<p>Where is your son living? </p>
<p>To my knowledge, you can’t buy Garnet Bucks on financial aid deferment. However, I believe that the meal plans cost something like $350 down ($300 down + $50 processing fee). If you aren’t required to get a meal plan, you could just put that $350 towards Garnet Bucks at the start of the semester. </p>
<p>Unless your kid is going to eat every meal at the dining facilities, there’s really no point in getting any of the meal plans if you don’t have to. They’re overpriced beyond belief.</p>