I never had an issue with 2 silver and 1 reg mobs, or 1 gold and 2 silvers when I was leveling deception. Khem Val tanking and I would jump on the weakest of the group. If your using your interrupts and CC's the way they are meant to be used most mobs are easy. I was even able to solo quite a few heroic 2 and 2+ quests. When I got to Hoth and got Talos Drellik questing got even easier. I wish the inquisitor got there healing companion earlier in the game.
I didnt waste my credits on upgrading my gear. The gear I got was from random drops and Quest rewards.