In my household, Amazon pretty much runs the show. With busy jobs and lots of kids, my parents have understandably fallen in love with the platform that can deliver almost anything to your doorstep with the click of a button. The decision to invest in a Prime account further deepened my parent’s appreciation for this multinational online platform; birthday gifts, clothes, pantry items – our digital shopping cart has seen it all. Over the past few years, I have also discovered how to utilize this lifeline that my parents rely on so heavily to provide for their children, and, I must admit, may have become somewhat fond of it myself. Here are my top five Amazon products that I find myself reaching for every day. 

#1: Simple Modern Stainless Steel Water Bottle Travel Mug, 24 oz, Apricot

As I’m sure many of my peers can attest, our on-the-go lifestyles make it difficult to prioritize hydration. Especially as a student-athlete, I’ve found that I really can’t function unless I keep up with my liquids throughout the day. However, this cup makes it easy to do so. In the mornings, it’s great for caffeinated beverages, offering a straw option for iced teas or coffees and a lid option for hotter liquids. When it’s time to switch to water, the cup and lid can easily be washed and rinsed. While the 24 ounce size is convenient for fitting in cup holders and backpacks, the cup also comes in 16, 20, and 28 ounce options. The cup is offered in a wide variety of colors and patterns, with long-lasting paint that has yet to chip or wear on my cup. While this cup is available from other sources besides Amazon, the affordable price, size, and color options offered from this platform are unbeatable. 

#2: 2 Pack Tempered Glass Screen Protector for iPhone 13

I think we can all relate to the horror that comes with dropping your phone on a hard surface – the agony of picking it up to reveal a cracked or shattered screen is just the worst. This feeling can be alleviated with a purchase of these screen protectors. My dad swears by tempered glass screen protectors, and these ones are extremely affordable and come in a pack of two. I go through a pack of these probably once or twice per year, and they have likely saved me a lot more than 7 bucks. They are easy to apply, look classy, and will save you a lot of money in the long run. Their accessibility and affordable price make it convenient to replenish your supply when they are inevitably put to good use. 

#3: Mulberry Silk Pillowcase Set of 2

These pillowcases aren’t really necessary to have, but I find myself using them almost every night. I’m pretty particular about my pillowcases, and these continue to withstand my demands. They are soft and silky, which is great to prevent hair breakage and maintain skin health. The thing I love most about them is that I can throw them in with my normal load of laundry, and the material continues to hold up in quality. I don’t have to wash them on a delicate setting or air dry them in order to achieve that silky, comfy feel. This brand also offers a variety of sizes and colors, which is perfect for the copious amount of pillows I have on my bed. For their price, these pillowcases are one of my favorite purchases.

#4: 2024 Planner – Weekly and Monthly with Tabs, Gray

For me, the North-issued assignment notebook just won’t cut it. The notebook itself is large in size, but it only provides a tiny box for assignments from all eight classes. Instead, this gray Amazon planner gets me through the school year. It takes up minimal space in my backpack, but the pages contain plenty of room for all of my notes and reminders. Without this notebook, I would never be able to keep up with my academics – I reach for this every time I have a new homework assignment or test date I need to keep track of. The best part is that this notebook not only has a weekly planner, but a monthly one as well. This way, I can keep an eye on the bigger picture, which has been especially useful for college application deadlines. My only complaint about this planner is the spiral binding. With a lot of use, it becomes loose and the pages begin to disconnect. However, this can be expected from a somewhat cheap product, especially taking into consideration that I flip it open about twenty times per day. I’m still on the hunt for one that is comparable in size but holds together a little better. 

#5: Selamica Porcelain 10oz Bowl Set

Here me out on this one – these bowls just make me so happy. My mom actually meant to order these in the large 7 inch size to restock our kitchen cupboard after my sisters broke a few of our old ones, but she accidentally ordered them in a mini version. Little did we know it was a blessing in disguise. These tiny bowls are so adorable and practical. Their fun colors and patterns will make your mundane morning routine a little more fun, and they are perfect for greek yogurt, fruit, or oatmeal in the morning, as well as for servings of afternoon snacks or desserts. They hold the perfect amount of cheerios, ice cream, or whatever else you may crave. Not only that, but they can also be used to serve dips like hummus or  salsa when hosting. More often than not, I find myself reaching for these more than bowls of normal sizes. When I eventually establish a living space of my own, these tiny bowls will be the first thing that I purchase for my kitchen.