<p>Hi, I'm transferring to bing this fall and living in hillside. Are there cheaper ways to eat in the dining halls than buying a meal plan? They all seem very expensive to me.</p>
<p>have you looked at the commuter plans? [Dining</a> Services, Binghamton University](<a href=“http://budining.com/plans/commuters.html]Dining”>http://budining.com/plans/commuters.html)
it allows you to have a plan where you are paying far less towards “operating expenses.” i believe that since you are in an apartment and do not need to have a dining plan you are eligible for the commuter plans.</p>
<p>the advantage of having a meal plan (except for “commuter plus”) is that you pay “resident prices” in the dining halls – since the plans already include an amount for overheard expenses, the cost of the actual food items you purchase are fairly cheap. prices in the on campus retail dining facilities (eg food court) are higher. you have to think about how much you will eat in the dining halls vs. cook for yourself in your apartment and then whether you are more likely to eat in the retail facilities or the dining halls to determine what will be best for you. whatever meal plan you choose, it is very easy to add money during the year it you need to.</p>
<p>also fyi - in case you do need to get a resident dining plan (or for anyone else reading this) – since each plan charges the same amount for overhead expenses and the only difference is the amount left for spending, there really isn’t an advantage to getting a more expensive plan – you can always add more spending money during the semester, but you don’t get a refund of unspent money (it can be carried into future semesters if you still maintain a dining plan).</p>
<p>if you don’t wanna cook every night, get the “commuter annual.” you save 30 dollars over the commuter semester.</p>
<p>yes the operating costs may be high (140 per semester, or 250 per year), but you actually do save more cuz you pay resident pricing. without this dining plan, you’ll pay 2.5 times the resident price for most food items (excludes packaged items like bottled soda).</p>
<p>plus, you’re much better off than those who live on campus; their meal plans have operating costs of 1300 per semester.</p>