<p>Any lessons learned or tips and tricks you can think of to share?</p>
<p>Cat$cratch is your child’s friend.</p>
<p>@CottageSpirit what am I missing in my analysis of the freshman meal plans? We have 2 choices:</p>
<p>with 300 retail points……… $1988 per semester
with 100 retail points……… $1779 per semester</p>
<p>Why would anyone pay $209 for $200 more retail points? Especially when their FAQ states that you can add points at any time, and that the points that come with your plan expire at the end of the Spring semester, but any added points you purchase never expire. I realize it’s only $9, but if it’s not going to line up exactly, I would have expected a small discount for pre-purchasing the points up front.</p>
<p>You’re not missing anything. I agree it seems like the difference should be $200 or that you’d get a little discount for purchasing the extra points upfront. It’s odd that the pricing is set up the way it is. </p>
<p>I wonder if there is a service charge added if you need to add more points later.</p>
<p>In case anyone but me cares, I asked and they said that those are this year’s prices, and next year’s are:</p>
<p>with 325 retail points……… $2048 per semester
with 100 retail points……… $1832 per semester</p>
<p>That at least does represent a small discount for buying the points up front. There is no service charge for adding additional points later. The reason why some people might want to pay them up front is to include them in their bursar bill (and maybe payment plan) rather than paying on the spot.</p>
<p>Hi MathMomVT,</p>
<p>Thanks for checking this out! I was thinking of buying the higher points and asking S to manage his extra $? But really gave not put a lot of thought into it. At this time, I am focused on getting S through the end of year requirements, finalizing his Senior Transition project, graduation “stuff” and last but not least getting a job!
I am really pushing him to get a job! So far he has only applied to two jobs ! </p>
<p>Mine has a job that he’s dying to quit. One of the “perks” of choosing UVM, which for us in-state was his cheapest choice, was that he’d be able to quit the job and not work through the summer 
So I won’t be pushing him to get a job, though I would like him to do something other than sit on his computer all day for the whole summer.</p>
<p>My S has never had a job! so it is about time! He actually has an interview this week. It would be good for him to save money to pay for his books. </p>
<p>Mine has come up with a creative project to do for the summer instead of working, which is fine with us. I’d like to have him think about what kind of “budget” he wants to have in terms of available spending money, and figure out how much he needs in the bank to make that happen, and use that to guide him as to when to quit the job. Although it may just end at the end of the school year, as it was a “co-op” through the HS. </p>
<p>I believe my S got his first job! Very exciting! - just needs to supply two references. The job is working for an agency that supplies lunches for kids over the summer. He will be making lunches and / or delivering the lunches to local camps. 5 hrs a day - 25 hrs a week. I believe they hire about 10 kids. It should be fun working with other kids and he will have afternoons, nights and weekends free. </p>
<p>Congrats @onlyonemom </p>
<p>MathMomVT - thank you - S is still waiting for the official word - I heard from one reference that she got a call yesterday. Hopefully they will let him know next week because has nothing else lined up. </p>
<p>Hope that all works out for him!</p>