DeKALB | As winter break approaches, some students living in the residence halls find themselves racing to spend their dining dollars while they still can.

Ralph Chaplin, director of residential dining said that Dec. 16 is the last day the dining halls will be serving food this semester.

Throughout the semester, students often devise methods to deplete their remaining dining dollars. Those methods become even more useful during finals week because residents receive the full allotment of their meal plans, but will most likely not stay in the residence halls the entire duration of the week.

Stan Treger, a sophomore recording arts major, said at the end of the week he normally spends his remaining funds on nonperishable food at the Trident in Neptune Central. Treger said he also buys food for his friends who live off campus throughout the week to deplete his dining dollars.

“[I recommend] using the buffets, because they can help you get the most out of your dining dollars,” Treger said.

Mary Hanna, a junior psychology major, said she has made a tradition of using all her left over dining dollars to buy food for a party for her floor at the end of the week.

“I just take all the money I have left and buy food for everyone else on my floor,” she said.

“[I recommend] stocking up on foods like ice cream or cakes,” said Ashley Gaeth, a freshman art major. “It might not be healthy, but it is food, and it’s better then having your money go to waste.”

Cary Wolovick, a senior history and political science major, also spends his left over dining dollars on his friends who are out of theirs.

“I blow the money on whatever I can,” said Mark Rhine, a sophomore accountancy major. “I usually only have $5 or $10 left at the end of the week.”