PATheaterMom

Marymount offers a partial meal plan. To any current or future students how much money do you allot to groceries/eating each week? Is there a great cheap grocery store around?

checkbookmom

PATheaterMom, I am a mom of a S going to MMC next year, and I don't know the answer, but two things I do know:

1. My 18 year old athlete S can go through $1000 worth of food in a lot less than a semester, and I too had to laugh when I saw that was the board plan... and

2. My senior year D in Colorado spends about $250 per month, which would average out to $1000 a semester if she were on a board plan (she lives in an apartment, and food is cheaper in Colorado than NYC.) So, the board plan at MMC with a supplement for that third meal and treats may well be enough for a young woman.

There's a convenience store in the 55th street dorm, but that can run up $$.

PATheaterMom

I have an older S, and he does eat quite a bit more than my D! I did notice there is a small market right on the street corner, so that might be a good spot for veggies, fresh fruit, etc. I imagine relying on the convenience store would get expensive!

checkbookmom

I will watch for other posts, see if anyone has any other input. I live in California, so it's going to be a huge culture shock for my S, in addition to the food issue!

allo

My daughter is going to NYU and hates institutional food, so we opted for a limited meal plan. To make up the difference, I came up with a great idea to make her a little reference book for dining well within her budget in her neighborhood. The same idea will work anywhere in Manhattan. I wrote a short article about how I did it at

Food Budget

She's already picking out meals and having fun with it. It will save us money and help her make friends in her dorm I think.

allo

Oops! I guess CC doesn't allow links. They changed it to a link back to this thread. Anyway, if your interested in finding out how to put together a similar book for the neighborhood of your daughter's college in Manhattan, just e-mail me and I'll send you the link to the article. Let's see if they let me put in my e-mail address: allo3@aol.com