I used to live just a block away from Central Park in Manhattan. This morning, I want to share a story from mochimac, a personal finance blogger at “Save. Spend. Splurge.” mochimac managed to pay off $60,000 of debt in 18 months and now lives in a hotel full-time, working less but earning more as a freelance consultant.
Six months into my first job after college, I decided to live in a hotel full-time and travel. This idea struck me after signing a 12-month lease for an apartment close to the office where I thought I’d be working.
Initially, commuting was a breeze. I took the bus and got to work in about 15 minutes, even during rush hour. My apartment was spacious, about 1200 square feet, with four closets and plenty of natural light. It was like a dream come true, overlooking a beautiful forest.
But then, I got assigned to a project in a different city and found myself taking flights every week, leaving on Mondays and returning on Fridays. This left me too exhausted to do much other than crash into bed by 9 p.m. I’d spend Saturdays buying groceries for the weekend and Sundays preparing for another 3 a.m. flight on Monday. My apartment remained mostly empty while I paid thousands of dollars for it.
Realizing this wasn’t sustainable, I came up with a solution: why not live in hotels in the cities where I worked? This way, I wouldn’t need to return to an expensive, empty apartment. My client would benefit too, as I’d be available early on Mondays without worrying about flight delays, and I wouldn’t be rushing to catch flights on Fridays. I’d also save money on rent and utilities, as the client covered my hotel and food expenses, leaving me to pay only for personal items.
I decided to live full-time in hotels, a decision I’ve never regretted. I met other consultants who did the same thing when they were single and even some who lived in hotels with their families, where the spouse took care of the kids.
Giving up my apartment meant selling most of my furniture and major appliances, and storing the rest. I kept only what I truly needed and adjusted to hotel living with a full-sized suitcase of essentials. At first, it was challenging when I needed something I had packed away, but I quickly adapted and learned to live minimally.
This lifestyle allowed me to save about 90% of my net income and pay off $60,000 in debt within 18 months. Eventually, I quit my corporate job and transitioned into freelancing, which quadrupled my income and helped me clear the remaining $15,000 of debt in just two weeks.
Once off the project, I had no permanent residence to return to, so I continued living in hotels while waiting for new assignments. Although paying for accommodations out of pocket was a new expense, it motivated me to seek work more eagerly. I found that long-term stays in apartment-style hotels were cost-effective, and I could negotiate lower rates.
This minimalist, nomadic lifestyle has taught me I don’t need much to be happy. I adapted to living out of a few suitcases and realized that future children wouldn’t need much either. Instead of setting a strict limit on my possessions, I decided that everything I owned should fit in one car trip, guiding me on what to keep, sell, donate, or toss.
As a freelancer today, I still live in hotels, finding this arrangement cheaper and more convenient than maintaining a full-time apartment. Even though a brief stint in Manhattan cost me $5000 a month, it was a rare expense. This lifestyle prevents me from accumulating unnecessary items and eliminates the hassle of weekly cross-country flights. Most days, I can walk to work in under 15 minutes.
Living minimally in hotels has helped me focus on what truly makes me happy and fulfilled. While the journey continues with its ups and downs, it’s clear that less can indeed be more.
