<p>OK, so there is automatically $300 put on the students card for dining dollars, correct? It is part of the meal plan payment we make I believe. </p>
<p>Then there is Bama cash, which is used for various other things, and we need to pre-load SOME money on that card, correct? For laundry, and other small items. </p>
<p>It looks like we can upload Bama Cash now. </p>
<p>$300 in dining dollars is put on every students card each semester. However it’s not part of your meal plan payment. It is a separate charge on your student bill. So the $300 will be in addition to your meal plan charge.</p>
<p>You don’t have to put money on there for Bama Cash but it does make doing laundry or using the library copiers/printers easier. I wouldn’t put anymore than $50 to begin with. You can always add more online later if needed.</p>
<p>I can’t keep it all straight either so someone tell me if I have this right…
There is just one physical card- the Action card.
On that card are 3 separate accounts-
Bama Cash- can be used off campus at restaurants, Publix, as well as on campus at the supply store and for laundry. OPTIONAL. Non refundable???
Dining Dollars- must put 300$ into this account each semester but it is refundable if not used. This can be used at on Bama Dining locations and vending machines. With the freshman meal plan I can’t see this used much but who knows.
Meal Plan.</p>
<p>So when adding funds I or a guest can choose which acct we want to add to? The funds are instantaneous? Are cards a big theft item? How do most kids carry their cards? Lanyards, wallet, pocket??</p>
<p>but, only SOME off-campus restaurants accept Bama cash…not all do.</p>
<p>My kids used their regular debit cards for most purchases. The only thing they used Bama Cash for was laundry. To us, it doesn’t seem to make much sense to put much in Bama Cash since students are limited to where that is accepted, while money in their debit card accts can be used anywhere.</p>
<p>So, I used to put about $100 on Bama cash…then check every so often.</p>
<p>My son lived in the Bluffs last year. He would use Bama Cash for off-campus places like Publix, the SupeStore and sometimes for on-campus eating places for lunch, as he did not have a meal plan. Like M2CK, I would check that he had cash available in Bama Cash so he did not have to use a debit card all the time.</p>
<p>One thing Bama Bound made clear to us was the putting and leaving large amounts of Bama Cash on card was risky because there in no PIN required – just swipe. Of course you may want to do that when you know there will be a large purchase, like textbooks at first of semester.</p>
<p>Also, we were told all dining facilities on campus accept all 3 - Dining Plan, Dining Cash, and Bama Cash… There is a very small mark up for using Cash at the dining facilities vice a Dining Plan, but not enough to pursuade us to get a Dining Plan (we have a waiver since our Freshman will be living in a family residence off campus).</p>
<p>It’s an unlimited plan. Stay for a meal or just get a drink. Some students would run out of meals and would have to purchase more meals. This way your child can just get a snack and not feel like they are “wasting” a meal swipe.</p>
<p>Yes, you can use your meal plan, dining dollars, bama cash, cash, or credit card at any of the dining halls…Lakeside, Fresh Foods, Bryant, or Burke. Dining dollars can be used at the food court and at the Pod, the bus hub, Java City in Gorgas, and Chick-fil-a in Lloyd. There may also be other places where they can be used. Bama Cash may also be used at some specific places off campus like Publix. If you don’t use the Dining Dollars they roll over to Bama Cash at the end of May and you can get a refund or a credit to your account, whichever you prefer. Bama Cash is also refundable at the end of May.</p>
<p>Bama doesn’t have a limit on how many times per day you use your meal plan.</p>