I'm a big fan of clippless pedals! I haven't been cycling for all that long but have seen HUGE improvements with clipping in. I believe i spent about $80-$100 on the pedals (ebay) and maybe $75 on shoes. If you are a member at Performance or REI they often have big sales with extra coupons, etc. Actually, this weekend might be a great time to take a look. Also, if you try on some shoes and find out what your size is in a couple of brands, you could find some discounts on past year models online.