Yeah, lots of folks think the lightest frame and the most expensive parts make a great bike. In truth, the best wheelset you can afford and a silicone pad seat are the most important.
Also - with the demise of so many local bike shops - getting some good bike tools would be worth the money. For me, I grab all the freewheel remover tools I can get my hands on. NOS, used, whatever. Most new steeds are cassette driven, but you'd be surprised how many older freewheel bikes you'll come across. When things get tough, being able to remove freewheels for service or replacement is worth it's weight in gold!
Here's an older pic of what I had. It's prolly about double this now.