I'm a grad student, and (as if I don't have enough to do with myself) I want to start using a straight razor (obviously, or I wouldn't be here feeling like a wild donkey). Of course, I'm on a tight budget. Not exactly ramen-and-ketchup, but pretty tight nonetheless.

From what I can see, my options are as follows:

1. Keep using my M3 (yecch) until I'm done and hope for better finances next year.
2. Bite the bullet, invest the $150 in a decent blade & strop, and eat ramen and ketchup (yecch) for a month or so.
3. Same as #2, but offsetting the cost by robbing a liquor store/prostituting myself/giving my friends free shaves.

If anyone has any other thoughts, I'd love to hear them. I've been ready to get all obsessed with this ever since my grandfather died. (I've already looked for his old razor.)

-Scott.