> What are the absolute basics I should get first? You definitely need a sleeve to keep that Dell safe in your bag! I love the Amazon Basics Laptop Sleeve 15.6-inch because its super cheap and works amazing. Also, grab a Logitech M170 Wireless Mouse since trackpads are honestly painful for long study sessions. These two are total lifesavers and fit your budget perfectly!

Late to the party but building on the earlier suggestion, I remember when I got my first Dell and realized it only had like two ports... I was so stressed trying to plug in my phone and a thumb drive at the same time. You definitely want a hub. I've been really satisfied with the Anker 332 USB-C Hub 5-in-1 because it gives you HDMI and extra USB slots for about twenty-five bucks. It works well and hasn't failed me once. If you want to save even more cash for food, I compared these two when I was looking:

• Sabrent 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub HB-UMAS
• Super cheap and tiny. No HDMI tho, just extra USB ports.
• Ugreen Revodok 105 USB-C Hub 5-in-1
• Basically the same as the Anker but usually a few dollars cheaper. Im happy with how these save my desk space. Since youre heading to college, maybe grab a keyboard cover too? Spilled coffee during a late-night study session is the absolute worst, trust me.

My buddy told me the exact same thing last week. Guess he was right lol.