Anyone who has begun the process of shopping for a dorm room is most likely familiar with every store's hefty "Campus Checklist." Buying everything on these lists can leave you not only thousands of dollars in the hole, but also extremely cramped for space (something your roommates will not thank you for).

Many of the items on these lists are frivolous, an obvious scheme to convince young shoppers to buy more items, and buy it all in one place. Don't be fooled. While some of these pricey items can be useful, not all of them are needed.

Here's a quick rundown of dorm room items that will actually be worth the investment.

1. Coffeemaker with a metal carafe.

Some university housing policies require coffee makers to have a metal carafe rather than glass for safety reasons, but it turns out this policy is a huge win-win situation. The metal carafe keeps coffee piping hot for hours longer than a glass carafe. Brew a batch of coffee for the morning, and it's still perfect drinking temperature when you sit down for your evening cram, I mean, study session!

2. Mattress topper.

These can be found for relatively low prices, and make all the difference for a good night's sleep. Plus, they add an extra layer between the top of your dorm-provided mattress, and your new, clean bed sheets, which can only be a good thing.

3. Printer.

Though there are resources for printing in the library, and likely several other buildings on campus, there will be nights when you will wake up with the panicked realization that you failed to print a worksheet for your earliest class the next morning. Having a printer in your room will save you the extra trip and a half hour of sweet, valuable sleep.

4. Mini-fridge.

The dorm room mini-fridge is crucial. If you're lucky, your room will be provided one by the university. If not, consider the perks of being able to store food and drinks in your room, rather than the community fridge, where someone evil will inevitably steal the food you were so looking forward to eating.

5. Medicine and first aid kit.

Dorm life means living in close proximity to, well, quite a lot of people. The cold and flu season will come, and it will find you. Be prepared to combat any and all foreseeable and easily treatable maladies.

6. Shopping tote bags.

These will greatly come in handy for the environmentally-conscious. Additionally, many college towns have a ban on plastic bags, and charge for paper bags. Reusable tote bags are more sturdy (take it from someone who has dealt with carrying paper bags across campus during the rainy season), and they can save you money during your shopping trips.

7. Reusable bottles and travel mugs.

Campus coffee shops can offer some pretty sweet discounts for those who bring their own travel mug. Your wallet -- and the environment -- will thank you!

8. Dry-erase board.

A dry-erase message board can be extremely helpful in maintaining organization for yourself and your roommates. Mark down all your important tasks for the week, remind yourself of due dates, leave inspiring (or hilariously inappropriate) messages for your roommates -- the possibilities are vast!

9. Professional and formal attire.

Events will pop up all over campus throughout your years there. Some will require you to don formal, semi-formal, or professional attire. Mock interviews, career fairs, dance events, and banquets will ask you to switch out your cozy (and effortless) jeans and tee-shirt ensemble for something more stiff and well thought out. Make sure you're prepared for it.

10. Noise canceling headphones.

Whether studying in your dorm room, the library, or your favorite coffee joint, there will be times when everyone seems to be conspiring against you, hell-bent on preventing you from studying. Save yourself the rage, and invest in noise canceling headphones. If you can't afford them, look for the cheaper alternative, earplugs -- some campus libraries provide them at no charge!

Incoming freshman and other dorm-room dwellers: may you save tons of cash this year.

For those who have finished their shopping, is anything missing from the list? Add it in the comments below!