Frugal Friday: Using soap instead of shaving gel
For the handful of menfolk who frequent this blog (all three of you!), you can just skip down to the links because I don't think this tip really applies to you. :)One of the ways I've found to reduce expenditures is to find items to eliminate in the budget--things like shaving gel. I've found that shaving gel bargains are few and far between and that the price of shaving gel is rather high, so a few years ago, I decided to just eliminate buying it for myself altogether.
Instead of shaving gel, I lather up with whatever bar soap or body wash I've gotten inexpensively or free in recent weeks. It saves having to buy something extra for shaving and the soap does just as good of a job.
I suppose I could be even more frugal and eliminate shaving altogether but, um, I'm not that frugal!
What simple things like this have you eliminated from your budget? Tell us about it in your post or in the comments section.
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Labels: Frugal Friday
posted by Crystal Paine at 10:42 PM
48 Comments:
LOL. That was funny. I'm not that frugal either.
We do without cable TV, shaving gel, ipods, squirt whipped cream (we whip it ourselves), soft drinks at restaurants (we just have water), and prepackaged foods. =0)
Thank you, Crystal. We do without call waiting, caller i.d. etc. We just have the very basic phone plan.
As for shaving, I find it easy enough to just shave in the shower under the running water, without shaving gel or soap. But perhaps this would be more expensive in terms of the water... hmmm.
Jess
hmm...does this soap replacement work with really sensitive skin? Also, does your husband just use soap as well for shaving?
I'm with you. I eliminated shaving gel as well. It was just one extra thing in the shower stall that I didn't need. Soap works, but I prefer using a small amount of conditioner instead. It just seems to have a much more slippery and skin-softening effect. Also, conditioner seems to be one of those itmes that you can get for free or nearly free.
We also do without a lot of different cleaners. I use vinegar and hot water to wash my floors (we have mostly hardwood). I also just use a terrycloth towel to wet wipe my windows and mirrors, dry with a second towel, and then buff with a microfiber cloth I got at Walmart (I think they are made by 3M and are by the dishcloths). It is the first time that my mirrors and windows haven't been streaky, and I have tried everything including paper towels, lint-free cloths, vinegar, squeegies, etc. I haven't bought glass cleaner in years and haven't missed it at all.
I just wanted to thank you so much for each of your blogs. Two nights ago I made my first CVS run following your step by step plan. It was a big leap to go from just reading about it to actually doing it. I don't know why it seems so intimidating. I know (at least I hope so...grin!) that the whole method will soon become second nature to me.
Michelle
www.northofthe49.com
I do the same thing, Crystal. I don't think that I've used shave gel in like five years, LOL. Conditioner or body wash works just fine for me.
Hmmm...my other frugal tips (that come to mind at this early hour of the morning, haha) are:
1.) Electric heater in the bathroom during showers, which greatly reduces how much water I use since I'm not afraid to get out of a hot shower into a cold room. Before I started doing this, I'd linger waaaay too long in the shower than is good for Mama Earth or my water bill. ;o)
2.) Mostly all homemade food - especially with baby stuff. We delayed solids with Grace anyway, but I made all of her baby food and still continue to make about 90% of my family's food here at home. It's not feasible to do everything and I've had to trade pre-made from the store with my desire to do all homemade b/c of time constraints, but this saves a bundle. I bet it's a biggie for everyone.
3.) Don't have a lot of unnecessary junk in your house. Clutter equals more time for cleaning and more cleaning (or even just stressing over it) equal less energy. Less energy makes us prone to lazy, sinful thinking, which can lead us to make unwise choices b/c we're so tired. Soooo...I've found that the amount of clutter in my house always goes hand-in-hand with how good I am at self-governing, i.e. whether I'll waste that $20 or save it, or if I'll eat the bad for me donut or have an apple, etc. Frugality is the friend of the rational mind. :o)
I've shaved with Suave conditioner since high school! Always cheap, plus I think it works better than shave gel.
I have done that too with the soap.
For several years we lived without a cell phone, we have one now due to medical reasons, and we have gone without cable for about four years. We also lived with one car for two years.
Blessings~
I also use soap instead of shaving gel...I've bought gel a few times or used my dh's and haven't found it to be much better anyway.
We don't have cable or call waiting either - but high speed internet? Couldn't live w/out it!
Don't buy the local newspaper - can read it free online (or we just get our news from other internet sources or radio).
I think about this kind of thing too. I most often use conditioner for shaving gel - especially if I end up with one that my difficult curly hair doesn't seem to like that much.
We have basic phone service at home, prepaid cell phones instead of a plan, and lots of other more basic things too. I think our life is better for the (relative) simplicity.
Have used soap for most of my "shaving life". It is likely much healthier than whatever is put into those cans anyway. Sometimes frugal is healthier, even in foods!! We all know veggies are better for us than most other foods, right?
Thanks again for making us think about ways we do and could save money! We heat our home with wood... saves a ton and is great exercise and family time!
Heather
Lindsay: I have pretty sensitive skin (can't wear anything sterling silver or real gold or my skin breaks out, among other things), and it works well for me. It's worth a try.
Jesse doesn't do this, though--I save the $$ I'd spend on shaving gel to buy it for him. His skin is a lot more sensitive than me so I doubt it would ever work for him.
When you mentioned soap, I immediately thought of how the Lord provides in mysterious ways. Some people we know participate in a food give-away program which often includes some household items and toiletries. On one occasion, they were given 20 bars of homemade soap! It had no perfumes, so the family didn't care for it and passed it on to us. It is very gentle and lathers like a dream, so we have been using it up little-by-little over the past year or so. The bars are large, also, like you find in bath shops. The Lord does, indeed, provide in mysterious ways sometimes!
Marcia Wilwerding
eHomebody.com/blog
I don't remember ever using shaving gel. I don't use soap though. I use hair conditioner. It acts similar to the gel, and moisturizes my skin at the same time!
I thought I was alone in shaving with bar soap... but I guess I'm among friends!
-I save all my butter wrappers in the freezer and grease baking sheets with them instead of buying cooking spray.
-I re-wash plastic baggies and water bottles.
-I scrub the bathtub right before I shower... saves time and the water it would take to rinse it down separately.
You've got me thinking about the shaving gel...hum....but I admit this one is hard for me.
hmm, will have to experiment for awhile.
:)
Oh, and hubby uses an electric razor...I just got him a new one at Christmas for under 30.00. It was almost 2/3 off the original price.
I do the whole soap/body wash instead of shave gel too;) Good tip though-- as in think about those things that might be unnecesassary(sp?) if we subbed something else. I will have to think more about that!
I have very sensitive skin and I don't miss the gel at all, either. :) (And, I refuse NOT to shave! LOL) Dh uses an electric razor.
A simple thing that I do is rather than use expensive make-up remover, I use baby oil. Works GREAT and is very cheap as it lasts a very long time. Vaseline works great, too; however, I prefer the baby oil as it's less sticky. :)
Debi
I've never used any kind of shaving gel. Soap or body wash work just fine. Conditioner works great too.
My husband has an electric razor and doesn't use anything.
I've always just washed up with body wash and then shaved. My sister-in-law left behind some shaving gel that she said I could have, and I don't usually use it because it's just an extra step.
I'm there with ya. No shaving gel for me. I just use the soap. I think it accomplishes the same thing without extra spending.
My frugal friday this week is my shopping trip to CVS. It's my first time to try CVS-thingy and it works!
Check it out here: http://the-q-family.blogspot.com/
I was laughing after I made my post and was about to pop on over here when I saw you were doing a tip on soap too.lol, although mine isnt on shaving vs soap.lol
I use shave gel for about a month a year - I get it in my stocking from my mom at Christmas(yes, my mom still does stocking for all of her kids!). It's a special treat in January, when my skin is so dry. But the rest of the year, I use whatever I'm washing with. Which is always body wash, as I can't stand soap scum. And body wash gives me more suds. :)
Alyssa, be careful about the plastic water bottles, I used to do that until I heard the plastic isn't made for heat or reuse. They are safe for about a week, as long as they haven't been in the hot car, or water. Then little bits of plastic start to separate.
now we each have a sqirt water bottle that is made for wear.. dishwasher, etc...
I use soap to shave too. haven't had shave gel since college. My DH doesn't use shave gel either, he shaves under the shower.
I haven't used shaving gell in probably 10 years. I don't care for shaving with soap. I have found baby shampoo/wash to be the absolute best thing for shaving with (besides a razor). Since I have babies and small children this is something I have around most of the time. If I don't have baby shampoo/wash, conditioner is my next choice.
The other big money saving tip I have learned on shaving is to rotate my razor blades. I use the sharpest blades on my legs. Then when the blade gets a bit dull for my legs I start using it on my under arms. It seems that shaving my underarms dulls my razor blade quite a bit, but a duller blade works just fine for those. If you shave anyplace more sensitive than your legs, you would start there with the sharpest blades and then when those get too dull to get a good shave, move them down to use on your legs, when they are too dull for that they go for underarms before being thrown away. I can make a package of blades for my razor last a really long time using them this way.
money4usHere here--I do the same thing :)
I only buy shaving cream when I can use a coupon to get a trial size free :) Otherwise I use soap.
I've been using bar soap for a long time!!! I have sensitive skin too, so I don't just use "whatever" I can get, I find that Dove makes a bar soap for sensitive skin that works beautifully! It lasts longer than shave gel, is more frugal, and I think it works even better!
I have never used shaving gel either, and I've actually heard it is better for your pores. (Who knows if that's true?)
--we don't have a land line--we only use our cell phones, which works great.
--I give my husband his haircuts. We had one major botch (oops!), but other than that one, it has been great. And the clippers have already paid for themselves.
Thanks so much for your sites Crystal!
I just shave w/out any soap or anything. It seems to work just fine. Try it-you might be surprised! (I have pretty sensitive skin, but tends to be oily. Maybe drier skin needs the extra moisture?)
My hubby doesn't use anything when shaving in the shower, either. On the rare occasion when he shaves at the sink, he might use shaving cream. He has a can of cheap colgate- he actually prefers it over expensive gels.
One more thought- a razor that works for you makes a big difference. I've tried some that just didn't cut it, if you know what I mean! (And more expensive doesn't always mean better.)
So do what what works for you- and watch for sales on those products! :)
I think this does apply to the men too! My hubby switched over to "wet shaving", using a mug with soap and a brush, over 18 months ago and it is significantly cheaper than the men's shaving gels. The shaving soap he got for a dollar and change is still there and probably will be for at least another 10 months. The mug was from our kitchen and the brush was quite inexpensive at CVS too. Overall, he says working up a nice hot lather gives him a better shave too.
I do the same thing. I think soap actually works a lot better for me! My husband uses an electric razor and never uses shaving cream either.
I have always used soap. I've splurged on shaving gel a few times and never notice a difference. I put baby oil in my bath water and slather on lotion as soon as I get out and my legs are a smooth as they could possibly be.
I also do without baby wipes, paper towels and napkins, disposable diapers, baby food, and expensive cleaners. Thanks to you, I use Basic H for everything now!
Well, I'm not sure how frugal this is, but since we're on the topic of shaving I thought I'd give my two thumbs up to the Schick Intuition razor. This is the razor with the built in soap.
I used to *hate* to shave in the shower, and always cut myself as I was in a hurry. Now that I use the Schick Intuition (and there is no need for added gels, etc.) it is quicker and easier for me to shave. I refuse to use anything else, and haven't for almost three years.
Also, you can frequently find deals on the Intuition through CVS, and often there are coupons. Whenever I find a deal I stock up and find the razors last a good long time.
So, maybe in some ways it is a frugal idea, since you aren't required to purchase (or use) anything other than the actual razor itself.
HTH someone!
Melanie
I do the same thing! I haven't used shaving gel in YEARS.
shampoo works great for shaving in the shower, lather up your head and then use the foam on your legs!
blessings, Penny Raine
http://www.pennyraine.com/blog
I agree!! Dove soap in combination with a good razor works great for me. If the razor is dull - then it's just a bad experience all together. LOL.
My new attempt at frugality: I have made an effort to eliminate as many 'premade' foods as possible from our grocery list.
Some examples:
-Make waffles instead of buying Eggos.
-Make Whole Wheat Cinnamon Graham Squares (link follows) instead of buying granola bars, etc.
-Save the 'heels' from loaves of bread and grind them in the blender to make my own bread crumbs. I keep them in the freezer and use them instead of buying bread crumbs at the store!
http://www.tammysrecipes.com/whole_wheat_cinnamon_graham_squares
I do this also and haven't used shaving cream in about 4 years now!
I have found that hair conditioner works GREAT for shaving--AND it makes your leg so soft and smooth too!
I haven't used shaving cream/gel in years either. For the longest while I was just using water during my shower, after using shower gel. Now I've used the Intuition since it came out, but when I can't get refills inexpensively I use some razors I got B1G1F at the commissary. They aren't very good, in my opinion, but maybe that's because I don't use cream. LOL
My husband was going prematurely bald so years before we met he started just shaving his head bald - which is a good thing, because he looks much better that way (and got me ha). He used to have lots of problems with dry skin as he was using Irish Spring to shave in the shower... head and face... and I convinced him to try Dove Beauty Bar as it's more gentle and moisturizing. We pick up a bulk pack from Costco and it lasts him a year, give or take.
My hope is to upgrade to an electric razor for myself sometime this year. Since Intuition refills are not "cheap", I figure it wouldn't take too many months to pay for itself.
I knew I had sensitive skin, but apparently it's way more sensitive than anyone else's on here, because I definitely cannot use soap to shave with. I end up with itchy red bumps all over my legs. I can't even use soap to shave under my arms because I itch all day (spending the day scratching under your arms is not very pleasant!). Even with Unscented Sensitive Skin shave gel I end up with red bumps, but it's significantly less than with soap, and they aren't itchy. I will say I haven't tried conditioner, but I seriously have my doubts. Maybe you guys will prove me wrong though.
-Christine
I don't use shave cream as I seem to cut myself more easily when I do! i use lotion which I usually have in abundance and it gives my legs a nice soft feel when I am done! Also, do it in the bathtub rather than the shower for a easier job! Okay, more info than you cared to know!
I love your tip. When I moved out on my own, I realized how silly it was that my parents spent so much on shaving cream. My observation with soap, though was it made my skin too dry. My variation instead is, I use a little dab of conditioner (a little goes a long way).
i tear dryer sheets in half and use half at a time. i've also heard of buying big boxes of tissue at cheaper prices and then pulling the tissue out and putting in smaller boxes when you want a small box opposed to a big box. does that make sense?
I am amazed to see that no one seems to have mentioned menstrual cups. If you buy one, you don't have to spend another penny in those products in several years (5-10 years). Plus that it is better for the environment, really comfortable and (after some practise) quite easy to use. I bought mine almost 2 years ago, and it has paid its price back several times by now :).
Helena The Unarmed Feminist
Could someone please explain what menstral cups are?
Menstrual cups are made of silicon (or in rare cases rubber)and they are reusable. You use it during your periods by inserting it and generally, you must empty it about 2-4 times a day (it kind of collects the blood in the cup). Then you just rinse it and use it again. Between your periods you should boil it for a few minutes. Easy and nice, and one cup is all you need (and as I previously said, one cup lasts for about 5-10 years). A price of one cup is about $20 so it quickly pays itself back.
If you are interested, you can google either "menstrual cup" or a specific brand name (like "DivaCup", "MoonCup" or "Lunette") for more information.
I hope my different background (see my signature) doesn't stop you from giving this a try. This product really is for every female :)!
(And I'm sorry my English today is even worse than usually. I blame it on the cold I have caught.)
Helena The Unarmed Feminist
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