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How Much Have You Invested in Our Wet Shaving Hobby?

How much have you invested in DE or SE wet shaving? (Ranges in U.S. dollars)

  • Under $100

    Votes: 5 5.2%
  • Above $100 to $250

    Votes: 7 7.2%
  • Above $250 to $500

    Votes: 12 12.4%
  • Above $500 to $1,000

    Votes: 20 20.6%
  • Above $1,000 to $2,000

    Votes: 16 16.5%
  • Above $2,000

    Votes: 37 38.1%

  • Total voters
    97
Since I landed on this site a month ago I`ve bought quite a few razors (13 in one day) loads of shaving soaps, whipped soaps, shaving butter, mirrors, brushes, frags , attars, essential oils, 80 bars of good soap, Menthol, Grinders, an 1850 antique Indian brass pan, bowls, essential oil boxes, razor stands, razor racks, shaving bags, 8 vintage travel razor / grooming kits, two vintage 1960`s battery travel razors, 10 litres of Castile soap and about a 1000 blades.

I think it`s well over a grand in 4 1/2 weeks; before that a couple of hundred (used mostly s/h antique carbon straights) in 45 years - before October 2024 the most I ever spent on any razor was £25 that lasted me decades.
I blame my RAD on Badger and Blade as well. And having no self control. But mostly on Badger and Blade.
 
Hi everyone! Haven't seen a thread similar to this. One of the great things about wet shaving is the range of options available from basic kits for under $50 U.S. to exclusive super premium products and collections that can run into the thousands of dollars (or local currency of your choice). I suspect that many here will be interested in seeing that, no matter where they are in the spectrum, there are fellow B&Bers with similar preferences.

How much have you invested in soaps, creams, razors, brushes and other equipment since you began wet shaving? For those who have been wet shaving for decades the answer can be focused on what you invested in the most recent 5 -10 years. I've included a poll that will help summarize where we are across the spectrum.

I'll go first. While I started with a pretty basic kit, that included a Weishi razor, some Derby blades, Williams Shaving Soap and a cheap no-name brush for under $35, I've invested around $775 U.S. since returning to DE shaving just over five years ago. My investment has included roughly:

  • Razors: $100 for a Weishi, King C. Gillette & Razorock Adjust plus a backup of each. (All purchased at sale prices, also 3 other razors that didn't work for me)
  • Brushes: $80 for Razorock Big Bruce, Monster and Blondie brushes and a backup of each (Also a couple of cheap discarded brushes)
  • Soaps & Creams: $425, this has been my primary rabbit hole where I've expanded my variety and inventory of now discontinued/reformulated products over the past two years
  • Blades: $110 for a 1,500 Derby, Dorco and Astra SP blades. Also a to-be used sample pack. Around 1,200-1,300 of these left.
  • Misc. Equipment: $60 for mugs and brush/razor stands etc.
Overall, for me, spending under $800 over five years is a reasonable and even low cost for what has become an enjoyable and relaxing hobby/activity. Unless I fall into another rabbit hole the cost per year should go down given that my tools work well and I've plenty of software. Perhaps I'll wait another year before digging into that blade sample pack:).

I hope that you will find the included a poll interesting. Look forward to everyone's responses.

P.S. Don't worry about exact calculations, ball part estimates are fine.
Uhh...Quick question: Are all of the values in you poll missing a zero?
 
Haha and how much do our good ladies spend on cosmetics, hairdressers, perfumes, nail bars, handbags, shoes, clothes, beauty salons, health spas, botox, hair-removal treatment, diets, sunbeds, plastic surgery etc ? - I`m sure they use their own payment cards at all times - God Bless `Em - haha !
In my house? I have spent more on shaving related stuff in the past 6 months than my wife has spent on her stuff in the past 30 years
 
My thoughts exactly.
When I got into it 2 years ago, my thought was, "Well, I'll save money and get better shaves!"
Yes. I have gotten better shaves, the best of my life.
Saved money? Surely, you must be joking! 🤣
But as someone who's had some reasonably expensive hobbies over the years, even my wife said recently, "Well, at least this hobby's not terrible expensive."
And it's been worth every penny. I enjoy getting up every morning, planning what I'll use for that day's shave.
Since I converted back to DE from electric razors I never planned to save money. For me it was just the better shaves for a small investment that was expected to be less than the cost of a new Norelco razor. I'm definitely realizing far better shaves though with a total five year spend at close to $800 I could have replaced my Norelcos many times over. This is just due to my shaving soap/cream rabbit hole as my equipment (razors/brushes) preferences are at the budget end of the spectrum.

Compared to any other hobby under $160 per year is a bargain and fully agree it's been worth every penny. Always a pleasure to whip up a nice creamy lather for a pleasant shave.
 

Lockback

Dull yet interesting
Since I converted back to DE from electric razors I never planned to save money. For me it was just the better shaves for a small investment that was expected to be less than the cost of a new Norelco razor. I'm definitely realizing far better shaves though with a total five year spend at close to $800 I could have replaced my Norelcos many times over. This is just due to my shaving soap/cream rabbit hole as my equipment (razors/brushes) preferences are at the budget end of the spectrum.

Compared to any other hobby under $160 per year is a bargain and fully agree it's been worth every penny. Always a pleasure to whip up a nice creamy lather for a pleasant shave.
I laugh at myself sometimes, hanging out here, picking my shave elements (usually) the night before, plotting new razor/blade/soap purchases, etc. But, man, it's made what used to be a chore into a great start to my day. Those 15 minutes or so of Zen are precious to me. And greatly enjoyable.
 
I blame my RAD on Badger and Blade as well. And having no self control. But mostly on Badger and Blade.
I blame my lack of self-discipline, restraint and conformity - good job I wasn`t drinking when ordering or I`d need a forklift to get the razors in the house !

I`ve conquered all my addictions but wasted decades, got into debt etc but but but I`ve met some incredible people and saved on shrinks and anti-depressants because I`m cheered up and chased the blues away and the black dog of depression etc so surly, that alone must be worth it !
 
In my house? I have spent more on shaving related stuff in the past 6 months than my wife has spent on her stuff in the past 30 years
Bless you both Bigalvista - you must have a lovely sensible wife that is not glued to facebook and the mirror and insignificancies - excellent.

Even my normal ex`s (who I`m still friends with after decades) have been erm abnormal as anything OCD and hoarders.

Me and the Dragon must get married (I`m serious) - as soon as we sell all the junk we collected to pay for the wedding and honeymoon - hahaha ! gotta be worth 20 grand just for the knives and scissors and I`ve not quantified the stereo and computer mountain upstairs - that`s 45 years worth - not a month on here collecting a bit of shaving tackle !
 
VINTAGE PHILIPS PHILISHAVE TRAVEL RAZOR.jpg

SOAP AND RAZORS.jpg

I got an old 1962 battery Philips Philishave travel razor for my 59th the other week but it`s gathering dust because I have all these new beauties to scrape with and a big bar of soap haha !
 
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