<p>I'm an entering graduate student and I will be living off campus. I really need to decide if I want to get Big Red Bucks and/or some Meal Plan.</p>
<p>I know that BRBs are not taxable and it's really great but these plans have a $50 administrative fee. For instance, "Just Bucks - $500 per semester", it costs $500... now with the fee it will cost $550? or the fee is already included in the $500?
are they more comfortable than credit cards?</p>
<p>Another question,
Should I get any of those meal plans? will it be cheaper to get "Bear Basic - $2,135 per semester" or should I just go there whenever I want and pay with BRBs and/or a credit card?
Bear Basic includes 7 meals per week + $500 BRBs per semester.</p>
<p>By the way, I will be leaving in Collegetown and there lots of stores around the area.... perhaps its even better to eat off campus?</p>
<p>Getting BRB certainly helps especially if you find yourself wanting to stay on campus. The $500 plan is EXcluding the administration fee. So, yes you would have to add another 50 on top of it.</p>
<p>The problem with credit card is that sometimes you have to wait and sign it which keeps the line from moving. Plus, you might be paying more with your credit card.</p>
<p>Also, you can add your BRBs with credit card, so you are in a sense using your credit card, but this is better because you have everything ready once you are at dining hall or other places.</p>
<p>So, start with a low amount, and add it as you go.</p>
<p>Since you are a grad student living off campus in an apt, you need to decide how much you want to cook…have you been cooking for yourself the last few years?</p>
<p>lso, I would think it would matter on where your classes are - so ask specifically about your area of campus.</p>
<p>my d was a senior off campus this past year and had no meal plan.</p>
<p>I don’t cook much, but can definitely cook simple things (e.g. something with eggs, chicken breast, beef etc.).
However, I’m not sure if I will have lots of time to cook…
I was thinking to buy prepared food at dinners and restaurants most of the times… say 5 days a week and 2 days I would cook…
Plus, I intend to go back home every once in a while (I live in Brooklyn NY).</p>
<p>My classes are going to be in the engineering school area and some in the business school area.
And did she cook a lot in that year with no meal plan? was it much cheaper than getting a meal plan?</p>
For special dinners, the price might be different.</p>
<p>
You can use the BRB to get your meals. I also think the meal plan you are considering has 7 meals for a semester or something like that. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend you getting a meal plan that is like 7+ meals/week + BRBs. I think those are designed for those who are staying on campus (esp people on north campus).</p>
<p>Cooking yourself is definitely cheaper than getting a meal plan, but that still depends on what you cook.</p>
<p>Sometimes I wouldn’t have time to eat off campus, so I would go on campus. Or sometimes I just want to use my BRBs, then I’d eat on campus. Otherwise, I always go for off campus: both in commons and collegetown.</p>
<p>Food in collegetown is okay. Can’t be picky when you are in Ithaca :)</p>
<p>Activate your Cornellcard. It’s pretty ideal for upperclassmen/grad students who generally eat off-campus but sometimes need to catch a meal at Trillium, Ivy Room, etc. It’s essentially a credit card that is restricted to food and Cornell store purchases. The obvious advantage is that you won’t have to commit to a set, non-refundable amount of BRBs since you pay your balance monthly. (It also gets bursar-ed…an advantage over real credit cards.)</p>
<p>I would avoid getting a meal plan at all costs. Such a waste of money. IMO the best combination of cost and convenience is to have the bulk of your food purchases come from groceries (Wegmans), while eating in collegetown/commons when you feel like eating out. And using your Cornellcard on campus if you’re strapped for time.</p>
<p>For some reason I can’t quote with Chrome :(. @fri3nds04
Thanks for the response. I think any meal plan is going to be a waste as I plan to be most of the time off campus.</p>
<p>@Caillebotte
I was going to activate my Cornellcard, but it seems to be like a debit card…
Do you know if purchases on campus are taxable with Cornellcard? I know that there are no taxes with BRBs. Plus, I understand that if you pay with BRBs, the prices are sometimes cheaper than if you pay with debit/credit cards.
If using a debit card, I would rather use my credit cards.</p>
<p>^Yes Cornellcard purchases are taxable. For me at least, the extra taxes I paid were negligible relative to the amount I saved over not having to buy a years worth of non-refundable BRB plans that invariably would go to waste.</p>
<p>Good call in my opinion. I just graduated, but saved a literal boatload once I moved off campus junior year and did not have to get a mealplan (or BRB’s). The mealplans are a major ripoff and the food is often mediocre at best.</p>
<p>Sorry to intrude, but do you think the same for people living in collegetown who have the option of meal plan or debit plan? Would it be cheaper to do the debit plan and use cash or cards once the amount runs out, even if I were to eat much of my food on campus?
Also, can you have different plans for each semester?</p>