Hmm- most of the veterans, I think, would tell you to spend the cash and buy a lighting system. This is how commercial grows go- and they can hire electricians to put everything together.
By the time you add a power cord and an enclosure, yer maybe saving $20 off of buying a low-end prefab in cash, at least @ my local.
To me, being able to walk into the shop and leave with a working unit is worth $20 every time. And if I have a problem, being able to bring the faulty unit back and have it replaced off the shelf is priceless.

I gotta say, I don't understand why folks are unwilling to invest in decent equipment. Have you ever met a professional carpenter who bought the cheapest tools he/she could get?
No matter what you spend on a system, you'll see your investment back in 2-3 months. It's a no-brainer, folks.

Also, be aware that the components that you fry as you learn will need to be replaced- I'll bet that building yer first $100 home-made ballast ends up running more than off-the-shelf, by the time the lamp's lit.

Yes, ballasts, flip-flops, speed controls, etc can absolutely be built up out of components.

And if you know enough to do it safely, you don't need instructions.

If you need instructions, then you should just go to the store and buy a ballast.