Thread: Starting on a tight budget

Hey guys,

Very brief backstory (a bit more in my intro post), I'm in Addiction Recovery. This is actually what has brought me here as a crucial part of my recovery is taking time for myself and taking care of myself (in my addiction, I rarely shaved as taking 10-15 mins for myself felt like a waste of time). Both the aspect of learning a skill and taking more time to take care of myself have me excited to include regular shaving as part of my recovery.

Why do I introduce this? My therapy costs are already pushing the limits of our family budget, so disposable income is not really available. I bring this up to clarify why I have a need to watch costs, and avoid answers that I will just have to dig down and open the purse strings a bit more.

With that said, I have read some of the guides and posts here and had the idea that the most affordable way for me to get started would be to purchase an inexpensive Shave-Ready Razor from the Classifeds here, and get myself a strop (I'm still not sure the best place to get this on a budget, the least expensive I've seen perusing links was $45; maybe that is the best I can get and I'll have to make that work) any advice of budget strops appreciated.

The real question I have is can I get away without the brush, soap, mug etc.? My idea is to use shaving cream in the mean time. I know I will enjoy learning and adding that part to the process, but the cost of razor and strop alone already have me struggling, so if I can put off that expense for a little while it would be great. I do at least have a really good shaving cream that my wife gave me, that isn't the standard drug store can crap, but made with more natural ingredients and works amazingly well. Just switching to it with a disposable razor has already made a night and day difference in my shaves. So I was hoping that might be workable until I can afford to upgrade to the brush soap combo.

Thank you for your time, this seems like a great and well informed community and I appreciate your feedback.

Welcome to SRP. Not sure how much your therapy costs but AA and NA are free and they work if you work them. My advice would be to get a DE (double edge) and a blade sampler pack. Good shaves and in the short run cheaper than straights. Taking into consideration the cost of strop, brush, pucks of soap. A can of goo, a DE and blades are probably more cost effective IMHO.

IME if you're going to shave with straights it is best to have at least two, better three, in case you have to send one out for honing or repair. You need a strop, and if you get into the honing you need the hones and the lapping plate, though you can use sandpaper. Until the situation allows that the DE will suffice, and is always a good backup if you can't shave with the straight for whatever reason.

Thanks for the Welcome Jimmy. I do also attend 12 step meetings 3-4 times/week and they are great and a big part of my recovery as well, but unfortunately I also have some pretty deep issues to resolve (at least now I'm starting to recognize them) and therapy has been crucial and has also provided me the best tools for dealing with my addiction; despite it's cost it is a non-optional expense as my recovery is the most important thing in my life.

I appreciate the advice on the Double Edge, I've done a little bit of reading about it, but not a lot as I was drawn to Straight Razor. I will look into some more and consider that as an option, though initially I feel like if it's just a temporary measure I may as well just continue with disposables for now until Straight Razor shaving is affordable, but again that's just first thoughts I'll do the reading. I am aware of the long-term costs of Straight Razor, and am excited to learn on this journey (learning a new skill is part of the draw for me here), my goal is to get started on the path and overtime slowly add in the additional pieces and skills as money allows (I also hopefully won't be therapy forever. =)

Thanks again!

What is your budget?

Guys that start looking to save money, or do it on the real cheap, usually have a hard time.

As with most things the better the quality, the easier it is to get good repeatable results. There is also a learning curve and a hands-on mentor will cut the learning time considerable.

Double edge sounds like the way to go, if buying soap is an issue.

Well, if we're already into sharing...

I started SR shaving while in recovery too. I wasn't addicted, but I was a mess and couldn't work, and my doctor told me to get a hobby. and a shave.

So I bought my first Gold Dollar, a six pack of arco, an Omega brush and stropped on a newspaper. 25$ for the whole set.
In time, I started putting out a budget for my shaving, and it grew... I got another, better, razor 3 months after, and a strop.
It wasn't the best shave, but it was a start. and it made me feel good about myself. I loved it, even though a gold dollar is perceived as trash around here....

It's a good way to go, In my honest opinion, and it's a damn good hobby. It's meditative, it makes you feel good and look good.
Anyway, any razor from sheffield \ Solingen will be fine, and you can find them at the flee markets for a few dollars. A hone will cost 5-10$, a nice soap about 4$ (and a bar will last for about 3-4 months) and a starter boar brush will cost about 6$. You can strop on a newspaper for now :]

We're here to help :] Good luck!

Euclid, if I had to pick a budget it would be under $50, that being said I know that's not realistic, but I guess I'm trying to see if I can even come close to something affordable, being able to buy things a piece at a time and space it out over a while.

Haim, thanks for sharing brother!
Stroping on newspaper sounds one of those temporary cost savers that might be a game changer. I hadn't heard that before, thanks for the idea! While bargain hunting and honing my own razor sounds like something I'd like to be able to do eventually, without any understanding of what a properly honed razor should feel like I'd be swimming in the dark, so I think I'd be better served to at least start with something proper so I have a reference. I have seen the Gold Dollar (as it has an attractive $25 price tag), but was also very cautious as a result of that price tag. I have heard some good reviews, but also seen some bad ones. I know the prevailing advice on here is to avoid.

Thanks again for the advice!

You can also use the inside of a cereal box for a strop.

Still, you'd be better off starting with a DE razor. As already pointed out, it's cheaper and works as a great backup while learning how to use the straight and it also would be more convenient for when you are in a rush.

A DE will allow you to concentrate on getting good, consistent, beard prep. After a while, then get a straight. Canned goo will work for a while! By a Gillette DE from classified or a good one off the 'bay. A blade sampler from one of the vendors will start you off with a choice. A boar brush will set you back about $10to$25 and any high tallow content soap will lather. Shave soaps tend to lather and protect your face better than hand soap.

Cheapest way to go...A Van der Hagen set at ~$9 to $25. Shampoo the brush a few times till it stops shedding and loses it smell! That's what I started with a few years back and the soap is better than many "As seen on TV" or heavily shilled products touted on some forums/Facebook.
Enjoy the shaves while getting your act together! (PS do not let the 12 step group attach your recovering addictive nature to it!!)

~Richard

Welcome. I think you will find that there are more than a couple recovering people here. Shave nirvana is all about the journey. Don't make it complicated. Get the type of gear you want to shave with and perfect your technique. There are many many paths, just pick one and focus.

BlueJazz777
If you are not in a huge hurry, I have a 5/8" round nose King Cutter I will clean up and send you.
Just PM me your address.
Mike