Shall we tell him about RAD. I have been using a straight a whopping 3 months and I started out with a $40 kit. I still have the brush (that is coming apart in the center) and some soap. I wish I would have landed here in my research first. You sound determined that this will work and I was too. Now, I will never go back. I my short trip so far I have learned to take everything slow. Think it through. While shaving and when buying. You will see that when you can shave without thinking you automatically start spending without thinking. No need to rush it :<0). Buying a nice kit in the beginning is a wise choice. So is buying a whipped dog deal. Rebuilding razors is another learning curve and you should start that path separate from learning to shave, strop, etc. Now, that is not the way I did it but if I could be 18 again.... I would.