<p>I hadn’t noticed that CSSIdad. Maybe I’ll have my D set up a PNC account next week at NSO and give it a try. I’ve seen that Quick Pay feature at other banks before and they’ve said the money would be available in 1 to 5 days. I hope this works more quickly because I’ve become so used to transferring money into a kid’s account immediately. </p>
<p>Question: Is the retieval of the e-mail the event which triggers each transfer or is that a one time thing to set it up?</p>
<p>CSSIdad: I didn’t know about the Quick Pay option. If we have issues with our current system, I will check it out.</p>
<p>Zoosermom: How funny. My DD saves the literature books (English major) and sells back most everything else!</p>
<p>mhc? We haven’t rented books so I don’t have any experience to share.</p>
<p>I have had a PNC account for about 2 years now, had it before I became a student at delaware. The virtual wallet as someone already mentioned it great, it creates a visual of what you are spending. If she wants further help managing her money I highly suggest she set up a Mint.com account, it’s free and can be set up to sync with all of your bank accounts, they allow you to set monthly budgets (you can even categorize, I have a $50 a month eating out budget) and l receive an email when I’m about to hit that $50 limit. My entire family uses it. </p>
<p>But back to PNC, your daughter would get a student account, no fees. They refund ATM fees if she needs to use another banks ATM, and I have never had an issue with them. </p>
<p>Questions about Flex v. Dining Hall v. Debit Card
Flex is something your student is going to use to pay to do their laundry (in lieu of quarters they can swipe their student ID), they pay for printing costs at computer labs (important for Art majors), and it can also be used at dollars at Trabant or food marts on campus. DO NOT buy students books for the bookstore, get the isbn numbers and purchase on Amazon, or at the very least from Liberman’s on Main St. You over pay at the bookstore for any books or supplies. And there is no bias, in fact I’m not even sure the bookstore accepts flex. </p>
<p>Dining plans are divided between points and meals, 1 meal gets you a buffet style all you can eat meal. Points can be used like dollars at Trabant and food marts. I suggest getting as many points and as few meals as possible, but every student is given time to decide which meal plan works best for them.</p>
<p>Okay, points= dollars one for one. But what was difficult to determine was the average cost in dollars/points of meals and sandwiches at Trabant and other food courts. Will 150 points equal more like 50 or 30 meals.</p>
<p>Generally if you multiply out meals under the plans by number of days and number of weeks in the semester, the 19/15/10 weekly meal plans give you slightly more meals but less points (and flexibility) over buying a block number of meals. The blocks offer more flexibility and carry over. They seem better if a child often does or will not eat either breakfast or lunch, or due to schedule and classes will likely be closer to a Food Court than a dorm.</p>
<p>Still a question of how large a block to buy along with how many points. I suspect most of us will get it “wrong” the first semester.</p>
<p>I just want get back to you all about cash back on debit card purchases at Happy Harry’s. I checked with DD - the cash limit is $20. That works for her nearly all the time as she doesn’t need to have much cash on her.</p>
<p>In terms of flex/points/meals, every case in different based on the individual. Here’s a simplified guide :)</p>
<p>Meals- can only be used in the four dining halls, all you care to eat buffet style, served during major meal times</p>
<p>Points- 1/1 dollar ratio can be used at any food court/mini market around campus or in the dining halls if you run out of meals</p>
<p>Flex- not part of the meal plan (totally separate) can be used anywhere points can be used, mostly used for laundry!!! and by off campus students who don’t have a meal plan but want the convenience of using their student id</p>
<p>A typical meal plan looks like this: 12 meals a week (refreshes on Sundays) and approx 200 points per semester (lots of meal packages are offered with additional points, if you choose to pay for that). Once you pay the flat fee you can choose however many meals you want per week and the accompanying points are adjusted. You usually get a couple of weeks to figure out your schedule and change your meal plan for the semester after classes start. For instance, if you have an a-typical schedule with no time to sit down during typical lunch times, you’re going to want to get more points (for on-the-go meals at the food courts and buying food at the markets) and less meals in the dining halls. If you have a very accommodating schedule with plenty of time to eat, you’re going to want to get more meals and less points.</p>
<p>Parents- don’t let your kids fool you, a lot of the points will go to the mini-marts, there’s a reason they call it the freshman 15!</p>
<p>One last very important thing to remember- you WILL NOT eat breakfast every day, no matter how much you say you’ll get up before your 8am to get those pancakes. So don’t bother getting more than 14 meals a week (and let’s be real, you’re going to order out for pizza at least once a week.) </p>
<p>Hope this simplifies the options for points/meals/flex!</p>