Ok, this is not really "gear" related but it's something most of us have in our Basic Supplies...razors.

I don't have a straight razor and if I did DH wouldn't let me within ten feet of his throat...errr, ummm...face. What we do have is lots of disposable razors, the kind with the replacement heads, not the totally throw away kind.

Here's an additional tip I've figured out...almost of all of them are interchangeable if you stay within the maker. Any blade from Gillette will fit any Gillette handle. Any blade from Schick will fit any Schick handle. This means a men's blade will fit a women's handle and vice-versa if they are made by the same maker...at least on all the ones I've tried.

If you purchase these kinds of razors you know how expensive they are. Last time I checked they were just under $30 for a six pack at our big box store. This is a HUGE money saver and why it's become one of my All Time Favorites. When I first found this video I went to Walmart and got a Denim Patch (what you would put over a worn out knee or elbow on your favorite pair of jeans or shirt) and put it in the shower area on a shelf. Normally, I would get just shy of a month on a Venus blade, shaving almost every day. I was able to get ELEVEN MONTHS out of one single blade. The only reason I changed was because I could tell the blade had given up about all it was going to give and it was just starting summer so I thought, what the hell...get a new blade. AND, DH got about TEN months out of his, for his face, with no razor burn or knicks.

I wait about a month, just when the blade starts to feel dull then I place the patch against the wall and run it across about ten times. As the months go on, I need to run it across more. By the time I pitched my last blade, after almost a year, I was running about thirty strokes. Same for DH's blade.

I realize that shaving may be a luxury in a SHTF situation but right now, this is saving me money. Money that goes to preps. And there's nothing wrong with a little "luxury" in hard times. And making things last will be important, no matter what it is.

Sharpening Disposable Razor - YouTube