If you think your wallet is too heavy from carrying bills and change around, consolidate – rely on your NIU OneCard.

One of the most popular features of the card is access to Huskie Bucks. According to the NIU OneCard Web site, Huskie Bucks are accepted on and around the NIU campus.

Huskie Bucks is a prepaid debit program that students can access through their OneCard. Huskie Bucks can be used to do laundry, as well as purchase food at many locations.

Chris Falconer, general manager for Subway, 901D Lucinda Ave., said the business has accepted Huskie Bucks for about five or six semesters. However, he said sales really started to take off about a year-and-a-half ago, when students started to better understand the benefits of Huskie Bucks.

“It seems to be a good 50 to 60 percent of our business. … With a meal plan and Huskie Bucks, the students don’t have to worry about carrying cash,” he said.

Tom and Jerry’s, 215 W. Lincoln Highway, and Shelley’s, 901H Lucinda Ave., both started accepting Huskie Bucks in fall 2002.

Tom and Jerry’s general manager Sarah Wilkins said accepting Huskie Bucks boosted the business’ sales greatly.

“We get a great turnout with the Huskie Bucks,” Wilkins said.

Shelley’s owner/operator Shelley Warnell said Huskie Bucks sales are a huge part of the business’ revenue. When the students are gone for the summer, business drops about 85 percent, she said.

Both Shelley’s and Tom and Jerry’s will accept Huskie Bucks on delivery orders. Students just have to present their OneCard to the delivery driver for verification of the card number.

The Junction Eating Place, 816 W. Lincoln Highway, started accepting Huskie Bucks just a few months ago, manager Gus Bahramis said. He said that because school’s out right now, the business really hasn’t been noticeable. He expects it to pick up when fall classes begin.

One of the newest places that will accept Huskie Bucks is Panera Bread, 2476 Sycamore Road.

However, Eric Tagtmeier, an assistant manager at Panera, said he is unsure when the business will begin accepting this method of payment.