I wish someone had told me to spend the $180 bucks getting my bike properly fit (not just eyeballed by the salesman), and to spend whatever it took to try a bunch of saddles until I found the perfect one.
I felt like a complete schlub after paying Nate Loyal that much money to shift my saddle and my cleats less than a centimeter apiece, but within two weeks I realized it was the best money I'd ever spent. (Certainly more beneficial than the Oakley Razorblades, tubular tires, and overpriced bling cr@p I was squandering my money on at the time.)