice@example.org")
-        self.alice.set_password("password")
-        self.alice.save()
-
         self.check = Check(user=self.alice)
         self.check.save()
 
diff --git a/hc/front/tests/test_update_name.py b/hc/front/tests/test_update_name.py
index bbf37865..9ef8327d 100644
--- a/hc/front/tests/test_update_name.py
+++ b/hc/front/tests/test_update_name.py
@@ -1,16 +1,13 @@
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.test import TestCase
+
 from hc.api.models import Check
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
 
 
-class UpdateNameTestCase(TestCase):
+class UpdateNameTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(UpdateNameTestCase, self).setUp()
-        self.alice = User(username="alice", email="alice@example.org")
-        self.alice.set_password("password")
-        self.alice.save()
-
         self.check = Check(user=self.alice)
         self.check.save()
 
diff --git a/hc/front/tests/test_update_timeout.py b/hc/front/tests/test_update_timeout.py
index 0b06cdd8..10c5acbd 100644
--- a/hc/front/tests/test_update_timeout.py
+++ b/hc/front/tests/test_update_timeout.py
@@ -1,16 +1,13 @@
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.test import TestCase
+
 from hc.api.models import Check
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
 
 
-class UpdateTimeoutTestCase(TestCase):
+class UpdateTimeoutTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(UpdateTimeoutTestCase, self).setUp()
-        self.alice = User(username="alice", email="alice@example.org")
-        self.alice.set_password("password")
-        self.alice.save()
-
         self.check = Check(user=self.alice)
         self.check.save()
 
diff --git a/hc/front/tests/test_verify_email.py b/hc/front/tests/test_verify_email.py
index 0bfb6069..3d24d217 100644
--- a/hc/front/tests/test_verify_email.py
+++ b/hc/front/tests/test_verify_email.py
@@ -1,16 +1,11 @@
-from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.test import TestCase
 from hc.api.models import Channel
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
 
 
-class VerifyEmailTestCase(TestCase):
+class VerifyEmailTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(VerifyEmailTestCase, self).setUp()
-        self.alice = User(username="alice", email="alice@example.org")
-        self.alice.set_password("password")
-        self.alice.save()
-
         self.channel = Channel(user=self.alice, kind="email")
         self.channel.value = "alice@example.org"
         self.channel.save()
diff --git a/hc/payments/tests/test_billing.py b/hc/payments/tests/test_billing.py
index ce2aba13..64770d4b 100644
--- a/hc/payments/tests/test_billing.py
+++ b/hc/payments/tests/test_billing.py
@@ -1,17 +1,13 @@
-from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.test import TestCase
-from hc.payments.models import Subscription
 from mock import Mock, patch
 
+from hc.payments.models import Subscription
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
+
 
-class BillingTestCase(TestCase):
+class BillingTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(BillingTestCase, self).setUp()
-        self.alice = User(username="alice", email="alice@example.org")
-        self.alice.set_password("password")
-        self.alice.save()
-
         self.sub = Subscription(user=self.alice)
         self.sub.subscription_id = "test-id"
         self.sub.customer_id = "test-customer-id"
diff --git a/hc/payments/tests/test_cancel_plan.py b/hc/payments/tests/test_cancel_plan.py
index adac22f8..c8c86833 100644
--- a/hc/payments/tests/test_cancel_plan.py
+++ b/hc/payments/tests/test_cancel_plan.py
@@ -1,17 +1,13 @@
-from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.test import TestCase
-from hc.payments.models import Subscription
 from mock import patch
 
+from hc.payments.models import Subscription
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
+
 
-class CancelPlanTestCase(TestCase):
+class CancelPlanTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(CancelPlanTestCase, self).setUp()
-        self.alice = User(username="alice", email="alice@example.org")
-        self.alice.set_password("password")
-        self.alice.save()
-
         self.sub = Subscription(user=self.alice)
         self.sub.subscription_id = "test-id"
         self.sub.plan_id = "P5"
diff --git a/hc/payments/tests/test_create_plan.py b/hc/payments/tests/test_create_plan.py
index 1139fc1f..29f73765 100644
--- a/hc/payments/tests/test_create_plan.py
+++ b/hc/payments/tests/test_create_plan.py
@@ -1,17 +1,11 @@
-from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.test import TestCase
-from hc.accounts.models import Profile
-from hc.payments.models import Subscription
 from mock import patch
 
+from hc.accounts.models import Profile
+from hc.payments.models import Subscription
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
 
-class CreatePlanTestCase(TestCase):
 
-    def setUp(self):
-        super(CreatePlanTestCase, self).setUp()
-        self.alice = User(username="alice", email="alice@example.org")
-        self.alice.set_password("password")
-        self.alice.save()
+class CreatePlanTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     def _setup_mock(self, mock):
         """ Set up Braintree calls that the controller will use. """
diff --git a/hc/payments/tests/test_get_client_token.py b/hc/payments/tests/test_get_client_token.py
index d79aad1d..34491e78 100644
--- a/hc/payments/tests/test_get_client_token.py
+++ b/hc/payments/tests/test_get_client_token.py
@@ -1,16 +1,10 @@
-from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.test import TestCase
-from hc.payments.models import Subscription
 from mock import patch
 
+from hc.payments.models import Subscription
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
 
-class GetClientTokenTestCase(TestCase):
 
-    def setUp(self):
-        super(GetClientTokenTestCase, self).setUp()
-        self.alice = User(username="alice", email="alice@example.org")
-        self.alice.set_password("password")
-        self.alice.save()
+class GetClientTokenTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     @patch("hc.payments.views.braintree")
     def test_it_works(self, mock_braintree):
diff --git a/hc/payments/tests/test_invoice.py b/hc/payments/tests/test_invoice.py
index c0737a49..5a94c5ab 100644
--- a/hc/payments/tests/test_invoice.py
+++ b/hc/payments/tests/test_invoice.py
@@ -1,17 +1,13 @@
-from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.test import TestCase
-from hc.payments.models import Subscription
 from mock import Mock, patch
 
+from hc.payments.models import Subscription
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
+
 
-class InvoiceTestCase(TestCase):
+class InvoiceTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(InvoiceTestCase, self).setUp()
-        self.alice = User(username="alice", email="alice@example.org")
-        self.alice.set_password("password")
-        self.alice.save()
-
         self.sub = Subscription(user=self.alice)
         self.sub.subscription_id = "test-id"
         self.sub.customer_id = "test-customer-id"
diff --git a/hc/payments/tests/test_pricing.py b/hc/payments/tests/test_pricing.py
index c617740e..57ee9745 100644
--- a/hc/payments/tests/test_pricing.py
+++ b/hc/payments/tests/test_pricing.py
@@ -1,15 +1,8 @@
-from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.test import TestCase
 from hc.payments.models import Subscription
+from hc.test import BaseTestCase
 
 
-class PricingTestCase(TestCase):
-
-    def setUp(self):
-        super(PricingTestCase, self).setUp()
-        self.alice = User(username="alice", email="alice@example.org")
-        self.alice.set_password("password")
-        self.alice.save()
+class PricingTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 
     def test_anonymous(self):
         r = self.client.get("/pricing/")
diff --git a/hc/test.py b/hc/test.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9fdb1495
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hc/test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+from django.contrib.auth.models import User
+from django.test import TestCase
+
+
+class BaseTestCase(TestCase):
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(BaseTestCase, self).setUp()
+        self.alice = User(username="alice", email="alice@example.org")
+        self.alice.set_password("password")
+        self.alice.save()