<p>I have always lived in a dorm that didn’t require a meal plan, although I had bought one the last two years. This year however, I do not have a meal plan. I instead spend about $40-50/week on groceries. In total my average monthly food bill runs around $200/month, give or take- less than half of what a meal plan would cost. </p>
<p>I am however lucky to live in an on-campus apartment in McCollum that has a kitchen where I can cook. McCollum is also a good bit cheaper than many of the dorms that freshmen are allowed to get into- nearly $100/month cheaper than many of the regular suite-style dorms. </p>
<p>The meal plans offered at FSU, especially this year, are such rip-offs that it does not make financial sense to pay upwards of $450-500/month for an all you can eat plan (or nearly that much for a meal plan that doesn’t offer as much). That was really the deciding factor for me this year. For the nearly $500 a month a meal plan would cost me, I could live like a king eating.</p>