When to start spending gold on equipment?

Last season I struggled near the end because I was spending every time I raised up. Starting with buying at the merchant, then the forging - then I was poor in gold. Ive been conserving my gold this season I'm at Res 481, just using equipment I earn and zero forging. When is it a good time to forge - or is it at all? Should I just focus on spending gold elsewhere, or?