New Textbooks

10 Things You Shouldn't Buy in 2010

Don't waste your money on new books unless it's absolutely necessary.

Shop for used textbooks in your school's bookstore, or check out web sites like CheapestTextbooks.com, Booksprice.com or Amazon.com for good deals. TextbookMedia.com allows students to download textbooks for free.

In addition, many companies are now offering book rental deals. Barnes & Noble Inc. recently announced its book-rental program, now available in 640 of the nation's college bookstores.

(AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)

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New Textbooks Don't waste your money on new books unless it's absolutely necessary.

Shop for used textbooks in your school's bookstore, or check out web sites like CheapestTextbooks.com, Booksprice.com or Amazon.com for good deals. TextbookMedia.com allows students to download textbooks for free.

In addition, many companies are now offering book rental deals. Barnes & Noble Inc. recently announced its book-rental program, now available in 640 of the nation's college bookstores.

(AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)
Snuggie For just $19.95, the popular Snuggie blanket promises to keep you warm with its super soft fleece.

Consumer Reports magazine put the crazed item to the test. Testers put Snuggies through 10 wash-and-dry cycles and asked staffers to wear them. According to comments, the Snuggies were so far from snug that several staffers had trouble walking, and when washed, the blanket shed tons of lint.

If you are still interested in this product, you may want to hold off to make a purchase until spring, when the "Toasty," an electric version of the Snuggie, makes its debut. Better yet, wait until next winter to buy the Toasty -- do you really need an electric blanket during the summer?

(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Gas-Guzzling Car... Gas prices are on the rise again. The Energy Information Administration expects prices will rise to their highest point in two years.

Be prepared for the future with a fuel-efficient vehicle, like the Honda Civic or the Volkswagen Jetta.

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External Hard Dr... External hard drives are useful, but there are other up-and-coming options for saving your important documents. Online backup services, like Carbonite.com or Mozy.com, allow users to back up data over the Internet. Although these services may cost a little more than an external hard drive, they are a simpler alternative.

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Cheap Treadmills For many people, a new year usually means a new resolution to get fit. For those who are heading to the gym or out to buy some fitness equipment, beware of cheap treadmills.

Consumer Reports recently tested 29 of the latest treadmills. Both the NordicTrack T9ci and the Best Fitness BFT1 were voted as a "Don't Buy." Since then, the NordicTrack T9ci has been discontinued, due to its lack of durability and safety.

Don't waste your money on a cheap product that will cost you more in the long run. Less expensive treadmills, such as the Sole F63, were voted as a "Best Buy" and cost about $1,000.

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Energy-Inefficie... Energy efficiency is becoming more and more prevalent to homeowners. Although some of the newest products come with higher price tags, they help to lower those dreaded heating and cooling bills. Plus, a federal tax credit allows up to $1,500 on energy-efficient home upgrades through Dec. 31, 2016. Some of the upgrade credits will expire at the end of 2010, so it's best to prepare your home for the future now.

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Windows 7 With new technology, glitches and software bugs are inevitable. Save yourself the extra hassle and money -- wait until next year to purchase Windows 7.

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Digital Readers Like Windows 7, digital readers may present technical issues. With various types of eReaders for sale, including Amazon's Kindle and the Barnes & Noble Nook, how can you be sure you're buying the best product at the best price?

It's more than likely that all current eReaders will soon be updated, and that more eReaders will be introduced in the near future. Wait a little longer for an updated or better version of the product at an affordable price.

(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, file)
Oxmoor House Hom... Oxmoor House Inc. recently announced a voluntary recall of its home-improvement books. The books contain errors in the technical diagrams and wiring instructions that could lead consumers to incorrectly install or repair electrical wiring. The incorrect directions could lead to an electrical shock or fire hazard.

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Extended Warrant... Although they seem to be a comfort to buyers, extended warranties aren't usually a reasonable purchase. In addition to the cost to insure the item, a buyer also has to pay for marketing costs, a commission to the salesperson, and an additional profit margin for the issuer. Only a small percentage of a consumer's money actually goes to the product's insurance.

(iStock Photo)