Razor blades too expensive - ways to save money?

[thewisebuck]

Dear Everyone!

As a lot of you may know, I have a personal finance blog. I am continually looking for simple ways to save money. Well, I just sat down last night and while reviewing my budget, my eyes almost popped out.

You want to know what one of my biggest regular expenses are? LOL - Razor Blades! I don't know about the rest of you out there but every time I have to buy Razor Blades, I practically cringe. It's not that I don't have the money - but they just seem so expensive, especially as a percentage of my shopping trip.

For example, my last trip to Costco, I spent $44 bucks for 20 razor blades. I think the reason this is so alarming is because whenever I have to buy razor blades, my grocery bill goes up about 35%.

Are any of you out there aware of a better place or way of buying these things? Oh, and just to mention, I really can't do the electric razors; I've tried in the past.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts on this one.

Mike

[tim_v]

How often do you buy and what kind are you buying? I think mine (Gillette Sensor) are around $2 in the stores although my wife tries to get them at the swap meet for ~$1. Either way since I switched to using them for 2 weeks the annual cost is still under $60.

[thewisebuck]

I've been using the Gillette Fushion and Sensor (or that is what I remember off the top of my head) I am going to do some checking tomorrow and see what I can find. I have to think (hope) there is a way for me to get them as little as $1 per blade; that would lower my cost a lot.

[tim_v]

Fusion is more expensive than Sensor Excel and Sensor Excel is more expensive than Sensor used to be and I don't think they are selling Sensor anymore.

[clydewolf]

I bought some Gillette Fusion blades a week ago at my locla CVS using my stock-up 20% off the bottom line (except sale items and pharmacy). The price of 5 blaces was $13.99 less the 20% = $11.20 for 5 blades. I use a blade until I can not stand it scraping across my face.

I did look to see if there was CVS version of the blade, I did not see that.

[cev2000]

How do you look with a beard?

[thewisebuck]

I use a blade until I can not stand it scraping across my face."

LOL - that sounds familiar. I decided that I am going to try one of the Rezkor double edge blades. They seem to worth a try and should save on money. They are available on Amazon with plenty of reviews.

[4jacks]

I use gillette Mach 3 when I do use a razor, but I haven't purchased blades in a really long time. I think amazon has the best prices I've seen. I switched to an electric razor a long time ago and it was probably the best investment. You can spend $30 on a half decent electric razor and it will last 3-5 years.

The thing about an electric razor is it takes time for your skin to adjust to it. If you've been using a razor for years, it will take a solid 2 weeks to get use to the electric. when I first went to electric my face would get soo many razor bumps and burns, but after a week I was pretty set. Now if I shave with a blade I get the bumps.

I actually have pretty pathetic chest hair, so that's what I use the razor for, So I didn't really burn through them so fast. But honestly even right now all my blades are shot, so I've switched to trimming my chest hair down to a one. Don't know if I like it yet, but it saves me from buying blades. lol

[KrozFan]

I use an old fashion double edge safety razor. I also use mug soap with a brush instead of shaving cream in a can. I really switched because I wanted a better shave, the money savings was a bonus. It doesn't take that much longer to shave either, you just need to go a bit slower and pay attention. It's not for everyone.

As far as cost I go through a blade a week, and I just picked up 100 high end blades for $35. Not sure how long your 20 blades will last you, but I just picked up basically two years worth of blades for less than you paid for yours. Shaving soap is dirt cheap as well, I bought low end Williams Shaving Soap at CVS for $2 (I think) back in December and I still have a bit left. I don't shave every day but even so it's impressive.

Startup cost is higher though. You have to buy the brush and a double edge razor. I bought my razor for $40 and the brush for $20, so you would have to be somewhat dedicated to making the switch.

[tim_v]

Interesting timing. Just saw this from Wall Street Journal

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home...osts-on-razors

[IvanR]

I use the Gillette Fusion. I have been following a slightly modified version of the stropping method mentioned by Lifehacker and others. I bought a 5 cartrige pack 9 months ago and am on my second cartridge. It does really work. I use a bath towel instead of a pair of jeans for convinience' sake. I was going to post the link from Lifehacker but I see your spam filtering is tight. I can understand that as I am a moderator at an audio related forum. I will have to post a bit more until I can post the link.

[4jacks]

I use the Gillette Fusion. I have been following a slightly modified version of the stropping method mentioned by Lifehacker and others. I bought a 5 cartrige pack 9 months ago and am on my second cartridge. It does really work. I use a bath towel instead of a pair of jeans for convinience' sake. I was going to post the link from Lifehacker but I see your spam filtering is tight. I can understand that as I am a moderator at an audio related forum. I will have to post a bit more until I can post the link.

I found this:
http://www.hackcollege.com/blog/2009...ith-jeans.html

Very interesting, I will have to try it!

[IvanR]

Yes that is the article. Like I said it really does work. I also want to try soaking in mineral oil as that is said to keep the blade from oxidizing, causing an uncomfortable shave.

[4jacks]

Okay, Ivan, I tried that last night, and YEAH, that junk works!

That's freaking Awesome, I'm so ticked I didn't know that a long time ago. I used a pair of jeans it only took less than a minute.

[IvanR]

I wanted to correct my post, I bought a 4 cartridge pack of Fusion blades not 5. 5 cartridge packs don't exist anymore. :P

@ 4jacks: Glad it worked for you. I tried a different method that involves running the razor on your forearm. Backwards, so you don't cut yourself, of course. It did not work for me. Tried it for a week and by last Friday I was ready to go back to my bath towel method. A few runs of the blade on the bath towel and the blade was good as new.

[4jacks]

I wanted to correct my post, I bought a 4 cartridge pack of Fusion blades not 5. 5 cartridge packs don't exist anymore. :P

@ 4jacks: Glad it worked for you. I tried a different method that involves running the razor on your forearm. Backwards, so you don't cut yourself, of course. It did not work for me. Tried it for a week and by last Friday I was ready to go back to my bath towel method. A few runs of the blade on the bath towel and the blade was good as new.

When ever I shave in the shower, I will run the blade backwards on my leg like that. I wonder if that has helped them to last a little bit longer, but no matter i am definetly running them on my jeans from now on.

[BeDebtFreeAmerica]

I bought a pack of Mach 3 blades over a year ago off of Ebay. It seems like there were about 40 blades in all. I can't remember exactly what I paid, but it seems like it was around half price or less. I still have a lot of them left. Give it a try.

[IvanR]

I purchased a 20 pack (I think it was 20) of Fusion blades from Sam's for around $38 before I knew about this method. They did not last very long. I wish I would have known then what I know now.

[ferriwinkle]

I live in Montana, so beards are in. I've cut my oen hair (shaved head) for about 12 years, and for the last 3 I haven't bought razor blades, I just keep my beard short with the same hairclipper I use on my head (which I bought for 20 bucks 12 years ago).

[renee777]

Mike, I previously told someone on this site about the answer to your shaving woes. They said the website www.shaveforless.com "looked kinda spammy" and never got it. I was ticked off coming home from the market, and I figured it out. I will tell you my shaving information for $3( It started out as a buck, but with SSL encrypted online ordering, merchant fees, website etc., I had to increase it a little bit) It totally works, and If you don't believe me check out http://blog.shaveforless.com. The comments are ONLY moderated for spam, typos and revealing THE information.
I started a new website www.shaveforless.info because of your "spammy" comment but it is still kinda under construction. My daughters gym coach got a month (shaving his head too) out of his Mach 3 he normally changed weekly, and said it stayed sharp all month long too! My insurance agents secretary said she got 8 weeks out of her Venus cartridge she normally changed frequently (every week) because her husband shared the blade (he stopped at 7 weeks!)

Dear Everyone!

As a lot of you may know, I have a personal finance blog. I am continually looking for simple ways to save money. Well, I just sat down last night and while reviewing my budget, my eyes almost popped out.

You want to know what one of my biggest regular expenses are? LOL - Razor Blades! I don't know about the rest of you out there but every time I have to buy Razor Blades, I practically cringe. It's not that I don't have the money - but they just seem so expensive, especially as a percentage of my shopping trip.

For example, my last trip to Costco, I spent $44 bucks for 20 razor blades. I think the reason this is so alarming is because whenever I have to buy razor blades, my grocery bill goes up about 35%.

Are any of you out there aware of a better place or way of buying these things? Oh, and just to mention, I really can't do the electric razors; I've tried in the past.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts on this one.

Mike

[mrdubin]

You guys should check out http://www.DollarShaveClub.com. DISCLAIMER: This is my new business, but we're totally legit. We deliver you Gillette-compatible twin blades for about $1 a month. Read the reviews. We're a great shave!

[Shane]

I've used a standard, old-fashioned straight razor for three years.

One blade. Everyday. Forever.

I love it.

[linkdire42]

Thank you for informing us with important information.

[cccfree]

You could wash your face with Nair...

JK don't do that, please, don't do that.

[cccfree]

You guys should check out http://www.DollarShaveClub.com. DISCLAIMER: This is my new business, but we're totally legit. We deliver you Gillette-compatible twin blades for about $1 a month. Read the reviews. We're a great shave!

It's like the Groupon for razor blades! I like it, I would sign up but I literally shave once every three months, I just trim my beard with one of those hair clipper thingys.