As a helpful reply Ill agree with Spawny, 20k is bot of the tank minimun if u have a very small wallet for repairs. Its definitly not worth damaging ur items and not being able to repair. Once you have a "stake" of cash to work from, you can usually confortably run 40k of gear, sometimes splashing out on a spare weapon when the goings especially good, OR when its especially bad.
Try with leathers and 1 single weapon. See how fast you make gold. Then once you have a few k's of gold in the bank, start to incorporate more of your ideal gear, in order of how important each piece is to you. Gradually find the "balance point" of the scales, where you have gear on you are happy(ish) with, and save the really expensive stuff untill you are on that x5 for map or so, and wont feel the pinch.
Also, if you are on a smallish server, and are risking expensive gear to gain a win (and a multiplier), push your advantage HARD. Remember, more time spent using your gear, more likely it will break, so put on the plate, push hard, secure the win, and probably not even pay a penny.
