B&B is eating away on my savings.HELP!

[ArNav]

I've been participating quite a lot in the different stickies, tests, reviews and PIFs on the site.
So... B&B is making me want to buy different equipment, Razors and Blades mainly. It's bad for my budget. But I can't help it.
I don't want to quit B&B because it's a great site and I'm enjoying it tremendously.
But then again I cant keep buying stuff like that and spending all my money.
Is there any suggestions how to keep participating in the forum, but stop the acquisition disorder?

 

[Artimid]

Well, you can always avoid the razor section for a while. There are other fine sub-forums on here that you can learn stuff from. The NIB is a great learning environment, for example. Heavy participation in that should help prevent Razor and Blade Acquisition Disorders, at least the base cause (having too much money) of it.


You can also save money by doing what some here do, build everything yourself. Check some of the threads for custom shave dens, everything from re-used paper towel holders to lazer-etched machined steel razor holders. DIY can save you enough money, and teach you skills that offset the minor amount lost in your wallet. Of course, DIY skills come in handy as well when you simply have no money left... but that is a lesson for another day.

 

[maxman]

The only method that seems to work is to remove yourself from the sales sites.
Avoid ebay, the BST and antique shops for a while.
Learn to love what you already have and make it your goal to master your technique with those items.

Soon enough the desire to acquire (hey that rhymes!) will be out of your system.

It doesn't mean you have to avoid B&B at all, just the areas that allow you to buy stuff.

 

[petertschantz]

well you could do what I do. I smoke pipes (PAD & TAD) and recently started exploring the world of English Snuff (SAD) so I really don't have much to spend on Shaving AD

I'm not saying it will help, but then I'll be even less alone...

 

[Duran805]

I know the feeling. lol Part of the reason I switched to a DE razor was to save money. 3rd week in and I have over 20 samples of shaving creams, soaps, and aftershaves in the mail. I am fighting the urge very badly not to buy another razor just yet. I wonder how long that will last.

 

[petertschantz]

well let's see. I've been wet shaving for a week. I have 3 razors, 2 AS (with an Ogalla order on the way), a cream and a soap.........

can't take it with you

 

[Artimid]

Just remember to check the NIB before the Brown Leaf since it was mentioned first.

But yeah, expanding your views might help take the edge off the AD's you have now. They might not seem to important after you look around. Heck, $30 gets you a nice entry pen and a bunch of ink samples. You save money in the long run because you then get a really fancy pen that you won't let go, and you get fulfillment by having creative inks. New razors? Pfft, who needs those when everyone will be staring at your cool pens.

A BBS might be the elusive beast not everyone finds, but a good pen always produces on demand and lasts forever!

 

[petertschantz]

Since I was already afflicted with Pad & Tad, I've been resisting the siren song of the NIB!

 

[hedonist222]

Well firstly, you need to realize its not a disorder. It's an Acquisition Bliss.

Thats step one.

 

[Duran805]

I've heard denial is the first step to recovery.

 

[Pebcak]

Stay far far away from The Nib.

 

[Dusty1]

You could try working more hours to support your addiction, or make a budget. Enjoy your shave!

 

[Luc]

1-Setup a wet shaving saving account

2-List what you want and put a priority on it.

3-Buy according to the priority without going over budget (it could be 1-2-3-4-... item at the time over X days/weeks/months)

4-Know your products, test them, try them, review them, share you knowledge about them!

 

[jaredsmith83]

Go out into the yard, dig a hole, and bury all of your credit cards, check books and information pertaining to your account hahahaha that may be the only way!

 

[Mick]

1-Setup a wet shaving saving account

2-List what you want and put a priority on it.

3-Buy according to the priority without going over budget (it could be 1-2-3-4-... item at the time over X days/weeks/months)

4-Know your products, test them, try them, review them, share you knowledge about them!

Excellent advice!!!

 

[Koss]

Master your techniques and strive to use up your products! It is fun using up a complete tub of soap or cream.

Actually you will find how you get the hang of how a product performs. For example the perfect ratio of water and time in making a specific soap later to your liking.

Not only that, but I find hard soaps perform better once you get past the surface layers and into the inside of the soap. In addition to using it everyday instead of pulling out an old puck you haven't touched in months or years and getting past that stale surface layers again. It's not like night and day, but you can see a small percentage of difference perhaps.

I don't like rotating around too much when it comes to soaps and creams. I like to stick to one depending on the season (no high menthol stuff in the dead of winter, no warm scents in 115+F summer heat).
So there is a sort of bliss or zen when using a product for an extended time. Rather than using it one day a week or month, etc.

It might feel strange at first, but once you go a few weeks into it, well at least I enjoyed it more.

So what do I rotate? Brushes mostly. I usually stick to blades and razor combinations I like for awhile. It's the brushes I switch out nearly everyday.

 

[Dave258]

​The Nib


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