Whether you are a new Shark living on campus or a returnee, an essential part of residential life is your declining balance, often referred to as DB, and how it is spent. Every student living on NSU’s campus is required to purchase a specific meal plan that ranges in price depending on what dorm they are in. Students who live in The Commons or Leo Goodwin have a meal plan of $1,595, but students in Mako Hall, CLC, FFV and Rolling Hills have a meal plan of $450. Whether you have a lot or a little, here are some tips on utilizing your DB to the max.
Don’t skip out on meals
Starting with any student who lives in The Commons or Leo Goodwin, while your meal plan is by far the best on campus, it is also the most expensive. The biggest tip I have is to not be worried about eating. My first semester on campus, I was so concerned that I would run out of money on my meal plan that I skipped meals to make sure I had an excess of DB. However, with this meal plan, there is no need! Trust me, between the free food at club meetings or leftovers that you will stumble upon after events, while not impossible, it is difficult to run out of DB with this plan.
Make your meals count
If you are living in a dorm with a smaller meal plan and no cooking skills, do not fret. Make your meals count. Starbucks is expensive, there is no denying that. If you are hungry and want a sandwich during the day or lunch hour opt for one from Razor’s Reef over Starbucks. The large sized sandwich is not only the same price, but way too much for one meal; half that sandwich can easily be put in the fridge and saved for a later meal.
Turn to one price dining
Another way to make your meals count is in the one price dining. Go pay for the one price dining at the start of dinner time and bring all your books, laptop and anything else to keep you entertained. Then, simply stay in the pit. Study, eat when hungry, watch Netflix and alternate all night long. If you stay until closing, that is plenty to keep you satisfied all night. If you are not into staying in the pit and would rather go back to your dorm, be sure to make that to-go box worth its money. Stuff that box to the brim with all of your favorite food, grab some soup with a lid and extra utensils. If done correctly, you will have enough leftovers for the next day or so.
Let Starbucks be your lifesaver
If the end of the semester is around the corner and you have an excess of DB left over, I have a solution for you: Starbucks. A student’s DB cannot be used to buy Starbucks gift cards at the on-campus store, but it can be used to buy merchandise. Once that holiday line rolls out towards the end of the semester, feel free to get a head start on your holiday shopping and buy all your loved ones some elusive cups — or if you are feeling nice and giving, buy a friend a coffee (especially for the upperclassmen or commuters). That small act can go a long way in this transitional time.
Invest in cooking
For those with kitchens in their dorm, I would recommend investing in enhancing your cooking skills. There are plenty of resources online to cook easy meals and work your way up. This is the perfect time to become a master chef, and then, the only DB you will have to spend is quick necessities or last minute ingredients at Outtakes.
