Tufts Blogs

I still remember trying Cajun fries for the first time during the freshman year food crawl. Perfectly seasoned, slightly spicy, and instantly addictive. From that day on, they became my comfort snack: something I’d grab between classes, after study sessions, or when I just needed a small moment of joy in the middle of the day.

And the best part? They were always just one swipe away.

In my freshman year, those first $75 of JumboCash carried me far. Any time I needed fuel to get through late-night midterm study marathons, my Tufts ID had me covered.

As the years went on, I found myself adding more and more JumboCash because I realized something important: JumboCash isn't just a campus thing. It follows you out into the real world (by that I pretty much mean the Tufts ecosystem of Davis Square and elsewhere in Medford and Somerville) 

After having a 6:30-9:00 seminar class, the last thing I want to do is cook dinner or walk to the dining hall. So, I open GrubHub and scroll through the options from Oasis Brazilian Restaurant to Picante. All I have to do at checkout is select “Pay with JumboCash.” That's it. Dinner secured. 

But it doesn't stop there.

There's also the moment when you realize you run out and need hair products, toiletries, want more snacks, school supplies, or maybe a last-minute birthday card for your roommate. That moment usually leads you straight to CVS in Davis. It felt like a cheat code to swipe there.

JumboCash even works for groceries (and yes, buying frozen dumplings absolutely counts as a grocery run). I learned my junior year that Stop & Shop takes JumboCash. 9 times out of 10, you run into someone you know also doing their weekly grocery shopping as we all end up using the same checkout register.  And yes, I definitely look at what people are buying for inspiration. What can I say, it's research.

And then there's laundry.

There’s nothing more humbling than realizing all your good outfits are in the laundry bin and you have nothing to wear. I never have coins that I can insert in the laundry machine, so being able to use JumboCash for on-campus laundry is true peace of mind. 

Over time, I realized JumboCash is now a part of my Tufts survival toolkit.

I keep my ID close because it can do a whole lot more than it may seem. JumboCash always got me, and I need that.