Bought my 1st piece of gear today! What should I buy next?

[Appalachian Tater]

I agree with endubyu. You have until October, you are on a budget, make up a gear list, post it here, then look at a couple of alternatives for each item, then keep an eye out for sales and bargains.

[Hooch]

. . . .then everything has to come in right around 25/30 pounds. That of course means a lightweight pack. . . .

Not necessarily. It means lightweight gear to put in your pack. If you have a light pack full of heavy gear, you still have a heavy pack to carry. Be more cencerned with the weight of what's going into your pack, not so much as the weight of the actual empty pack.