Back to School: What you don't need

Going back-to-school shopping? If you're on a tight budget (and many of us are these days), there are a few things you can easily pass on this school year to save a little bit of green.

A Mac: Don't get me wrong, Apple computers are svelte, slick, and speedy, but they have a huge cost premium over their comparably equipped PC counterparts (a new study here found that Apple computers cost over twice as much). Also, most mainstream software used today can be found on both platforms (Adobe Suite, Office Suite, iTunes, etc). If you need a few suggestions on budget-friendly laptops, check out my roundup of PCs under $750.

An iPod: Jammin' to music while walking on campus is a no-brainer. It gets you in a better mood and prepares you for the barrage of 9AM classes. However, you don't need to get an iPod to enjoy your MP3s on the go. The new Creative Zen Mozaic 8GB offers more features than the iPod nano (FM radio, built-in speaker) and is $80 cheaper. The Zen Stone series is also a great alternative to the Shuffle (only $40). Your options for small, flash-based players are almost limitless, but if you're going with a hard-drive based 80GB player (or larger), the iPod is probably your best choice.

A printer: Having a printer in the dorm room is great for writing those last-minute papers under the gun, but it isn't a complete necessity. (I made it through college without a printer, although it was a pain.) Most universities and colleges offer printer services for pennies per page. Or you could simply just become really good friends with someone who owns a printer.

A TV: Space is one of the most important commodities in the dorm room, and TVs can easily suck up tons of space. You can simply add a TV card to your desktop or notebook and reap the benefits having a TV without having to give up any extra space. Another great plus is that most TV cards also have a DVR feature, so missing your favorite shows while in class can become a simple afterthought.

Books: Okay, this one may seem a little crazy, but I saved big bucks this way during my college career. Once the book list is available, check local libraries to see if they're in stock and investigate long-term checkout policies. I didn't buy a single book my junior and senior year, which saved me around $800 over the course of two years. Also, check online book retailers like Amazon to try and find a better price—you'll be surprised at how much you can save on an older edition of the book.

Any of you students out there have any suggestions on saving a few bucks on campus? Let me know in the comments below.