we are only level 2 and have been given a budget of a little more than 1000 gp, so the more obviously useful items are out of my price range. i did find a couple useful ones, tho. the cloak of resistance is good (or the protean cloak for a cheaper option). and there is always a mithral buckler for some quick armor bonus. bracers of armor also would fit, and perform a similar function, tho i don't know the system quite well enough to know the trade offs involved in that choice.