Jebus and I are lucky. Our city has some of the lowest humidity averages. Everything drys up really quickly, so it usually only takes a week or two to cure.
We'll keep them hanging in a dark, ventilated closet until the buds are crispy to the touch.
Then they get tossed into glass jars with the lid on. A few times a day the jars are aired out. This goes on until the buds are cured to satisfaction.
The best way to tell is when the stems become crisp, since marijuana pushes it's moisture outward when drying (ie: the stem is the last thing to dry).
It's really tempting to start smoking it earlier, but the difference in quality is huge. Uncured bud is harsh to smoke, and usually has a bad taste.
Even when I buy pot, I'll cure it if it's not to my standards.