Staying at a hostel in Portland changed my mind about hostels

I always thought hostels were just for drunk 20 year olds, but last week I stayed at one to save $60 a night and met a retired couple who travel full time on $15k a year. They showed me their budget spreadsheets and how they book local guides for half the price. Anyone else find older travelers at hostels sharing legit money saving tricks?

2 comments

2 Comments

maxb464d ago

Wait, they showed you their actual budget spreadsheets? That is wild to me. I can barely keep track of my own checking account, let alone have a whole spreadsheet ready to show a stranger. $15k a year for two people traveling full time sounds impossible, like they must be eating nothing but ramen and sleeping in their car. That retired couple sounds like they have the whole system figured out in a way that makes my brain hurt to even think about.

the_robin4d ago

@maxb46 right, the spreadsheet thing blew my mind too (I can barely keep a grocery list straight). But honestly, $15k a year makes more sense when you break it down - they said they couchsurf half the time and eat street food in countries where that's cheap. It's kinda inspiring actually, makes me rethink all the money I blow on dumb stuff like fancy coffees and uber rides.