Gold is per-stage
You earn gold by killing monsters and clearing combats. It buys chests, shrines, and equipment.
Gold does not carry to the next stage. Anything you leave behind is gone, which makes the end of a stage a spending deadline.
Chests and prices
Chests come in a few sizes, and each asks for a set amount of gold. Bigger chests cost more and hold rarer items.
Buy what you can afford before you leave. A chest you never opened is a lost item, not a saving.
How printers work
A printer shows one item it will give you. In return, it takes items of a matching type from your pile and converts them.
You feed the printer, and it replaces your matching items with copies of the one it offers. It is a way to turn a scattered pile into a focused build.
Reading a printer
Check what the printer consumes and what it returns. A printer that eats a good item to hand back a weak one is a trap.
A printer that converts junk into a strong stacking item is a gift. Use it to push toward the item your build wants most.
Trading with intent
Printers let you gamble, but the trade is visible. You can see both sides before you feed it, so there is no luck involved.
Feed a printer only when the item it returns is better for your build than what you give up.
When to hold gold
Hold gold only to reach a specific chest or shrine you already scouted. Otherwise, spend it before the teleporter.
Next: time versus loot.