re: Most razor blades are a ripoff

Get a safety razor. and buy a box of DE blades. Or grab a used safety razor at antique store or ebay etc for very cheap. Sterilize it with alcohol, give it a polish and it will outlive you.

Also, get some shaving soap. The cost of a puck of shaving soap versus cans of shaving cream is huge. It's made for proper razors, shaves better and is better for the skin.

Lastly, a good shaving brush is necessary and expensive, but also will last for decades. Try to hit up your spouse/relative etc to get you one for xmas.