Is anyone else a budget shaver?

Was thinking of this today and wondering if anyone else really wants to get their money out of shaving cartridges or may have went back to double edge razor blades? Before the pandemic I would be into my beard by now but due to the desire for a good mask fit I am now year round clean shaven.
For years I used a double edge and clearly the blades were cheap but I never was very good with it. (If I ever find it will try again since I discovered Cremo — completely transformed my shaving experience and maybe I could make it work now.)

When I tried my first cartridge shaver (Sensor XL it think) it was just so much better! They kept improving them and improving them and they kept getting more blades, up to 4 or 5 now, and way more expensive. I got fed up with the expense and learned to take care of them. I don’t see it as much work. Look forward to hearing what you think. After every shave I dry it off with a towel and then rinse it with rubbing alcohol. Before the first use I blue jean strop it and do that maybe every 4 shaves or so — sometimes quite a few. Three months is typical now. Don’t remember the last time I got razor burn. Current cartridge is just past 3 months and I still get a BBS. Probably takes a bit more work than it used to but as long as my face isn’t getting irritated I’ll just keep using it until I feel like a change.

Probably a bit silly but on the other hand I probably save enough for a decent flashlight every year or two;-)

I use an inexpensive Norelco electric shaver.

(I don't like razors.)

I just buzz my face for the Greg House look.

If you’re talking about the teeny jars of “Cremo” (eucalyptusy smelling), I know what you mean. I use a dab of it daily as an unguent (forehead, cheeks, chin, neck) as a sort of moisturiser, especially in winter when it gets dry out.

That reminds me, I also use this beard trimmer made by Remington.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014TWNLGE

I use it at 5mm for my sideburns, and 1mm for everywhere else on my face.

If I feel like shaving, then I use my Norelco.

When the ’Rona hit I started doing safety razors (the double-edged cheapo ones), and even lathering my own shaving cream. Had no experience with it prior. I started it mostly as a curiosity and a cheap hobby to learn a new skill so to speak. Had disastrous results initially, cut myself all over. Now I’m a little better with it, cuts are fewer and far between, gotta learn the angles and whatnot.

What struck was how much cheaper it was. It’s so cheap compared to the cartridge stuff I was using before. I got a 50+10 pack of Gilette’s safety razors on sale and it was like $2.25 (approximately, I’m converting from my local currency). I’ve been using VI-John shaving cream and it’s like 80cents for a large tube and has lasted me months.

Now, as far as the results… well lets just say the cartridge stuff is a lot easier to get nice results. With practice it’s gotten easier of course, but compared to the cartridge shavers it takes a bit more to get a real smooth job.

I’d heard about the alcohol and stropping maintenance for the cartridge razors, but never tried it. Maybe I will - once these blades run out.

Using straight razors since ca. 10 years now and never looked back. You need some stuff, but that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

This is what I’m talking about. One of the very few things where, for me at least, their corporate slogan is spot on. “Astonishingly Superior”

I never liked wet shaving, because I wasn’t any good at it. But later on, I learned what I was doing wrong (or insufficiently) and I enjoy doing it from time to time. I know a guy that won’t use electric. He uses a safety razor most of the time but also uses cartridges. Did you know that some cartridges are able to be stropped? Yes, you can “freshen” them so that you’ll get more shaves out of them.

Given the cost of good soap and the blades, I find it cheaper to go electric. I invested in both Braun & Norelco shavers. They’re terrific. It’s all about technique. I find I can get a very close shave, almost as good as a blade. And if I exfoliate afterward, it feels like I did use a wet blade. The Braun Series 7 is a beast. It is one of the best Braun has made thus far. I’ve had mine for 8 years and the battery is still excellent. My Norelco 3D SensoTouch 1290x is still going strong after 9 years, charging up to 57 minutes (max was originally 60). I’ve changed the heads only 3 times since I’ve had them, keeping the last head as it’s still good. I bought the lesser 1280x shaver used, as a backup & travel shaver. Works just as well (same head). Some people get freaky about a used shaver, but they can be totally disinfected. Overall, very good investment. And the convenience of electric is magnificent. I’ve done full shaves in my car (cruising on the highway).

Haven’t shaved in decades except my neck and that’s too much.

I’ve tried everything including straight razor last year just because and to learn to sharpen it. But all I use now are portable shavers powered by Eneloops.

If you store the cartridge razor in mineral oil after cleaning they last even longer.

I shave my whole head once a week, clippers on whole thing, then cartridge on face only.

The naked blade seems like an accident waiting to happen though. What if someone comes along and bumps your elbow? What if you just woke up and are a little groggy?

I quit shaving several years ago. It’s extra work for which there is no compensation. Now I just buzz my beard off with the clippers whenever I cut my hair. My wife likes a little facial hair. I’m not sure if she likes other forms of laziness or just that one.

They’re not dangerous. Geometry is made for shaving, not killing. Every once or twice a year I have a small cut, but no scars thus far. One rule tho - if it falls down, let it fall.

i’m using this small clipper since 2013

I’m not trying to say it’s an aSsAulT wEaPON. I just worry about accidents with a sharp blade. The idea is appealing to me otherwise because you aren’t throwing something away all the time.

A close shave is important if you wear A N95 mask for covid protection.

Been using tracII style, no pivot, no fancy since the 70’s, guss I’m stuck in a time warp. The newest blades offer nothing to me and I typically get 30 shaves/blade. At this price I get 8 years of shaves for $15. The more money I save on shaving = more $ for that flashlight I really might not need, but I gotta have
https://www.ebay.com/itm/294348142090?hash=item448884360a:g:lbcAAOSwPolhIJQx

That’s a great deal but I have never found a generic Trac II that was any good. My beard is coarse and even though I only shave my neck, I go through Trac IIs pretty fast. Do you think these are close to Trac IIs in quality?
Edit - BTW, they are only $11.98 at Amazon.

yes.

there are lots of ways to save money shaving….here are some that worked for me:

1. as how crazy is this posted: rinsing and drying any blade will save it from corrosion, which is the #1 thing that ruins a sharp blade.
2. proper (and cheap) beard prep will help those older blades keep on keepin’ on.
3. cheap hair conditioner works as well as the expensive creams. for me, anyway.