I haven't spent much, because I've read and studied before making any purchases, and made my own strop, and sent a couple of blades to be honed rather than get into honing..yet. But, I don't feel bad about any money I have spent or will spend (and I will!) because every dollar I spend with this, is a dollar that is not going into Gilette's pocket to pay for crappy equipment and advertising. So it's all win for me.