What I would do for a Paladin is concentrate on AC & hitpoints first. You won't even get spells until level 9. Go to the link below, click on the slot and then sort by AC or hitpoints and weight your options. You aren't always going to find what you want in EC so maybe have a list of top 3 wants for each slot.
http://wiki.project1999.org/Category:Paladin_Equipment
The AC5 HP 55 rings are awesome but 250-300pp each so if they don't fit your budget guidelines you could get a couple of Admanatite Bands. They are 75 hp -10 sv magic each and are about 100pp each and not lore. The - sv magic is a big deterrent for some but starting out, you really aren't going to be fighting a lot of caster mobs solo. The boost in hitpoints will probably far outweigh the extra damage you might take until you can afford the other ones.
For the Druid see the link below.
http://wiki.project1999.org/Category[You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]ruid_Equipment
For the Necro see the link below.
http://wiki.project1999.org/Category...ncer_Equipment
For Wis and Int casters remember that the mana you get from Wis & Int scales as you level up so when you start out, +1 int = 1 mana. After a few levels it will be 2 mana. So in most cases it's way better to buy +mana items and in many cases they are cheaper than their wis/int counterparts.
A rotbone bracelet is +35 mana and -8 stamina. The -stamina isn't ideal but since casters are usually on a 1 sta = 1 hp ratio, it's not a big deal. You lose 8 hitpoints but gain the same mana as 20-35 intelligence or wisdom! And it's less than 100pp. Another cheap (and easily found) alternative is the Ivory Bracelets from Unrest. You'll find them from 25pp-100pp very easily and have 20 mana each (and +3 agi).
Let's talk bag space.
On new casters it's very easy to become encumbered. Regular backpacks and now sewing kits are 3 lbs each. You have 8 bags, that's 24 pounds which is more than 1/3 of your weight limit before being encumbered. If you can afford 10pp per bag, I'd recommend getting 7-8 Concordance of research. Myrsila, one of the gypsies in North Karana will give you one if you give her a greater lightstone. Most players just vendor them there and if you can't farm the Greater Lightstones yourself, just buy them from the vendors there. They are between 10-11pp each. They are only six slots but fit giant sized items and only weight 0.2lbs each! 8 of those instead of regular bags saves you (24lbs - 1.6lbs =) 22.4lbs! And the price for all of them is the same as one 10 slot backpack which still weights around 3lbs and only shaves off 10% weight.
Bank Space:
If you can afford 10-11pp each slot, I'd recommend buying the spell research books like the Lexicon, Elemental Grimoire, Tome of Endless Enchantments and Book of Dark bindings. They are 10 slot large containers and although they weight 4lbs each, since they're in the bank it doesn't matter. You'll need one for your NECRO anyway. If you can't afford that, go with the 5 gold 8 slot backpacks. I would buy one Large Sewing Kit. If you aren't going to be actively tailoring while you're out hunting, keep it in the bank to save on weight. Use the wiki guide on leveling taioring, it will help a lot both saving you time and money by increasing efficiency.