<p>Is it necessary to load a large amount of money on the Carolina Card? Are there places on campus that won't take a normal debit card? Is it just more convenient to use the Carolina Card? Thanks!</p>
<p>Not really. The biggest benefit is that you can use your ID for everything and wouldn’t need to carry cash or other debit card. I think laundry machines and vending machines also will take Carolina cash. Look under Carolina card for details on where it can be used. </p>
<p>D doesn’t have meal plan and we put just enough on so that she doesn’t have to worry about having her pocketbook with her to grab some food.</p>
<p>My daughter had trouble using all the bonus meal plan money by the end of the school year. Carolina Cash is a little different, but make sure you don’t overdo it. Start will a very small amount. You can also add more money to the card if your student finds it useful.</p>
<p>Yep, the good thing is Carolina cash is your money and carries over from year to year. Bonus money expires, but they do you give chances to spend it…one year D bought several cases of water with her left over and bought meals for friends to use it up.</p>
<p>I knew people started with $1000 on their account. It’s a pretty good way to blow through money without really needing to.</p>
<p>For example, if you want Starbucks, there are several places throughout campus that have Starbucks and are on the meal plan, but the Russel House Bookstore is not one of them. They take Carolina Cash, but not meal plans or bonus bucks. I know a lot of people who go there simply because it’s closer or easier or whatever and say “Well, I’m not paying for it. My parents are.”</p>
<p>I’ve heard that last line used a thousand times.</p>
<p>I ended up loading about $10 at a time and limited my Carolina Cash to vending machines here and there and laundry.</p>
<p>I think USC gives a suggested amount that’s pretty high because they include money you would spend on books at RH. I would only put maybe $150 for semester but only because D has no meal plan. If you have a meal plan and buy books separately, then AUgirl’s idea is best - only for vending, washing, maybe printing and some miscellaneous items.</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips! I will put a small amount on there for laundry, vending, etc.</p>
<p>??? My folks put $1000 on my Carolina Card, is this the same thing as Carolina Cash? I’m planning on buying books with this $ so we thought it was a good amount of $ to put on it. But from reading this thread it looks like it might not be so. Just moved into Cola yesterday and I love it already!!</p>
<p>^^^Yes, that’s the same thing. AUgirl and I were just pointing out that beyond books you may not need as much as USC suggests. (D’s books were less that $220 this semester). What your parents put on is slightly less that recommendation since it includes $750 for books. Check this link to see the kinds of things you can use it for.</p>
<p>[Welcome</a> to CarolinaCard at USC](<a href=“CarolinaCard - CarolinaCard | University of South Carolina”>http://carolinacard.sc.edu/)</p>
<p>If your books don’t cost that much and you are responsible and don’t use it up buying coffee or clothes at bookstore (unless your parents approve), then unused balance will carry over to next semester and you can adjust what you put on it according to your needs.</p>