are there any grocery stores on campus or close to campus, and if there are can we use the meal plan money to buy things from them?

There are a some grocery stores near campus... mainly Fortinos and Metro. Both are definitely within walking distance, but you can not use your meal plan at either store.

Trust me, if you pull out your meal card at Fortinos, people will DEFINITELY give you funny looks. I was half-asleep and grocery shopping, pulled out my student card instead of my debit card and tried to swipe it three times before realizing what I was doing...

A list of places where you can use your meal card off campus can be found here: http://hospitality.mcmaster. ca/loc...offcampus.html

After finding that link, I'm SO HAPPY to learn that Bula takes student cards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!