Cheap (ahem, frugal) people unite!!

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

I built every desktop PC @home by myself and keep spare parts from older mashines as long as hardware compatibility remains.

Our file/web/database/you-name-it-server is made from an old pc. But we're running out of memory. As it's an old PC, it also requires old memory. And we've only less than 512MB left, the rest broke

So, it's time for either (or both) of us to buy a new PC, so we can move one of ours to the server. (both our PC's are over 4 years old now).

[Kymmmm]

I am not that frugal. I like instant gratification best. That being said, I can usually wait a few weeks for something and have been known on occasion to make do for quite a while. Food is usually our cheapest bil, hobbies cost much more.

[beppe]

Originally Posted by desertblues

Well; about the three-day-beard; I wouldn't want my partner to save on shaving, as I don't like these raspy chins.

Neither do I. Ouch. I am a fair skin blue eyes Nordic blond type (slightly winterized by age ) so my beard is quite soft and fine, limp? Since I discovered this trick of the permanent stubble, i do not suffer from skin rushes anymore and I feel always ready for any whatsoever that might come my way . Skin wise I mean.

Shaving is a pain. To me at least. I have tried every possible trick. At a certain point in time I had 7 free razors (those, one for each day, so that molecular evaporation keeps the edge sharp, yes that's the trick). I even learned to use them on moving platforms like train sleepers and on airplanes. Without cutting. For the fun of it and not wanting to get up, once, feeling a little lazy and a bit over the line which in small doses is probably the best feeling there is, I used the leg cream. It's always a pain. If it is close, than it burns, if it is light than it scratches after few hours. Can't shower right after shaving. Nah. Not for me, not anymore.

[GA Russell]

Originally Posted by beppe

Shaving is a pain.

beppe, that's what I used to say! We're going to have to convert you to traditional wetshaving!

My favorite soap is Cella from Italy, and when I use that my skin feels great for the rest of the day.

[beppe]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

I'm a traditional wetshaver. I use a brush and shaving soap, with a safety razor and double edge blades. You can read all about it at http://www.shavemyface.com/forum/

Most American men consider shaving to be a chore, but traditional wetshavers consider it one of the highlights of their day!

In addition, it's much less expensive than using cartridge blades and "canned goo". A 40 cent blade lasts a week, and a $12 jar of my favorite soap lasts 5 months.

Originally Posted by SameOldStory

I used one of these for about a year (or a little bit more).

The last time I tested it (about 10years ago) it dry shaved hair off my forearm with ease. I still have it, somewhere.

Originally Posted by GA Russell

beppe, that's what I used to say! We're going to have to convert you to traditional wetshaving!

My favorite soap is Cella from Italy, and when I use that my skin feels great for the rest of the day.

Guys, you sound like a perfect match!

If anybody is going to convert me to anything, it is much more likely to be a she ...

[desertblues]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

beppe, that's what I used to say! We're going to have to convert you to traditional wetshaving!

My favorite soap is Cella from Italy, and when I use that my skin feels great for the rest of the day.

I just loved it when my partner changed from electric shaving to wetshaving. Smoother skin, nice clean soapy smell....

[beppe]

Originally Posted by desertblues

I just loved it when my partner changed from electric shaving to wetshaving. Smoother skin, nice clean soapy smell....

Nice try

Way to go yet

[kacir]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

In addition, it's much less expensive than using cartridge blades and "canned goo". A 40 cent blade lasts a week, and a $12 jar of my favorite soap lasts 5 months.

Well, as it happens, today I have inserted a new cartridge blade to my Xtreme 3 Wilkinson shaving gizmo. The old one has worked for 20 months. Yes TWENTY months of 6-times-a-week shaving.
I was given - as a promotional sample - one cartridge plus handle. That was the week when my daughter was born. Twenty months ago.

I have paid 5 Euro for a pack of another 5 replacement cartridge blades.

I use THE cheapest shaving foam (NOT gel) in a can, because foam from the can is much less likely to clog the space between blades. Clogged space between blades is usually what makes you to ditch the old shaving cartridge.

One Czech engineer made a discovery, long time ago, that when you place disposable razor inside a pyramid (a model, not the real thing ) in exactly one third of height, horizontally, with edges parallel to South-North axis it will get sharpened overnight. Seriously (I mean this is what he claimed he discovered, I personally do not think it works that way as you will see).
I think, that this is more matter of how much attention you pay to handling your razorblade, because I have used standard bathroom cabinet to store *my* razor cartridge (the one that lasted 20 months), I was just very careful when handling it.

[GA Russell]

kacir, your story deserves a mention in Ripley's Believe It or Not! Congrats!

[kacir]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

kacir, your story deserves a mention in Ripley's Believe It or Not! Congrats!

Well, I have read about the "pyramid" discovery of the Czech gentleman when I was a boy, and I was fascinated ...

I confess, I have even made a pyramid model, when I was [much] younger, but it didn't work the way I thought it should. - That was the same conclusion that Jamie and Adam made in one episode of Mythbusters many, many years later ...

I was, however, observing ever since what makes a razor-blade not good enough for shaving. Not obsessively, because I like to sleep in the morning as long as possible, which leaves me little time for shaving. I have tried using electrical shavers, from fancy models to very reliable workhorse manufactured in Soviet Union (Charkiv brand [in Cyrilics XAPKIB], system stolen from Philips ) Shaving with a machine takes much longer and the result isn't even close to hasty shave with a cheap disposable razor.

So far my observations are following:
- Modern blades are made from a very high quality steel, so they should last relatively long. Much longer than what most people consider "normal".
- You should apply a *little* bit of soap and let is work. Brush the teeth in the meanwhile - the shave will be noticeably more comfortable
- Use little soap, preferably thin ... aehm ... frugal ;-) stuff from a pressurised can. This is less likely to clog the space between blades. A 2 euro can will last you 4-6 months. If you do not have foam, use a bit of shampoo, or some liquid soap, not bar of soap that will leave enough soap on face to clog the space between blades.
- If the space between blades becomes clogged, clean it out using stream of water, or even pressurised water (cover shower hose with a thumb to get thin jet of water) The last blade cartridge I have used is extremely easy to clean from the back side.
- never ever touch the blade with fingers. It can *only* come to contact with your face (or whatever you are shaving), under the proper angle.
- If possible, shave regularly. I have noticed that I am much more likely to discard blade as too dull when I am trying to scrape 5 days old stubble. If you have strong reason not to shave for a week, use your trusty Soviet-Union-Made machine to scrape off most of the beard (I haven't done that during my last experiment, I didn't need to)

[RCR]

Originally Posted by SameOldStory

I used one of these for about a year (or a little bit more).

One side of the cover is a sharpening stone, the other a leather strop. The handle moves the blade back and forth over each side, in turn.

Wiki - Rolls Razor . .Google - Images



The handle and blade stores on the inside.


There's a nick in the blade but that causes no problems, I used it like that for over a year.

The last time I tested it (about 10years ago) it dry shaved hair off my forearm with ease. I still have it, somewhere.

Damn it, SameOldStory. I loved the look of that Rolls Razor so much that I immediately googled for more information. (There's some videos on youtube).

And then I found one on offer on ebay (Australia) so I put in a bid. It's a Queensland address though, so the seller might be a little waterlogged right now.

Anyway, thank you for introducing me to the razor

[RCR]

This isn't really a money saving thing, more a water saving thing.

Many moons ago, in the drought time, our goverment had a big campaign to conserve water. I still use the government supplied egg timer in my shower to keep my showers to under four minutes. And I still flush (using the half flush button of course!) the toilet only twice a day.

[kindlekitten]

gah! my parents lived by; "if it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown, flush it down" because my mother was intimidated by her septic system and refused to try to understand any and all explanations

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Eating out? We hardly ever eat out, I usually find it a waste of money. It's chaper (and I think more fun) to make the food yourself and eat it in the comfort of the home.



I wouldn't even know where to have a breakfast outside the house... But I do bring my own lunch to work.

This. Saves a ton of money. I also cook a lot of soups, beans and pasta dishes that can provide a weeks worth of food.

I almost always buy the "store brand" and have found very little difference lately from the national advertised brands.

Also buy in bulk at Costco when it is something that will not spoil before being used.

Some good stuff here: http://ultimatecheapskate.com/index.cgi

He's kind of a goof, but has some good tips.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

I pack my lunch to work every day. I'm amazed at what co-workers pay daily to eat out at fast-food joints, plus the gas to get there and back.
Gives me time for a nice walk at lunch time too (ice permitting).

smart chickie!