Getting a meal plan vs. buying your own food

<p>the meal plans seem pretty expensive, i mean 5k for less than a year?
would it be cheaper to just buy a mini fridge and microwave and making your own food?
also, what kind of food should you buy and stock up on?</p>

<p>It would probably be cheaper to eat all your meals in a pay for what you order place like the ivy room than having a meal plan for dining halls, that is how expensive they are (2 huge slices pizza plus drink = $5.69 in ivy room). I am going to save a ridiculous about of money next year living off campus w/ no meal plan. Not sure with the normal meal plans, but the required west campus unlimited house plan ends up about $12/meal if you eat twice a day in the dining halls, every single day. </p>

<p>I don’t think microwaves are allowed in dorms though, but dorms have kitchens in them that you could use (my floor in becker has a very nice one, but I have never used it).</p>