We were just there last week on a layover and decided to go cheap and got a hotel room at Floris Fra

I'd like to stay in or near the Old Center. I'm well aware of tripadvisor, and I'll use it if need be - but I'd rather get recommendations from the Teeming Millions, especially firsthand recommendations. I trust you guys more, you see.
I'd recommend staying outside of the city center (Centrum) because hotels are usually going to cost more inside of the canal rings. Because the tram service is so quick and regular this shouldn't be much of a problem.
But you may be able to find something fairly central that is below 80 Euro IF you don't mind a tiny room with a tiny bed and perhaps sharing a bathroom. I recommend booking.com to look for rooms. I think the website was originally Dutch (booking.nl).
Here's a single holland america cruise ship petersburg room with a private bathroom that includes breakfast for just 50 Euro a night. It's only slightly off the beaten path. I saw some other good deals too--including a bed in a 6-bed dorm in a good neighborhood just 1km outside of the canals holland america cruise ship petersburg for only 23 Euro a night!
holland america cruise ship petersburg ETA-- Or, try the Hotel Sipermann . They've got a small double room for less than 60 Euro. I've stayed there twice before. It's quite small and modest, but it does the trick and it's right in the museum district and near the Vondelpark.
We were just there last week on a layover and decided to go cheap and got a hotel room at Floris France Hotel. It was $150 US for a triple ($100 for a double) and we paid in advance. After checking in, we had dinner, then checked back out. It was quite nasty. holland america cruise ship petersburg We went over to Hotel Prins Hendrik where I've stayed before. It was 90 euros for a double which included breakfast (WiFi was an extra 5 euros) and is clean and roomy for a European hotel. If you're a sound sleeper, it's a great place but if you're a light sleeper, it's in a noisy area and should be avoided.
I'll see if I can find my keepsakes from my trip to get the name but I happened upon a tiny hotel directly across from the main train station. Sort of a spiral staircase with rooms on different levels; double bed, clean, private bath with HEAVENLY deep cast iron bathtub, no meals, just a great place to sleep. I took four baths in two days, the bathtub really was that good.
We stayed at the Ibis Amsterdam City West, and while kind of dinky and no-frills, it was really inexpensive by Amsterdam standards, and was about a half-mile from Amsterdam-Sloterdijk station, which put us a stop from Amsterdam-Centraal, and within reach of the rest of the Netherlands holland america cruise ship petersburg as well.
I have stayed at the Bicycle Hotel which is just outside the center. While it does not have a whole lot of character, it was cheap, the place is clean and well maintained, and the staff was friendly and helpful. holland america cruise ship petersburg As an added bonus, they rent bicycles--a great way to explore the area.
I see Bob's Youth Hostel still exists! I don't know that I'm recommending it, exactly, but it's cheap and you'll never forget it. I was there 22 years ago and the breakfast is still vivid in my memory.