Starbucks and Crossroads Cafe, which opened in 2014 in University Crossing. (Courtesy of UMass Lowell)

Alex Salucco
Connector Editor

Being a college student and living on a budget is not an easy thing to do, and college students are already spending a lot of their earnings just to obtain a degree. With on campus food distributors having high prices, some students have even had to budget their “fake money” known as River Hawk dollars.

River Hawk dollars represent real dollars that are acceptable at UMass Lowell dining locations. The “points,” as they are often called, are loaded on to a student’s ID to be swiped when purchasing food and drink items.

The University offers three different meal plans to students. Platinum and Gold feature unlimited meal swipes, and the Platinum plan is equipped with 350 River Hawk dollars while Gold only gives you 200. There is an alternative option that features 100 meal swipes and 350 River Hawk dollars.

The idea of having a budget dedicated solely to food on campus is a new concept to incoming freshmen, and even upperclassmen have trouble budgeting. But freshman Hang Cao has not had a problem with maintaining her points.

“I thought I would not have enough,” said Cao, who has 350 points each semester. “Most people spend their money at Starbucks and that’s where I think people go wrong,” she said.

“I try to stay away from Freshii because of how expensive it is,” said sophomore Patrick O’Connell. Lower prices and more options are a couple of things that he would like to see changed.

“I would like to see a late night café or pizza shop on South Campus,” said O’Connell. Although Grill Out is located in the McGauvran Center, it closes at 10 p.m.

Amaris Torres, a senior English major said she would advise students to get the Platinum plan over the Gold plan. “It is only about $80 more and you get 150 more points,” Torres says.

It is a little easier to make things last with 350 River Hawk dollars and unlimited meal swipes, but what about the students who tried to save some cash and only have 100 meal swipes to accompany their 350 points? Senior Aaron King said to make most of one’s meal swipes.

“Living in Riverview Suites this year, I figured I would not be going to the dining hall that much,” said King, “but when I do I make sure get the most bang for my buck.”

Having a hard time managing River Hawk dollars in the past, he said living in Riverview has helped him maintain a solid balance. “After last semester I still had over 100 left because being in my dorm puts me far away from the Merrimack Market and things like that,” said King.

But with all of the temptations on campus and the ability for students to buy impulsively, what is someone to do when they are running low on points?

Cao said, “Ask yourself, do you really need this? Are you going to need the points later? What if you run out of deodorant? Do you really want to go to Target for that?”

Junior Rob Callahan says he likes to be aware of how many points he has left. “Whenever I get something I always ask for my remaining balance,” he said. “If you do that, you will have a better idea of what you should or should not buy.”

Although the prices can be high, the University has done a remarkable job offering students a bevy of choices across campus. Not only does the River Hawk dollar system give students a full belly, but it helps them maintain a budget.