Thick fast growing beard here...if I need to go somewhere nice int he evening, need to really shave again.
Got a merkur adjustable, and 400 shark blades for about $100 a few years ago.
Have an old enamel mug that I grate a bar of laundry soap, half a bar of olive oil soap, some coconut oil, olive oil, and some tea tree oil...recombine into a solid with some hot water, then use that as a lather mug with a shaving brush.
Usually shave straight after a shower, without suds...one pass with grain, then one against.