<p>For current students;</p>
<p>I was wondering what the total annual expenditure at Cal is like: I mean, books, eating out, shopping, parties etc. Everything that isn't covered in the fees+room+board.</p>
<p>If you're frugal and good about your money and can tolerate dorm food for EVERY single meal, you could probably get away with around $1200, maybe a tad more. Otherwise, for a more outgoing person, you might expect something like $2000 to maybe even $3500 or more, depending on how much shopping and impulse buys you make.</p>
<p>well even with the standard meal plan, you still need to buy about 2 meals a week out if you eat lunch & dinner each day only</p>
<p>I am on the standard meal plan ..</p>
<p>It's going to depend on the circle you hang out with. A lot of Cal students are poor, they just don't have a lot of money to spend, and so they don't. If you have friends like that, you can easily spend practically nothing. There is plenty to do for free.</p>
<p>What about food then mate? ;)</p>
<p>Unless you are eating extravagantly, or hate dorm food, I can't imagine you'd need more than $10/day food beyond the meal plan. Most freshman just eat i the dorms, since all their friends are there eating in the dorms too. Or other meal plan food options, I'm too old to know the latest about that.</p>
<p>A Bongo Burger Persian burger is like $6.50 now, with french fries and a coke I think it's $9 or something. Blondie's cheese with soda is $3.50 I think. That's all you really need foodwise anyway. Breakfast at Bongo Burger is $3.50 I think, that is two eggs and home fries and toast.</p>
<p>if you like to eat out a lot, you're gonna be spending lots of money. i didn't have a meal plan last year and I ended up spending around $70 a week for food alone.</p>
<p>I spend about $20-$40 in a regular week on food when eating out.</p>
<p>dude, go to anns kitchen for breakfast, not bongos...</p>
<p>Would you lot recommend going for the Standard meal plan or the Premium one?</p>
<p>I've never been to Ann's kitchen. Actually I never go to THAT Bongo Burger any more, though it was my first Bongo Burger. ;-)</p>
<p>The premium plan is a ridiculous amount of food. I would recommend the standard.</p>
<p>Eating out isn't your only option either. You can go to grocery stores in the area and buy granola bars, cereal, stuff like that that'll keep you alive and isn't too expensive. </p>
<p>I've heard that there's a farmer's market on campus, is this true?</p>
<p>In the People's Park.. :)</p>
<p>20legend,
we got a premium plan because you could use any left over points in the spring semester.</p>
<p>Consider almonds -- the cost/calorie ratio is one of the lowest you will find (healthily, at least).</p>
<p>people find that meal points get really hard to use up (even standard if you like eating out). it's a lot of points and you'll be tempted to eat out b/c the dorm food gets really gross after a month or two.</p>
<p>most people regret getting premium.</p>
<p>can you use meal points in places like the bear market to buy snacks and other stuff?</p>
<p>When you end up with too many points at the end of each semester use them up at the campus Peets- buy mugs, french press, coffeee beans, travel cup, etc.</p>