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Depending on how you use them, college meal plans will either make or break you (or your parents’) budget. If you are a freshman living on campus, meal plans are the most convenient option, but if you’re an upperclassman who no longer lives on campus, you might be questioning the worth of a meal plan and whether or not you should invest in one. Here’s some things to consider:
1. How often will you be on campus?
How many classes are you taking? Are your classes long and time consuming, or are they spread out? Do you have a job on campus? Do most of your friends live on-campus? The more time you spend on campus, the more you might consider getting a meal plan; however, if your classes have long breaks where you will go home in between, you might consider making your meals at home. If your time spent on campus is going to be at a minimum, try seeing how you do with packing snacks and living off of your own groceries first.
2.How much do meal plans cost at your university?
It’s no secret that many college meal plans rip students off. Because you are paying for the plan in bulk and upfront, most people will not bother to do the math associated with seeing exactly how much the plan is actually worth. At my university, the cheapest meal plan for commuters is $700 per semester, which pays for 50 meals and gives you $175 in dining dollars. $700-$175 is $525; and if you divide that $525 by 50 meals, you see that you are paying approximately $10.50 per meal. A meal at my university is called a “punch,” and each punch is worth about $5 (with the exception of 2 all-you-can-eat dining halls, where prices are $11.00 without a meal plan). Therefore, most of the time you are paying more than double what your meals are worth. I challenge you to do the math with your university’s rates!
3. How much do you like your campus food?
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It’s also no secret that not all college food is created equal. If your campus has some of the top rated food in the country, it’s understandable as to why you’d want to partake in the deliciousness. If your campus participates in leftover Wednesdays and some of the food looks like it’ll crawl away, this is when you know it’s time to go separate ways from your meal plan.
4. Does your university offer any other options?
I’m going to be biased again and use my university as an example. Our student ID’s double as a sort of debit card for a system called FLEX. You can deposit money from your bank account to your FLEX account online, and FLEX money can be used at almost every dining location on campus. If you don’t want to pay the inflated prices for a meal plan or don’t think you’ll be eating as much on campus, this would be a good option for you if your university offers a similar program. This way, you’ll save money and be able to spend your money how you want.
5. How restrictive are your university’s meal plans?
Are there only certain combinations of food that could as a meal swipe at your school? Do some locations not take meal swipes while others don’t take dining dollars (or whatever interchangeable names your school uses for food options)? If you don’t get a meal plan and pay out of pocket, you might not get the combo deals, but you will get to customize your options to whatever your taste buds desire. If you do get a meal plan, you’ll be able to take part in whatever sort of deals your school offers to meal plan holders.
6. Can you live off of groceries and cooking by yourself?
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The biggest pro you get from having a meal plan is convenience. Somebody else buys the food, makes the food, and serves it to you hot and ready. If you hate grocery shopping and couldn’t survive on your own if left to fend for yourself, please, by a meal plan; nobody wants you to wither away at college. On the other hand, if you buy your own groceries and keep them stocked at your apartment, you will save money and be able to have all of your favorite foods at hand without always having to rely on campus food.
There you have it; my six questions to ask yourself before investing in a meal plan if you live in an apartment or housing off-campus. Happy feasting!