If you are beginner then you don't need to by expensive stuff. I bought my very first pair of skies at Sports' Mart for just under $300, including bindings and install. In fact, they are for sale if your looking....
Boots are the one thing I might splurge on. I also bought mine at Sport Mart for cheap, but after 2 seasons they almost destroyed my feet. Got to the point where I couldn't ski in them properly and they were ruining my ski days. Spent about $700 on a new pair and they should work better. Helmet is something you want to buy new. I got my old one for $70. Poles are $25. If you plan on going multiple times throughout the year, buy a ski card. The 1st, 4th and 7th times are free and you get a ~$20 discount each time in between. Normally the price of the ski card is close to the price of a lift ticket anyways.
Goggles price depends on how cool you want to look really, but make sure they are UV protected and will reflect the snow glare and fit your face snug. Nothing worse then being blinded going down the hill and having a piercing wind stream hit your face.
But as Polak said, boots are #1 most important part. They should fit snug, but not too tight. It's better to get boots that are slightly larger then ones that are too tight because you can do things to the boot to make it more comfortable. I'd also recommend getting a good pair of ski socks. They cover your shins and have padding on them so you don't feel the pinch on your boots. They also vent well. And make sure to get a face guard. Wind protection is pretty important when your high up.
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