At the beginning of the school year, your meal plan looks like something you'd NEVER be able to fully get through. But don't let those numbers fool you, my friends. Time flies, and so do those very precious school dollars. Although every school is different, and it also depends on the particular meal plan you have, if you're a student at BSU with the silver meal plan, who likes bears and crimson, it's time to start freaking out. Here's what happens from start to finish with your college meal plan.
Splurging in the first half of the semester.
For the entire first half of the semester, getting the best food possible on campus and as much of it as you want was literally your daily goal. It was easy to splurge on things like smoothies and mozzarella sticks at night, when you didn't have anything to worry about. Occasionally, you were even a really nice person, buying your friends things like ice cream and smoothies, because, you know, why not?
Trying to forget there's a limit.
Unlike when you were younger and your parents bought all the food in the house, you now have ALL the power!! It's an incredible feeling when you literally have the power to buy whatever you want, already cooked, hot, and ready within only a few short minutes. No time trying to cook at home, no time having to wait for mom to cook, no more anything. Occasionally, you have these moments where you think you should be saving some money for later in the semester, but then ultimately, you say the hell with it. You'll deal with it once you get there.
When you first start to worry.
After a while, you finally start looking at the wonderful remaining balance on your receipts, thinking it won't be too bad. In reality, it probably isn't too bad, but it's bad enough that you shouldn't be getting the daily treat at midnight. You start having minor panic attacks about it, and compare how much you have to your friends' totals. But of course, your friends are probably the ones who are telling you that everything is going to be fine, this one smoothie right now isn't going to be a big deal. No. don't worry about it, you'll be fine during finals week.
I'm sorry, what?!
It's only been like two and half months, it's only right past the middle of the semester, and this money is disappearing. No matter how many times you check your balance, it's not going to go up. I promise you. #sadday You finally notice that you're starting to eat out a lot more than often, so you can balance spending meal plan money and real money. But then suddenly, you notice all the money in your life is just gone.
Moochers gon' mooch.
Your second to last and definitely last semester, you become incredibly two-faced; and you're kind of good at it. You start asking friends and even basic acquaintances if they have any money to spare, because "I literally have nothing left" becomes your favorite quote. This type of saying becomes second nature as the semester comes to a close, and eventually, you learn how to deal with any response that could be given. Whether it's going out or just jumping along in the dining hall, you will do ANYTHING to get your food onto their tray so you don't have to buy your own food.
The food of champions.
As your dining plan officially is on the borderline of putting you in debt, you invest in the most delicious sodium-filled cup of love you can find. Ramen here or there is definitely a little hidden gem, don't get me wrong, but when you are literally risking your health and well-being because of these noodles, it can get scary.
The end of the semester is frightening for many, but it's important to know that you have someone to reach out to. I guarantee you have the random few friends that bought the incredibly large dining plan that is impossible to finish. If you don't have any friends that have that meal plan, well, my child, you have the wrong friends. As this semester is coming to a close, I wish you all the best of luck with your dining plans, and hope a month of Ramen is not in your future.
