hey i just confused what is the difference between flex and freedom money on the meal plan?

thanks for your help

Originally Posted by cddbc

hey i just confused what is the difference between flex and freedom money on the meal plan?

thanks for your help

The FLEX account is an optional and refundable portion of the Residence Meal Plan and it is initially set at $0 value. It may become your choice when the BASIC account is exhausted and you still want to benefit from the non-taxable food purchases at the Hospitality Services dining locations on campus.


The FREEDOM account is a fully taxable and fully refundable portion of your meal plan and it can be used to purchase non-food items at Hospitality Services facilities (eg. recyclable containers, seasonal novelties, hygienic items, etc.) or to dine at participating Off-Campus Vendors.

*taken from McMaster website

To summarize u.yousaf from above

Flex: buy FOOD when your basic plan is finished ON CAMPUS without tax

Freedom: buy FOOD (OFF CAMPUS) or NON-FOOD (at various locations... lol) but WITH tax :(

Both are refundable

Originally Posted by Duarch

To summarize u.yousaf from above

Flex: buy FOOD when your basic plan is finished ON CAMPUS without tax

Freedom: buy FOOD (OFF CAMPUS) or NON-FOOD (at various locations... lol) but WITH tax :(

Both are refundable

You can check the hospitality services website for a listing of off-campus restaurants where you can use the freedom dollars. Quarters used to be included in that list so you could use freedom dollars to eat there. I don't know if Twelve Eighty will be included in that but that is one potentially on campus food place you could use the freedom account.

Just a note: Boston Pizza will NOT let you pay for alcohol with your student card because parents get upset that their kids spend all their food money on booze. So if you wanna use it at Boston, be prepared to take out some cash or credit/debit for the drinking (they do card you though...so I don't think this would apply to you right now)

As far as I know you cannot purchase alcohol anywhere with your student card. I think the rules for the Freedom account state that the money cannot be used to purchase alcohol.