<p>How do you plan on paying for meals at UCF?</p>
<p>Our son is in the Towers. We are buying a block plan for some meals (at knightro’s) and he will use his kitchen for cereal for breakfast and light lunches. We’ll see how that goes.</p>
<p>As for the actual $$ that he’ll use to purchase the groceries, with our older sons we found it easiest to just use the same student banking account they had opened in high school, which is linked to our checking account. I can transfer money to their accounts in seconds via the bank’s webpage. We’ll do the same thing for son 3.</p>
<p>We bank at Wachovia.</p>
<p>D is there now and we did not sign up for a meal plan. She is in a double in Nike. She is out of state with no car. D purchased a TV and coffeepot and roommate purchased a mini-fridge. They both went in on the cost of a microwave. In Fall, they will share an apartment at Lake Clare so they will contribute the microwave they have now, D will have the TV in her room and roommate will have the minifridge in her room.</p>
<p>D has not had any problems finding something to eat. She usually grabs a cereal bar or cereal for breakfast in her room, or whatever is available. She has an assortment of microwaveable soups, macaroni and cheese, frozen items, etc. for nights that she is in her dorm and doesn’t feel like venturing out to eat on campus. </p>
<p>She has met ALOT of people who have cars. Either they all go out to dinner (sushi seems to be the favorite) or she’ll put in an order if someone is doing a Wendys or McDonalds run, or just order pizza, etc. for delivery. Applebees after 10pm (1/2 price appetizers) are a favorite. Occasionally, someone will mention going to the grocery store or Super Target, where she’ll tag along and buy groceries.</p>
<p>As far as on campus, she loves the Asian place, Blimpees, and Wackadoos in the Student Union (mmm, wacky wrap), but only tends to eat here for lunch.</p>
<p>Because she’s a lite eater, we felt that a meal plan would just be too much for her and too constricting. She has a debit card and cash for any meal purchases.</p>
<p>S has been in The Towers the past 2 years, and he’s never done a meal plan. Between cooking (and he does cook) in his apartment and going out w/ friends, it’s worked out beautifully. His three initial roommates who came in his freshman year all had meal plans; they had never considered any other options. By the end of the first week, two of them cancelled their plans, totally. The third one downgraded to the most minimum he could. Essentially, they discovered quickly – as we had been advised – that meal plans for a lot of people just don’t pay. S is one of those guys who’s happy with a bowl of cereal or a bagel, or if he’s got an hour between classes, a chicken biscuit from the chik-fil-a on campus … that’s breakfast. Lunch is a sandwich or salad w/ fruit or if he’s w/ friends … maybe that’s his “meal out” for the day. If he’s in that evening, he cooks … lots of chicken/shrimp/pasta/ quesadillas, tacos … an omelet. </p>
<p>zebes</p>
<p>Very helpful thread. I’ve been leaning against getting a meal plan (I can cook and most likely will) and this pretty much confirmed my beliefs.</p>
<p>I had also been thinking about not getting a meal plan. I decided after weighing all the options that not getting a meal plan was best. I love to cook and if I want I can run down to one of the shops on campus and get something to eat 
My roommate isn’t getting one either.</p>
<p>Wise decisions, all of you. Do look into buying FlexBucks though… they save you money at Burger King, Knightro’s and a few other locations on campus.</p>
<p>I tested out the meal plan this summer. I have a kitchen and got the Block 50 plan.
Such a WASTE of money! I feel terrible that I had my parents buy it. I have to drag myself there. It doesn’t really taste all that great and the selection of food is not all that great. Stay away unless you plan on never cooking or don’t know how to cook lol</p>
<p>No meal plan here either.</p>