Week Two: Beating the Frog Bucks System

    One of the most beneficial parts of the TCU meal plan is the Frog Bucks system. For those of you who aren't TCU students, some of TCU’s meal plans can be complimented with the option of a small amount of money set aside for you to spend at restaurants that have formed a contract with TCU. The Frog Bucks system is basically a way out of being stuck eating at the BLUU day in and day out all semester long. To the small-budgeted college student, using Frog Bucks at a restaurant feels like eating for free. The problem? Those of us who aren't lucky enough to have the prime time meal plan are stuck with the basic plan, such as the one that I have, which only provides $150 worth of Frog Bucks for the entire semester. That allows about $30 a month for outside meals. How is this meager amount supposed to last me through the entirety of five months? My goal this week has been to work out a way to beat the Frog Bucks system at some of my favorite Frog Bucks restaurants.

     Chipotle is what I would consider a brilliant institution. Their variety of fresh and organic ingredients makes it difficult for me not to eat there on a daily basis. The atmosphere of the restaurant is clean and modern, perfect for today’s college student. Throw in some of their lime salted chips or special smoky Tabasco sauce and I’ve found my happy place. At Chipotle, seven dollars will get you a burrito so huge that finishing it seems about as likely as completing a trek up and down the side of Mount Everest in the time space of one lunch break. Unfortunately, my Frog Bucks budget won’t allow me the luxury of spending that amount on a burrito on a weekly basis unless Chipotle and the BLUU are the only two places I ever want to eat. My solution? One of my vegetarian friends tipped me off about a way to beat Chipotle’s seven-dollar burrito system. She introduced me to my new go-to meal, the black bean and cheese burrito, and I’ve never looked back. Because you are only ordering two sides, this mini-burrito usually runs about $1.68, but I’ve been charged only 80 cents for it more than one time. Take the description “mini” with a grain of salt- this burrito may be mini by Chipotle standards but it is bigger than a normal sized taco bell burrito. Add a little bit of Chipotle’s special smoky Tabasco sauce and you’ve got yourself a tasty source of healthy protein for under two dollars. Now that’s what I call a smart lunch.

    Not in the mood for Mexican? SmashBurger is one of my favorite new Frog Bucks hot spots this semester. However, a regular burger with a drink and fries can run up to fourteen dollars, which is way out of my Frog Bucks budget. My solution for cheap burger bliss is to order off of the kid’s menu. For under five bucks you get a burger, fries, and a kids sized drink. The kicker is that the burger is the same size as a normal burger (take it from my personal comparing experience) and the drink can be refilled as many times as you need.

    So next time you’re looking to eat out in the TCU “for free” way, keep these helpful Frog Buck tips in mind. 
    Happy Eating!