I got my reflective vest at Home Depot for $10. It definitely resulted in cars giving me a bit more space.

I don't run lights during the daytime. You have to spend a lot to get ones bright enough to see in the daylight, and I don't think it adds much to your visibility. If you'll be riding at night, definitely invest in a quality headlight and a bright rear-blinky. You want things that will make you stand out against the background of lights on the street (car tail lights, street lamps, store signs, etc.).

"how much people pull out and stop behind a stop sign to peek out"

I'm not sure what you mean by this, but if you're having cars start pulling out in front of you at intersections, try to pull farther into the lane when you're approaching the intersection. Most drivers are only looking for cars in the lane, so they'll miss you if you're in the shoulder. Check behind you for cars before moving out, of course.