A question we get often is “what happens with the extra money on my meal plan when I leave residence?” Though many students need to top up their meal plan towards the end of the year, some lucky ones have extra money on their plan!

It is possible for students to “carry over” their remaining balance to use in their second year. This is called the Carryover Ultra Food Plan. One important thing to note is that the transfer is subject to a $50.00 Administration fee. This carryover plan lets your student continue spending their remaining Food Dollars when they return to school in the fall and beyond, even if they live off campus. Another important thing to note is that with the Carryover Ultra Food Plan, the student pays HST on all purchases and does not receive the discount they received with their original meal plan.

When I moved out of residence, I had something like $60 left in my account. I thought it was silly to pay $50, just to have $10 to spend the following year so I went to the University Bookstore and treated myself to a t-shirt, mug and a few other things. Better than losing $50!

Any student can purchase a meal plan, no matter their year or whether they’re living on or off campus. This is called the Ultra Food Plan. A minimum deposit of $195.00 is required after which the student receives a 10% discount and 8% HST savings for all Hospitality Services locations. This can be purchased through Hospitality’s Online Services or go to the Express Centre, right next to Creelman.

I found this to be especially useful when I was in second year. The transition from living in residence to living off campus is a big one and I didn’t always have time to pack my lunch and/or dinner. Having that back up when you’re rushing off to class is great! As the years have gone by, I buy food on campus much less frequently but having money on my plan means a discount and it’s always there!

Most establishments on campus only accept cash or meal card (with the exception of Gryph’s and Brasstaps) so having money on your meal card can be really convenient, especially since repeatedly withdrawing cash on campus can really make a dent in your student’s bank account!

Click here to go to the Hospitality Services Website or you can email them at express@hrs.uoguelph.ca.