<p>I read on the Vanderbilt website that Commodore Cash is used for laundry, bookstore, etc. However, I'm wondering whether Commodore Cash is necessary for those services. Couldn't I just pay in cash/debit for everything that the Commodore Cash offers? In which case, is Commodore Cash only for convenience, as a sort of second debit card?</p>
<p>Laundry machines only accept the Commodore Card (or quarters). Same for vending machines, Commodore Card or change. Otherwise, you should be able to use cash/debit for everything.</p>
<p>So basically, Commodore Cash is just a small convenience outside of laundry. You can buy small things at the bookstore or other campus stores without needing your wallet. Once your meal money runs out, your Commodore cash can buy you food on campus or at restaurants without needing your wallet. </p>
<p>To be honest, a lot of kids like using the Commodore Card for things because Commodore Cash added to your card is billed to your student account, which is almost always paid by parents, whereas cash/debit card money may be your own money. Parents may not notice/understand/care/question if you’re adding a bit of Commodore Cash here and there, especially when it’s just added to the semesterly tuition bill. But if they need to transfer more money to your debit card, they’ll be more critical of your spending! Hehe</p>
<p>^^
Thanks for letting this parent know about that little trick. I’ll be watching. : )</p>
<p>I asked my daughter about Commodore Cash and she said the same as Pancaked^ about the convenience of using her ID card for laundry and vending machines and also added that it is handy for paying when she takes a taxi cab anywhere. She and her friends also like to go out to many of the several restaurants near campus that accept Commodore Cash, guess it is like eating out on your parents’ dime :-)</p>
<p>If I recall you can also put funds on the card using a bank account. That’s what I did when I ran out of laundry money.</p>
<p>If I put 500 for the first semester and don’t use it all, the money will roll over to the next semester, right? </p>
<p>What is it that doesn’t roll over? Flex meals?</p>
<p>Commodore cash does roll over. I think meal plan stuff, such as flex meals, does not.</p>
<p>Commodore cash always rolls over, never expires, and will be refunded at the end of your 4 years if you have any left, so you can’t put too much.</p>
<p>Meals reset every week without rollover. For sophs, juniors, and seniors, leftover meals turn into a small amount of meal money. For freshmen, they just disappear.</p>
<p>Flex meals reset every semester, unless you purchase extra flex meals, which do not expire.</p>
<p>Meal money resets every year.</p>
<p>Pancaked, thanks for all the info you contribute.
Commodore Cash was a mystery to me (a parent) when S1 enrolled. Within the first month I learned I could look at what he was spending the Commodore Cash on by checking the account. I saw that in the first week he had paid for a cab with “the card”. He and some friends headed out to a nightclub. Within the first week he had broken his leash and was running free!</p>