For maintaining a shave ready blade a single fine stone should do the job, if it's just for occasional use you could further save by lapping on wet/dry paper in place of the D8C. For razors straight from the factory or off ebay there's often a lot more ground to cover, you may need to go down to 1K or below. D8C>King 1K>Coticule is my attempt at minimal stones & bugdet to get from butter knife to shaving sharp.