Sweet Justification or Just Rationalization

[Lo'Tek]

In razors, strop, hones, and extras I've spent a little over $1,000.00 USD in the three years since I started straight shaving. I remember saying that using a straight would shave me money. How do I account for the spendings? Well, let's do some accounting.

I started shaving in 1988 at approx. 18 years of age – for a total of 21 years, soon to be 22 years.

This was my progression, or should I say digression?
Here's approximately what I may have spent in sixteen to twenty two years on crap shaving supplies:
1988 - 1991 Disposables. . . 3 yrs. — 108
1993 - 1994 Electric. . . . . . 1 yrs. — 200
1994 - 1994 DE. . . . . . . . . 0 yrs. — 0
1994 - 1998 Electric. . . . . . 4 yrs. — 288
1998 - 2006 M3. . . . . . . . . 7 yrs. — 840
TOTAL _______________________ = 1436

And in the end what do I have to show for any of it but a sensitive, red, razor-burned face?
If I had not been turned onto straights, we can add four more years of M3 to that to total — $1916; and that's generous considering today's prices.

And consider, if I had started on straight in the beginning, prices would have been lower to start off.

The money I would have s

aved using a Straight Razor:

$70 = For a basic new Str8.
$30 = for a basic Strop, even If I had to buy and cut the leather myself.
$FREE - I can guarantee my Grand Father would have sported me a new brush.
$FREE – Tea/Coffee Cup for shave mug like I use to use.
Plus $ Honing Services for X yrs. until I come across some nice hones.
$25 = Razor @ Flea-Market/Tag Sale; and I saw a lot of them.
$FREE - Brush inherited from Grand Father after he died.
$FREE – DE inherited from Grand Father.
$FREE - I found my Great Grand Father's Str8 in an old chest in 1996 and it eventually got tossed.

TOTAL = $125.00 - That's about what I would have had to pay to start not including honing services.
That's $125 vs. $1916 for over twenty one years of rotten shaves. So I've spent a little over $1000 today.

Then at some point I would have bought hones.

In addition. . .
I would have my own honing services and re-scaling services and sold refurbs, maybe brushes too.
My straight shaving habit would pay for itself, and then some.
I would own a plethora of old & new collectables.
My name would be recorded in the annals of straight razor history as a true pioneer of straight razor shaving.
Not to mention, I would not have had to suffer all those years of razor burn and other irritations with sub standard shaves; and I would not have been paying The Man for the daily mundane task of shaving.
I would own cool, tangible straights & supplies to pass on to Grand Children to show for it all, not just razor burn.

That's Sweet Justification!
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[ouch]

If you keep saving at this rate, you'll be broke before you know it.

 

[richmondesi]

If you keep saving at this rate, you'll be broke before you know it.

This is me

 

[Starcar]

If you keep saving at this rate, you'll be broke before you know it.

 

[WittyAg]

If you keep saving at this rate, you'll be broke before you know it.

 

[Thebigspendur]

$1000 eh? Well your a little guy. Eventually you'll join the big boys club. Har Har.

 

[CraigJ]

You were wrong when you priced a razor at $70 and strop at $30. In 1988 you would pay $30 for a spankin' new Dovo shave ready. Your strop would run about $20. At least these are the prices I paid.

 

[Lo'Tek]

You were wrong when you priced a razor at $70 and strop at $30. In 1988 you would pay $30 for a spankin' new Dovo shave ready. Your strop would run about $20. At least these are the prices I paid.

I was waitin for someone to correct that; I knew my math would be wrong. Well, that's even better - thanks.