What to do with low lvl spell slots at high lvl?

[Rebel Arch]

Very general, just what 1st, 2nd, 3rd lvl spells, can you use at later lvls so these aren't dead spell slots? The biggest thing I notice is the DCs if I'm now lvl 14 monsters don't even need to roll a 5 to save against my 1st lvl spells. Second the buff spells are hardly worth the turn spent on casting for a +1 or +2.

Class or build doesn't matter for this discussion, just what are those spell slots for, why do we keep them, what does the game creators intend us to do with them?

But if someone really wants more specifics, lets say I'm playing a 14th lvl Caster Cleric.

[Breiti]

The spells for this slots still keep a huge value. Just prepare situational spells or long time buffs and this spells can still be useful for out of combat healing.

Some spells i like to prepare at this level:

- Grace (Level 2, swift action you do not provoke AOOs for 1 round)
- Align Weapon (Level 2, so you can bypass some DR you can't otherwise)
- Restoration, Lesser (Always good to have i know Restoration is better)
- Protection from Evil (subject immediately receives another saving throw against mind control ... i always have one to counter dominate etc)
- Shield other
- Invisibility Purge (Without this you have bad time against invis attacker)
- Magic Vestment (Not every shield/armor at this level is +3...1hour/CL)
- Create Food and Water (Even level 20th have to eat...)

This is just a small list of things i like. But i think this spells saved my life more than a few times (Expecialy Grace and Protection from Evil)

Breiti

p.s. A metamaic rod of quicken lesser me be good for this slots ;)

[Alcomus]

Magic Missile. Even at 14, its still not a BAD choice. Guaranteed damage is never a BAD thing. Anything that buffs the party is good as well, because even a +1 to hit is helpful. Things that target REF and WILL saves will still be possible as well, just use them sparingly and only if you know that one of the saves is low. And spell focus if you don't have it is good.

[Belafon]

For a cleric there's tons of good low-level choices in addition to the ones above:

-Shield of faith (especially with a metamagic Extend rod)
-Status
-Resist Energy
-Remove "X" (paralysis, fear, disease, etc. Paralysis being a big one to avoid coup-de-gras)
-Admonishing Ray
-Liberating Command

[Adamantine Dragon]

Buffs are almost always good.
Magic missile is usually good.
Some spells always work, no matter what level you are:
- glitterdust
- true strike
- healing
- enlarge/reduce person...

I don't play at high levels a lot, but I have played up to level 16 and I never had a problem making use of my lowest level spell slots. Heck, I still found plenty of uses for level zero spells.