2nd thoughts on switching to wet shaving?

When I started to wet shave, I figured it was a great way for me to save some money, especially considering the cost of the cartridges I was using.  As time has gone on though, I've found that I've spent more on soaps, brushes, and razors than I would have ever spent on cartridges, and I really hardly own much, especially high quality hardware ($20 is the most I've ever spent on a razor).  I have, in essence, defeated the purpose of switching.

I don't regret my decision since I find wet shaving to be a relaxing activity/hobby.  I also find it to be a better overall shave experience with much better results.  However, am I the only one that sometimes questions if I made the right choice, especially from a financial perspective?

Thankfully for me brushes have not been an issue. I am more than satisfied with my $8 Omega boar and $11 Yaqi synthetic. An insane desire to try the variety of soaps and razors has done me in. For decades I was OK with Harry's cartridges and Barbasol. Proraso white was delightfully refreshing and fragrant, so I just had to get green, then this brand, then that one . . . One wise choice of a starter razor led to another that must be better, and of course I just had to try a vintage Tech, and oh yeah my birth year Slim . . .

Actual use of the products is very nice and enjoyable. But is it proportional to the amount of extra time and money?

The very hard thing is to learn to be satisfied with what I have. Like all lessons in life, contentment must be learned. It is a discipline; much harder than the mechanics of lathering and slicing.

I'd say that once you found the 'stuff' that works well for your skin, then you can start scaling it back if money is an issue.

...Actual use of the products is very nice and enjoyable. But is it proportional to the amount of extra time and money?

The very hard thing is to learn to be satisfied with what I have. Like all lessons in life, contentment must be learned. It is a discipline;...

Excellent points both.

Thankfully for me brushes have not been an issue. I am more than satisfied with my $8 Omega boar and $11 Yaqi synthetic. An insane desire to try the variety of soaps and razors has done me in. For decades I was OK with Harry's cartridges and Barbasol. Proraso white was delightfully refreshing and fragrant, so I just had to get green, then this brand, then that one . . . One wise choice of a starter razor led to another that must be better, and of course I just had to try a vintage Tech, and oh yeah my birth year Slim . . .

Actual use of the products is very nice and enjoyable. But is it proportional to the amount of extra time and money?

The very hard thing is to learn to be satisfied with what I have. Like all lessons in life, contentment must be learned. It is a discipline; much harder than the mechanics of lathering and slicing.

I have to admit, being content is the hardest part for me also.  I'm always wanting to chase that perfect shaving experience, thinking that upgrading this or that might make the difference.  This is especially true for soaps.  For example, I think that the DG Massacre of the Innocents is one of the best soaps out there, for both scent and performance.  Yet, I want to try 100 different soaps just to see if they're any better (unfortunately, I think I might be a frag head and the options are limitless in this department).  

At times, I feel like I'm a kid who's just walked into a candy store with $1.  I know I should save it for a rainy day or for something bigger and better in the future, yet all the candies are calling my name, saying "I'm delicious, try me."  It doesn't help when the other kids are telling you how good other candies are also.  Fortunately, I'm not a little child who lacks self constraint, but that doesn't make the yearning any less.  

I do understand that this falls squarely on my shoulders, and I don't blame anyone for it.  Neither do I regret it, as I mentioned before.  It's one of the few things that seems to keep me sane, especially in the last year and a half.  It's just sometimes I think if I never stepped into that candy store, I'd never know what I was missing.  Ignorance is bliss.

My shaving gear is gluttonous by any measure. I think all of my hardware (razors and brushes) could be liquidated pretty quick and all invested funds recouped and then some. So, I really don't sweat it too much. I find the hobby kinda fun. Buying new stuff, trying it out for a bit, then moving it on if it can't make the grade keeps it interesting and it cost very little. I do try to limit my brush collection to 8-12. Razors are my real Achilles heel. Fortunately, very little new stuff interests me anymore. The razors can also be handed down as heirlooms to sons and daughters.

Q: How did you know which razors, soaps and brushes to buy? What made you think one was perhaps better for you than another for each of those gear categories?
A: Research, reading, rabbit holes and a quest for better. All of these things took time. Probably a good amount of time. But you liked spending that time. Meaning, at some point this either became, or approached becoming, a hobby for you. Well, that use of your time was better than (hypothetically speaking, of course) gambling, drinking too much, pining for someone else’s life, Facebook, video gaming, watching tv, talking politics, thinking about your faults or thinking about your opinion of the faults of others.
Yeah, you spent a few bucks. But you learned and experienced some cool things. You likely would have spent that money anyway on something other than mortgage pre-payments.
And you got better shaves in the process....
If all you want to do is save money, then sell everything but your favorite razor, soap and 2 brushes. Then enjoy your shaves (and try not to look at the BST).

One very important aspect that I forgot to mention. For some like me, discovery of this community of like minded shaving disciples came at a time of stress, uncertainty, isolation, and anxiety. Not only is the shave ritual therapeutic, but more important was the discovery of community. Suddenly shut out of work, church, public dining, . . . The social aspect and connecting with others on a similar journey, shared experiences, knowledge, wisdom . . . Sometimes a damn fine shave is more than a damn fine shave. I am grateful for the well of knowledge contained in these pages.

I don't know about others but the search for a better shave was my primary motivation.  The lure of saving a buck was just the excuse, like the great articles in Playboy magazine.  Seriously?  It was the naked ladies.  The good news is you will get to the point where you pretty much know what you like and what works for you and you can stop "needing" to try it all.  Like razors - OK, I like a smooth. comfortable drama free shave, the Rockwell 6s with a Feather blade just does it for me.  I don't need to have to pay that close attention every morning to avoid blood. - the Ikon Tech?  Who needs to feel like a bomb tech every morning on Danger UXB!?  Not me, others are happy enough to do it and thats great for them.  Still, we all have our weaknesses  - for some its brushes, others razors, me its Bay Rum.  I love that stuff and its hard to resist trying a new one or one I haven't tried but have heard about.  I'm getting better though, if you take some time, like counting to 10 before you lose it, if you see something you have to have give yourself a day or two to think about it and then see if you still want it.  Revealtions - I like cheaper boar brushes more than expensive badger brushes.  I prefer their performance and I wish I'd known that from the start.

I’ve got a few expensive things that I enjoy, I make rules for myself that helps me keep my spending in check. I only enjoy synthetic brushes and have no interest in super high end badger brushes so that helps. I’ve probably got enough soap to last 15 years or longer right now so I’m very selective with what I buy these days soft ware wise. I think the longer you are in this hobby you find what works best for you and really don’t go too out of your ways. Atleast that’s the way it’s become for me.