Welcome to Subeta! There is currently no avatar-generator site around, the last one stopped updating when the wardrobe/images were changed over on Subeta so their auto-update system stopped working. You can still play around in the current wardrobe and save outfits, including previewing items you don't own with or without Custom Wearables (CWs)

If you are particularly after a pet colour, Aqua is a pretty new one, but in terms of 'expensive' colors, you would be looking at Angelic, Spectrum, Blacklight followed by Reborn, Nightmare, Storm, Glade, Bloodred, Harvest, Graveyard - the prices fluctuate so I haven't put them in any special order for you. You can go on SL to preview the colors you do like :)

I personally always use my totem on a slot, because that's the one thing you will eventually not be able to save up for, since loyalty totem pet slots count outside of other means to get pet slots (so you can have pets over the soft maximum for pet slots), but it depends on how many pets you want to end up with :)

Useful Links:

What to do on Subeta? Useful general information for newbies Finding friends (Chit Chat) SubetaLodge (Offsite item database, pet colours etc.)
FAQ