More Bang for you Blazer Bucks

By Maggie McGill

Last year I made the decision to bump down to the 10-meals plan. For those of you basking in the glory of the 15-meals plan, or perhaps holding fast to that 19-meals plan, only having 10 meals a week might seem insane! Food at The Blazer is pretty expensive, and it can be difficult to stretch out those bucks over the whole semester. Fortunately, I am a problem solver, and I’ve come up with a few tricks to keep your belly full and your balance high.

Let’s talk logistics; the 10-meals plan gives you ten meals a week and $200 Blazer Bucks to last you the whole semester. If you want to even have a chance of having bucks at the end of the semester, you have to budget. Just so you don’t have to whip out your calculator app, that leaves a little over $13 bucks a week. Two combo meals cost well over $14. So how can you survive? To start off, stop ordering combos! Follow a few of my tips and you’ll be swimming in bucks come exam week.

Tip 1. Forget soft drinks

Stop. Buying. Soda. I know it’s delicious and turns your mouth into a party, but not only is it bad for you; it’s bad for your wallet. A burger and fries costs $6.18 compared to a burger combo meal, which costs $7.19. Toting around a water bottle will save you bucks in the long run.

Tip 2. Keep Coffee Simple

During the colder months it’s hard to walk through Whitaker and not crave coffee, but think twice before you order that latte! A small vanilla latte costs $2.99 while a small coffee is $1.79.  Ask for a pump of vanilla, which only costs an extra 69 cents, and pour in half-and-half. Save the lattes for Starbucks and get your caffeine fix for a lower price.

Tip 3. Buy smart

We already know The Blazer is trying to suck our money pits dry, but pay attention to what you’re getting for your bucks. A cup of grapes at $1.99 might keep you full for half an hour, but a bagel with cream cheese at $1.79 will keep you satisfied for longer, and at a fraction of the price. It might take longer to decide, but you’ll be thankful when your stomach isn’t grumbling in the middle of class.

These are just a few tricks to make the most out of your Blazer Bucks, but I’m sure there are more bargains waiting to be discovered!