Is it actually more affordable than a normal dual blade razor + shaving cream etc?

As said above it could be cheaper- but not for most of us here; I for one have spent more on shaving equipment this
past month than some one using cart-n-goo would spend in 5 years.

If you got a $150 starter set with a razor, strop and hone that's equal to about 48 (or so) fusion blades. That's a years supply. If you were to use that same razor and not require any more shaving stuff you would start saving money after 1 year of using a straight..

Do to RAD, SAD, BAD, HAD and STRAD it is hard to stick with just a basic set.

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Originally Posted by WadePatton

#3. I wouldn't return to multi-blade shaving if the "razors" and goo were FREE OF ANY CHARGE EVER!

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Nothing beats a BIC disposable (or true-compatible) for "Shaving Private Ryan".

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Originally Posted by JBHoren

Nothing beats a BIC disposable (or true-compatible) for "Shaving Private Ryan".

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:gaah: ...and the award for the 2013 SRP Groaner of the Year Award goes to.... JBHoren!

The prize, ironically, is a BIC disposable :roflmao

LMAO yea at this rate of saving money over the multi blade Gillete disposable I should go broke any day now. I've feat the responses and the all say "But". Now if you really want to save coin just get a DE, shave brush and a puck of soap.

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Originally Posted by JBHoren

Nothing beats a BIC disposable (or true-compatible) for "Shaving Private Ryan".

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well yeah, _any_ DE does, if you're not ready for SR in that app.

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and whilst we're on "economy" of shaving. DE blades can be stropped and honed if you like.

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Originally Posted by rmagnus

LMAO yea at this rate of saving money over the multi blade Gillete disposable I should go broke any day now. I've feat the responses and the all say "But". Now if you really want to save coin just get a DE, shave brush and a puck of soap.

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yes,
Puck of Colgate/Wms, a dollar or two.
Supermarket brush, 8 bucks
10-pack blades, 2 bucks
Used DE from antique store 20 bucks (i never paid that much).
Used coffee cup and cereal bowl and towel...free.

If you get good with a DE and then don't want to SR shave...no probs, DE will get the job done and you don't have to mess with hones and strops, but you can still play with all the pre/post shave goops and lotions that your heart desires. And get a better shave.

I found learning DE shaving to be a great step-in learning "touch" and technique BEFORE going whole-hog SR.

Yesterday I shaved with my last new to me W&B that I honed up. WOW seems like each one I pick up shaves better than the last. Today I broke out the DE because I needed a quick shave. It's just too easy. I'm still learning with the SR most likely always will but the DE makes me wonder why I ever dropped it for the disposable cartridge razors. Noing wrong with a DE they provide great shaves. I just love the satisfaction from a great SR shave.

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Originally Posted by MrMat

In the long run is buying pre shave cream, shave cream, strop, and a straight razor more affordable than dual blade razors + new blades + shaving cream?

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Maybe, it depends on the razors and products you currently use and the razors and products you intend to buy.

The cheapest balance between quality and price would probably be with a shavette. Cheaper setup than a straight, and no need to buy strops, pastes, hones etc.

I started off like that for a couple of years, then I wanted to try out a straight, then I wanted another so I wouldn't need to get it honed as often. Then I got another one because I wanted to try a smaller width. Then another because of the point. Then a couple more because they looked nice. I'm also going to buy a wapi and a W&B in two weeks or so because I've heard good things about them and want to try them out.

I think it would've been cheaper for me to have carried on using the plastic abominations that women use for shaving their legs, but it's too late now.

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Originally Posted by MrMat

In the long run is buying pre shave cream, shave cream, strop, and a straight razor more affordable than dual blade razors + new blades + shaving cream?

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I don't use a pre-shave cream.
As for the rest, it all depends what you buy and how you go about it. Get your kit from AOS and you will recoup your money, but only after several years. Buy smart, and buy once, and you could be paying yourself back in a matter of months.

My cheapest vintage razor was about $20, almost shave ready. I was able to get it DFS ready with a Spyderco knife sharpening kit I already had (not recommended by most).
The cheapest strop I have bought was $39 delivered. A nice 3" leather/felt combination.
My Brush was expensive, but that was before I knew about SRP. Now I know that terrific brushes are available for not many dollars. So lets say $30.
Bowl...IKEA breakfast cereal bowl $6.
Barber's hone from evilBay, $30 for a Swaty.
So all in about $125 for everything but the Shave Cream.
Shave creams, last I bought was TOOB Sandalwood. Has lasted me quite awhile, so long I can't tell ya when I bought it. This stuff is so rich a tiny dab goes a long way. I would say compared to canned gel it will save you money.

I think you could pay yourself back in about a year at that price. It's been so long since I bought a cartridge blade I can't remember how much I paid and how long it lasted. I can tell you I never went for that crazy 5 blade crap. I think I stopped at 3. Then I went back to disposable singles before finally discovering SR's.
I would also add the price of a DE razor (mine was a vintage for about $40). Only because there are going to be times you won't/can't shave with your SR (traveling, rushed for time)

The only way this works to save money though is to continue to look at shaving as a chore. Once you begin to enjoy shaving your profit will diminish. You'll start to get good at shaving and then start chasing the BBS. Then you'll wonder why you can't get it. "Must be this darn cheap razor I bought, I'll buy a better one". Then:"Oh, I have two, now I have to get a 7 day set." You'll wind up with 7 mismatched razors. Then you'll start seeking out other blades by the same maker. Next thing you know you're here asking if you have too many razors...
You will sit at work, and stroke your growing whiskers thinking "tonight, tonight you will fall"
Your SO will look at you like you are crazy at first, but eventually she will be bragging about how her husband "shaves like a man".
You will begin blocking out 30 minutes of solitude for yourself. You'll walk to your razor cabinet and puzzle over which one to use today. The Dubl Duck you just restored? No, I just shaved with that last week. How about the family Name Beckher that you painstakingly sought out, depinned, cleaned and honed? Oh, yes, that was nice last time you used that one, about a month ago. No, this time it will be the old Sheffield wedge. You remember, the one that took you hours of patience and diligence to get to a fine edge. This one, this one doesn't sing like your 7/8 Solingen. But those Honey Horn scales you made to replace the broken ones balance this big boy quite well. It mows down whiskers with hardly a sound. Oh, but then there's that nice Japanes Kamisori your best friend bought you for your 50th. Wonder how Bob is doing. That's it, tonight we shave in Honor of Bob.
You proceed with your ritual. Stropping, First on cloth, then on leather . Running hot water,heating your bowl. Placing your items in their spots. Dry rag here, damp rag there, brush stand at 1 o'clock on the sink.
You will take your shower, as hot as you can stand it, drenching your face. You'll dry off and stand before your tools. Calmed, peaceful. Soaking the brush in the hot water, shaking it out and dipping it ever so slightly in the cream. You tip the water out of the bowl in a manner that once was calculated to allow for the proper amount of remaining water, but now has become routine you no longer need to count. You methodically begin swirling your brush in the bowl, small circles at first, painting the cream onto the bottom of the bowl. You increase the speed and rhythm of your swirls, watching the foam rise. Superior lather in under a minute. Ahhh, still warm as you lather your face. You draw the blade down your face, neck, upper lip, chin, paying attention to the sound, the feel, the line. WTG, XTG. Shall I try ATG today? Sure, why not, I have time. More lather. More strokes, maybe a different angle this time.
You complete your shave by cleaning your tools and your work area. Rinsing, wiping, drying. First the blade, then the brush, then the bowl. Then the sink. You rinse and dry your face, and splash on some of that good old Bay Rum your Barber just ordered in for you.
You dress. Then you take your razor to the strop for some drying passes. thinking about how well it went. What went wrong. Did it sting too much? Maybe you'll have to freshen this one on the hone. No sting? BBS? It's shame you won't be shaving with this one again for another month or two. You take it over to your storage case, placing it on top, partially open, letting it dry it out for good before putting it to rest in its' place.

Will Straight shaving save you any money? I hope not.