My simple travel budget system

One spreadsheet, three categories and why I stopped tracking coffee.

I came to Japan with a loose plan and a long list. By the end, the list mattered less than the small moments in between — a conversation at a train station, a meal I didn't expect, a view I almost skipped.

The highlight for me was kyoto's temple lanes. Go early if you can; the light is softer and the paths are quiet. After that, hot-spring towns in the mountains made a perfect slow afternoon.

Most of my savings came from three habits: traveling by regional transport, eating where locals eat at lunch, and staying a little outside the busiest areas.

Pack light, carry a reusable water bottle, and leave space in the day for things you can't plan. That's where most of my favorite memories came from.