<p>Looking for guidance about choosing a meal plan for my incoming freshman. It is difficult to understand from the FSU website which facilities are one the meal plan and which take just flex-bucks. Is it worth purchasing a plan?</p>
<p>Only the two dining halls are covered by the meal plan. I think that's the Fresh Food Company (near Salley Hall) and the Suwanee Room (next to Landis Green). I have to purchase a meal plan because I will be residing on the east side of campus, but if you're willing to cook for yourself, it can be a lot cheaper to just go to the grocery store, as long as you don't load up on junk.</p>
<p>This has been discussed in previous FSU posts...</p>
<p>We have a daughter who will also live in an east side dorm and therefore must buy a meal plan. As alumni of FSU and also with an older daughter who is an upperclassman at FSU now, we know that all cafeteria-style dining gets old over time. </p>
<p>Note, however, the food is better now than it ever was in our experience.</p>
<p>Our solution is to buy the least expensive ($999) plan and then supply Garnet Bucks as necessary. Garnet Bucks don't evaporate at the end of the semester like Flex Bucks do. </p>
<p>Other people have different ways of addressing this issue - with our girls, who tend to be quite independent and able to cook when they want to, limited meal structure works for us. With boys, who may need more meal structure - we'd buy a more comprehensive meal plan, lest they starve or eat too much junk (this is a joke, with an element of truth). There's no one answer. </p>
<p>Later, as our freshman adjusts to campus life we turn the meal plan and Garnet Bucks into cash (assuming she's out of the east side dorms) with which she fends for herself (buying groceries at Publix, for example).</p>
<p>The meal plans do tie you into the dining facilities and the Flex Bucks allow you to go to the myriad other places on campus. See: <a href="http://www.seminoledining.com/dining.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.seminoledining.com/dining.php</a> for examples. Garnet Bucks are like Flex Bucks, but you buy them separately from the meal plan.</p>
<p>Your student can also eat LUNCH ONLY at The Figg Player's Dining Room at Coyle Moore if they have a meal plan (not breakfast or dinner since this dining hall is for athletes).</p>
<p>If you use garnet bucks, they give $1 off of the full meal price at the 3 cafeterias. All of the other on-campus eating establishments take flex or garnet bucks or cash but you get no discount from the listed price. The good thing about garnet bucks is that they do not expire through graduation.</p>
<p>Your student can purchase groceries at the trading post with flex/garnet bucks and each dorm has kitchen facilities and a refrigerator in each room.</p>
<p>Thanks to all for the quick and informative responses. My son has been assigned to Kellum Hall (not sure if that's on the east side..?) and is a BFA Theatre major, so will be spending most of his class time near the fine arts building. Will there be a dining hall convenient to him?</p>
<p>Kellum's on the west side, so no meal plan is required. Fresh Food Company dining facility is very close - and brand new.</p>
<p>On the other side of campus he's got the Suwannee Room (also new) and all the smaller places around campus. Not sure where BFA kids would spend most of their time, early on (underclassmen - basic studies) I suspect it could be about anywhere. Later on, I'm sure they'd be east campus - nearer to Suwannee and the fine arts facilities.</p>
<p>Can you tell me more about garnet bucks? Why are there both flex bucks and garnet bucks?</p>
<p>Here's what the FSU website ( <a href="http://www.seminoledining.com/ways.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.seminoledining.com/ways.php</a> )says about Garnet Bucks:</p>
<p>Garnet Bucks Account
A Garnet Bucks Account is ideal for commuters, faculty or staff members. Put any amount of money you choose into the account, which you then use at any dining location on campus it works just like a debit card! Only a Garnet Bucks Account offers the easiest and most flexible way to pay for your campus food purchases! Its safe no need to carry cash on campus, easy access the account through your FSU Card just scan and go!</p>
<p>We've found this easy to manage from our home, as we can put money into the Garnet Bucks account online and our daughter has access to it immediately through her FSU card. Also, as stated, Garnet Bucks don't evaporate at the end of a semester like Flex Bucks. They do offer a bit of a purchase discount for food on campus unlike cash.</p>
<p>Flex Bucks give the meal plan user some ability to eat at places on campus where food cannot be purchased with a meal plan. As a part of a meal plan, flex bucks die at the end of the semester, just like the meal plan. You either use them or lose them.</p>
<p>As to why there are both, each purchase method is geared to the student and faculty population on campus. It's to simplify purchases, add convenience for users and give the university an idea how much food to buy and so on.</p>
<p>Unused FlexBUCKS do roll over from Fall to Spring with the purchase of a Spring plan. GARNET BUCKS continue through to graduation.</p>