<p>So for meal plans, can anyone provide a reason to chose the declining balance option versus a standard credit card? Does declining balance ever have deals when you reload, or is that just flex bucks? With a credit card I can earn some points. We're leaning away from a full blown meal plan.
thanks</p>
<p>Declining balance provides a way for parents to pay for a student’s food and guarantee it will be used for food and not other things.</p>
<p>Also, you can defer payment of declining balance if you have enough financial aid to cover it.</p>
<p>Other than that, it should be the same as a debit card.</p>
<p>Declinng balance can help make sure a student isn’t spending too much on food. It could be easy to always just swipe a credit card and not pay attention to how much you’re spending, and declining balance will put a limit, so the student has to make sure it doesn’t run out. Of course, if there is not enough on the card, you can always refill it.
If that isn’t an issue, I would stick to using a credit card. </p>