Have you ever had that urge to go somewhere new, where you can’t count on lifelong contacts, constant support of family and the aid of others to get ahead? It sounds rough, but what I’m really talking about is the urge to start from scratch - going somewhere new and conquering it all by yourself; placing a mark on both your life and the city itself. That’s what this past year in New York was like to me: a struggle at first, but ultimately worth it. I arrived in NYC last July with a suitcase full of memories, a mind full of expectations, and a heart full of excitement for a new chapter in my life. The Big Apple was far more than I expected: It was vibrant, fast paced, and exhilarating. I felt like I was on top of the world in a city filled with opportunities. During my first week in the city I tried every restaurant in my periphery, found a new home amongst the shops in Soho, and developed a fantastic relationship with my Uber app. My second week in the city was a humbling realization that my bank account was not on the same page with my spontaneous spending habits. I quickly realized that I would not be able to live with the same commodities that I did in Shanghai. This also meant that my holidays were not going to be spent on a white sand beach in California or on a boat off the coast of Miami as I had planned. I was on a strict budget. I had to find a way to travel on a whim and stay in the bounds of my budget. I was determined to explore the country and do what I love most without spending too much money. My problem wasn’t transportation, as Expedia deals and Mega Bus were affordable and not too shabby. The real problem was getting a roof over my head. I checked hotels, Airbnb, couchsurfing, and even subletting groups on Facebook with no luck. It wasn’t until I was visiting my best friend in Georgia that I found out about a new app called Spots. Spots was a magical solution to my travel plans. Not only was it cheap but also safe and reliable. It is only available to college students with valid university emails. The best part is that Spots is the most affordable way to travel with prices as low as $20 a night. Each student who signs up creates a profile and lists their price for hosting another student. It is a great way to make friends while you travel and experience college life at different universities across the country. This summer, after spending a year abroad in NYC, I have plans to visit four new states before heading back to Shanghai. Not only did I conquer NYC all by myself, but I am also conquering my travel plans and my budget.Spots is currently available on the iTunes store, with a waitlist for Android devices. This article was written by Sophia Noel. Please send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: instink.sk, logo from Hardik Tuteja