I'm trying to get an idea of what is involved with the economics of straight razor shaving. It seems to me after reading a little that straight razor shaving is more of a hobby rather than a simple means of shaving in the morning, for most on this site. I say that because I'm seeing people with multiple straight razors. I've seen honing videos with people that have like ten honing stones. And the razors, brushes, hones..... all come in very expensive versions. All this is well and good, if that is your hobby thats fine, but I want to know what is the cost of straight razor shaving minus the frills.

Its seems to me I need to buy one razor and that should last me my entire life. That goes for my two honing stones (what I've so far gathered as to how many stones you need 250/1000 & 6000/8000 grit), my strope (what do you need paste for?), and not that I need it, but my brush and bowel should last my entire life to. All I see I need to continue buying is shaving soap and aftershave care products.

Base on that assumption an initial cost of say 300 should be good for fifty years, which if I shave five times a week should be pennies a shave. Now I know I'm wrong, each straight razor has a life and there is probably more I'm not taking into account. So what does it cost if your just conserned with getting a good shave with regular equipment your maintaining?