That $9 folding stool finally convinced me hostels can wait

I spent years thinking hostels were the only real way to save money on trips, especially after a rough stay in Barcelona where a private room cost me 90 euros a night. A friend kept telling me to try camping grounds with cabin options, but I assumed they were just as pricey or too far from town. Last month I booked a cabin at a place outside Asheville for 38 bucks a night, and I brought along this little folding stool I bought for $9 at a hardware store. Turns out the cabin had no chairs outside, and that stool made my morning coffee routine actually enjoyable while I watched the fog lift over the ridge. The real shock was that the office had a map of free walking trails and a shared kitchen with spices and oil left by other guests. I saved almost $200 over five nights compared to what a hostel dorm would have charged me in the city. Has anyone else found that cabin rentals or camper cabins beat hostels once you add up the hidden costs? What's your cheapest non-hostel sleeping setup that worked out?