I presume you've already read the shopping list in the beginners guide, so here is my personal take on the situation.

  1. One shave ready new or NOS razor. I would either go for a Dovo "Best Quality" 6/8 half hollow from SRD, or a http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...003-5-8-a.html. Get something in the USD 50 department from the classifieds that looks nice and meets the beginner criteria laid out in the FAQ.
  2. Get high quality cream and aftershave. Castle Forbes will cost you, but it is a good investment, and if you have the money, it should be your safest bet. Personally, I would go for "Lime", or http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ing-cream.html.
  3. As for strops, I would go for an SRD strop, no questions asked. Best value for money in the market, if you ask me. I have, and like, both the Premium I and IV. With your budget, the P IV extra long would be an option. It should make stropping easier (less flips you need to do).
  4. This one might stretch your budget already, but http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...ilver-tip.html is a killer brush. The fun thing about the Thäter brushes is that they will work with both soaps and creams, yet still be soft on the skin. Lovely stuff.

So there. Personal, high priced, and probably not exactly what you're looking for - because it is all very personal, our hobby is

Happy shopping,
Robin