Adriana Yanez is gearing up to go back to school in a shared dorm this month.
“My favorite parts about living on my own at school, half of it is the freedom, but the other half of just experiencing new things,” she said.
And she’ll need a few things to make the most of dorm life.
“One of the biggest challenges of college life is adapting to a shared space, and that could mean sharing a bathroom, shared living rooms,” said Consumer Reports’ Anna Kocharian. “When it comes to living in these types of arrangements, staying organized is key.”
A shower caddy can keep the shampoos and body washes organized and make trips to the hall bath quicker. The Madesmart Soft-Grip Tote is as low as $10.31 at Target. It comes with ventilation holes that promote airflow to help minimize that funky shower smell.
Next, students can organize and decorate without damaging the walls or breaking the rules. The Command Strip variety pack is marked down as low as $17.98 on Amazon. They can be used to corral cords and hang up towels, bags, accessories, curtains and art.
The dorm room mattresses aren’t always super comfortable, so a mattress topper can be a sleep saver. One of the more affordable options that Consumer Reports recommends is by Linenspa. The three-inch, twin XL is $72.99 on Amazon. It can be delivered straight to the dorm to save valuable car space.
A good pillow to bring the comforts of home. The Coop Sleep Goods Original Pillow gets top ratings and is $72 on Amazon and Coop.
Students spend a lot of time on their laptops, and slouching over a desk or lap can strain the neck and back. The Insignia Ergonomic Laptop Stand is now $29.99 at Best Buy. It can raise the laptop about 10.5 inches off the desk.
Finally, for enjoying tunes, the JBL Clip 4 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker is $79.95 at Abt Electronics and Amazon.
Stocking up can add up, so remember that student ID can unlock savings on a wide range of things like laptops, clothing, books and streaming services.
Student discounts to check out:
More Than 50 of the Best Student Discounts for 2023
https://www.myunidays.com/US/en-US
https://www.att.com/shop/wireless/iru-check-for-discount.html