You’re spending enough on $250 text books, so try to go light on the pencils, pens and note books. This isn’t elementary school where your mom buys 10 composition books, three packs of pens and five pink erasers. The bare necessities along with a couple of extras can be important for class life:

• Notebooks – It’s not necessary to have a notebook for every course. You’ll find 95% of your classes will only use 1/3 of the pages — leaving 2/3 for other subjects. Consider buying a notebook with several dividers for each course. It’ll be less to lose and keep you organized.
• USB Drive – There is hardly a major that doesn’t require some computer work (think of the research papers!) and you might not want to store all of your information on the college’s servers because believe it or not, one day you’ll leave and want those documents. Therefore, buy a USB drive and try to find one that can connect to a lanyard or a key chain (it’ll be more difficult to lose).
• Laptop – Although a desktop computer can store more and perform better than a many laptops, sitting in one place for hours on end — either browsing the web or writing a paper — you’ll wish you had some mobility. A laptop (even the cheapest) can liberate you from your chair and give you the ability to take notes in class.
• Water bottle – Some lecture halls can be very dry and consequently make you quite thirsty. Instead of blowing your money on soft or energy drinks every class, simply buy a water bottle. Fill it up and throw it into fridge (or freezer, depending on what kind of waterbottle you use) before you go to bed. You’ll be able to hydrate without missing a beat of the lecture.
• Snacks – Now that you have your water bottle, you might want something to munch on – be it Cheetos or some crackers. Just as you don’t want to blow all your money buying $2 sodas every day, you also don’t want to overpay for cheap snacks. Go to a big box store and get an assorted snack pack and store in a safe place (or at least out of reach from hungry, lazy roommates).
• Gum – Gum is often understated as a means to stay awake. Your body is more likely to avoid drifting if you’re occupied with something. That should be the lecture but if it’s mind-numbingly boring, a piece of Juicy Fruit can be keep you off the ropes.