<p>I'm hoping rrah and off-campus students will weigh in here with their opinions on the grocers that offer the best value in Bloomington. Son will be able to share a ride with roommates to the store, so distance isn't a huge factor.</p>
<p>We shopped at the Kroger near 2nd and College yesterday. Seemed like a clean, customer-friendly store. They have a "preferred" card you can sign up for to get discounts on certain products. Prices seemed reasonable, but given today's prices I guess that's a relative judgment.</p>
<p>We saw a Malia's (?) out by the mall and a Shop n Save on College Ave. in the vicinity of Colorado Steakhouse. Are these reasonably priced stores? Are there any others he should check out?</p>
<p>ILMom--O'Malia's is kind of like a smaller version of Dominicks. It's probably a bit more expensive than the Kroger. I've never been in the Shop n Save so don't know much about pricing there. He also might want to check out the Marsh (one out by the mall) and one just off the bypass as you come into town. When I was at Marsh today I noticed that student's that signed up for their preferred card (I think it was that card. It might have been a special "student" card.) are given an extra 5% discount on Saturdays. </p>
<p>That is probably the smallest Kroger in town, but it might be closest for him. There are 3 others in town also. The one just south of the mall was recently expanded. </p>
<p>For the most part I think the prices are pretty similar between Marsh and Kroger. </p>
<p>Hope the move in went well. </p>
<p>The Marsh and Kroger near the mall have the greatest selection of premade foods.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info, rrah. I'll relay it to him. Move in went pretty well, although I hope I never have to travel in a cargo van again! Way too bouncy.</p>
<p>I shop at Kroger, there's Kroger all over the country and I'm familiar with the store and like it. O'Malia's is a bit more expensive, there's also Marsh which is OK. Kroger is my preference.</p>
<p>A2: Do you eat any of your meals on campus? Do you have any thoughts on the Cream or Crimson meal plans versus using campus access points? I know there is no discount if you use campus access, but are the meal plan discounts really that good after you subtract off the upfront administrative fee?</p>
<p>Meal plans are dumb. It's a blunt way of putting it, but a meal plan is essentially X amount of dollars that can only be spent on food. Just use a credit card and build up a credit history rather than use a meal plan. Or use real cash. Same with campus access. Wherever these are used, money/credit is taken, so just use that.</p>
<p>IllinoisMom, there are also two Dollar Tree stores in Bloomington. I've told DS to go there for all cleaning items, paper goods, and things they need for the kitchen. I sent him with several bags of things from our local Dollar Tree and it cost all of $33.00 for five or six bags. Unlike other dollar stores, everything in the Dollar Tree is really $1.00. I don't work there and don't have any affiliation with them. I'm just the poor mom of a poor college student. Actually, two poor college students, but younger DS is at Ohio State. ;-)</p>
<p>Here are the addresses:</p>
<p>Eastland Plaza
Dollar Tree Store Bloomington, IN
2568 E. 3rd Street
Bloomington, IN 47401</p>
<p>4 Miles Whitehall Plaza
Dollar Tree Store Bloomington, IN
488 S. Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403</p>