I am an upcoming freshman at Vandy and I have no idea how much Is should select for the commodore card. I looked at the locations where it can be used and it looks like there are not many places where it is accepted. So, I was thinking of selecting the minimum amount. But, it says there’s a 1.5% extra charge if you decide to add funds later. This further added to my confusion.
Any advice on how much should I select for the commodore cash? Is the extra 1.5% charge levied if we add funds via cash or check too? Or is it only charged if we bill the amount to our student account?
The only place you really HAVE to use commodore cash is for laundry. $1.25 for each washer and dryer, which are kinda small. Commodore cash is also often used at the bookstore, vending machines, cabs, and perhaps restaurants after you’ve run out of meal money, but in all these cases, you can of course use cash/credit card instead.
I’ve never really understood the 1.5% charge. I’ve added cash to my card at completely random times throughout the year and was never charged a fee. I think there are specific date ranges where the fee is added. Regardless, 1.5% is pretty minimal, considering you’d probably just be adding $50 or $100.
Commodore cash never goes away once it’s loaded on your card, so you can’t really put “too much” on there. It will be on the card until you graduate (at which point any leftover is credited back to you).
S2 only uses card for Laundry. We would put on $25 a semester and add if needed.
@Pancaked Did you use to bill the amount to your Student Account or did you add the cash by check/direct cash?
I billed the amount to my student account (that made sure my parents paid for it and not me 
).
Another perspective: my son uses “Commie Cash” for all his extra food (he eats a lot), for laundry, and for the bookstore. There are quite a few eateries that do accept it, in addition to the markets on campus. So he goes through a large amount every semester. Your mileage may vary. However, as Pancaked points out, it’s low risk, since the money isn’t forfeited.
Another thing: adding more to the CC account is painless, and does not cost any extra fees outside certain time windows. It seems that what they don’t want you to do is add nothing or too little at the beginning of term, then seek to add funds two weeks later.
Please don’t call us the Commies 
I decided to add the minimum for now. I figured there’s no point in adding more if I can add funds later.