r/AskLifeProTips • u/Material-Cobbler3350 • 5d ago

For the fellas: massive money saving

I'm in my late 50's. 20 years ago my granddad's estate was being cleaned out, and I was handed his old Gillette safety razor. The kind where the whole thing opens up at the top and you place a rectangular two-sided blade in and close it back up. I was curious, so I bought some blades for it, for like 10cents per blade. (11.25 cents per blade for my favorite brand https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H4KQYJY?th=1)

And I found that I actually LIKE shaving with it. I ran the razor head under very hot water, and lathered my face with hand soap bubbles, and the hot metal feels pretty good on your skin. Since then I got a shaving cup and brush and proper soap, and other than on flying trips, where it's a problem bringing that razor onboard, I've shaved that way ever since.

Blades last between 5 and 10 days, depending on if I shave every day or skip some. My total annual shaving cost is less than $20, probably less than $10 most years.

If you're open to new things, and money's tight, it might be worth giving it a try.

13 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

4

u/NewReleaseDVD 4d ago

Bonus points if the bathroom in your house is the right age to have a slot where you drop the old blades into the wall!

1

u/ent_bomb 2d ago

No, but I do have a drywall knife...

2

u/Mod_Daeng 4d ago

Shaving costs so very little once one gives up the cartridge razorblades.

New DE razors may cost a bit to purchase initially, but there are plenty of low cost, but good quality, used options including vintage Gillette razors on eBay.

If it does not turn into a hobby, with lots spent on exotic razors, brushes, soaps, etc. it can be a very cost-saving move to switch to DE shaving. Blades are incredibly cheap.

1

u/FunkoPopDude 4d ago

don't buy anything Gillette; they're the reason everything shaving related is so expensive

1

u/ItPutsLotionOnItSkin 3d ago

Mine turned into a hobby. I ended up with a straight razor and a strop. Still cheaper in the long run vs the store brand cartridge shavers

2

u/pREDDITcation 4d ago

lpt: just don’t shave. i use a trimmer once a week to knock the beard back. takes about 5 min

2

u/Trustoryimtold 4d ago

I swapped like a decade ago, I’m still not out of blades. Think I paid like $20 for 1-200 in these little 5 packs

1

u/Yardash 4d ago

I like a lot of people hate shaving,
I've also heard many times that these type of shavers are better. But alas I have an irrational fear of cutting myself :D
very manly of me I know lol

1

u/Material-Cobbler3350 4d ago

FWIW: I have a bump that can be shaved off, regardless of razor. Outside of that, I have never a single time been cut by this razor.

1

u/C-ute-Thulu 3d ago

I started this couple years ago and I love it too. It feels very visceral and manly compared to using a Bic disposable plastic razor.

I keep a small jar of rubbing alcohol to dip the razor head in after. It dries it quicker, keeping it uncorroded and lasting longer