Broke-Ass Etiquette: How Long is Too Long to Crash with Friends?

Got a question about how to be a polite Broke-Ass? Email Half-Price Headliner with your queries and get schooled on how to be proper-like.

Q: Dear Half-Price Headliner,
I am going to New York for a week in March and was planning on crashing with an old friend from High School.  Is seven nights too long to ask to stay?

A: Couch surfing is one of the best ways to save money whilst traveling, but the willingness of your host is the most important element of the equation.  It depends mostly on the nature of your relationship, but as a general rule of thumb, I try to limit my stay to five nights tops in one location.  Any longer can get awkward and/or annoying.

Again, if you and your host are bffs and will have one big extended slumber party during your visit, then you can probably stay longer.  If not, just try to get a feel for how stoked they are on house guests and maybe try and secure another couch/floor to crash on for the remaining nights.

If you don’t have another contact in the city, consider breaking up the nights you’ll be there by taking a side trip for a day or two to impose on another friend or acquaintance.  If you’re single,  consider a one-night stand.  And as always, do your best to couch surf courteously.

Photo from: mattresszine.com