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Article snippet: Welcome to the Smarter Living newsletter. Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Monday morning. It’s Back to School week at Smarter Living, and we have a great collection of stories to help parents and students get ready. To start, take a look at this guide to decking out your dorm room (written with our friends at The Wirecutter, a New York Times company that tests and recommends the best gear). A few of their favorites include the Saltwater Canvas Mesh Shower Bag, made of strong, mildew-resistant mesh (and a steal at $13), and this classic pair of flip-flops. Trust me, you don’t ever want to go barefoot in a dorm shower. Don’t forget the creature comforts, like a sleep mask to block out light while your roommate is studying and a space-saving microwave for reheating leftovers, making popcorn or embracing the wide world of microwave cooking. And this Anker wall charger will give you and your roommates four USB ports for every outlet for all of those phones, tablets and everything else. Alternatively, this portable Accell Power Station splits every outlet into three, has two USB ports and is small enough to toss in a backpack. Elsewhere in our Back to School package is this rundown of the tech you need (and the tech you don’t), and some uplifting tips on why you should try not to think of college as a business transaction. My advice: Don’t rush to lock in a major! If you’re a parent, we have plenty of tips for you, too. Here are six things you should keep in... Link to the full article to read more