The cheapest way I know to get started is with:

www.whippeddog.com

"Shave-ready" razors are around $35, a "poor man's strop kit" (which includes a pasted strop) is $19.

Razors in the "Classifieds" on this website are often in the $30 - $40 range.

You can maintain a razor almost indefinitely (once it's sharp) with a barber hone, about $20.

Once you start "experimenting", of course, all financial projections are meaningless. . . . <g>

A good new stainless-steel razor from Dovo or Boker or TI costs about $150. What did you pay for yours?

Charles