I used to be a slave to the shave as well. As you say, many people stopped altogether through lockdowns and so on. Me... I never went back.

I'd be lying if I said that it didn't take some getting used to, but now, I'm not sure I would go back even if tempted to. Besides, my partner has forbidden me to start shaving again.

I've replaced the regular shaving with a different sort of routine where I daily apply some carefully crafted and beautifully scented oil to my beard. I've taken up visiting the barber on a more regular schedule now to keep it somewhat under control and not completely scruffy looking, so from that point of view I am probably not really saving much.

It's a whole different ball game I suppose, and there is more to maintaining a beard of even a short length than I'd expected. Still, I don't think I am going back to shaving anytime soon.