<p>I've gotten the impression from, well, everyone that I've talked to that meal plans are generally a waste of money and that I should just get a declining balance account. </p>
<p>As far as I can tell though, that's basically a checking account tied to my Gator 1 for use at the various restaurants on campus, right?</p>
<p>I'm trying to figure out if there is anything special about it that makes it better than just paying with my debit card, and so far I've come up blank. Anyone know?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Nope! Nothing special that I’ve been able to figure out. Pay with your debit card.</p>
<p>The declining balance generally offers <em>no</em> advantage. The only exception to this is at the end of Fall/Spring semester they typically offer an incentive like an extra 5% for less than $199 deposits into declining balance, and an extra 10% for deposits over $200. </p>
<p>My advice, as a current student, is to just use your debit card. :)</p>
<p>Does everyone pay the price per meal? A student not a meal plan would pay the same price as a student on the plan?</p>
<p>Is this correct?</p>
<p>With the meal plan the price per meal declines with the more meals you buy per week.
If you eat ALL your meals (3 per day), ALL week long, ALL the time–the meal plan is okay. If you’re always hungry and eat a LOT, it’s okay.
Fact is, you won’t be near the dining hall when you’re hungry, you won’t wake up for breakfast, you’ll be across campus at lunch, you’ll go out to eat with friends elsewhere, you’ll get tired of the same cafeteria food, you’ll buy a loaf of bread and peanut butter and munch in your room. You may learn to cook!</p>
<p>Regarding Declining Balance, there IS an advantage compared to a debit card. Other than convenience (listen it’s hard enough for me remembering my chem goggles let alone my gator 1 AND credit card(s)), they have this cool thing called declining balance reload which basically means that when your balance gets below $50, your credit card (my mom’s in the case) will recharge your account for either $50 or $100 (you pick which value!). </p>
<p>Basically, my mom provided a credit card when we signed up so that whenever my balance dropped below $50, my account would get $50 more added to it so I wouldn’t run out. This was really helpful for me because my parents travel a lot so if my balance was low and they weren’t able to put money in my account I didn’t have to worry. </p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>As a parent … is there a way to check the balance on the declining balance account and easily reload it?</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>Victor</p>
<p>Go to this website:</p>
<p>[Gator</a> 1 Central - Gator Dining Services](<a href=“http://www.bsd.ufl.edu/g1c/dining/dining.asp]Gator”>http://www.bsd.ufl.edu/g1c/dining/dining.asp) </p>
<p>Using your son or daughters gatorlink login you can check the balance on the declining balance and reload it.</p>
<p>I don’t really want my parents to know what I am doing</p>
<p>Then don’t give them your GatorLink login…</p>
<p>What on Earth could you do with a declining balance account that you would wish to hide from your parents though?</p>
<p>UF does offer some pretty risqu</p>
<p>I’ve used the declining balance before and honestly I would rather just stick to keeping my money in a debit card and using it at places like that way you can use that money anywhere outside of campus as well. I would highly suggest you get a Gator1 Vending Account if anything though, especially if you’re living on campus, because then you would be able to use that for the laundry and vending machines instead of always making sure you have spare change.</p>