ya my motto now is: dont skimp on your light just skimp on everything else! No seriously though, if you spend a little extra on your light you won't be disappointed. The rest is getting used to YOUR setup and making it work for you. Although it is tempting, try not to listen to EVERYONE'S advice on the whole grow setup and make it your own.

For small grows you could do hydroponics with much better results than soil in 5 gallon buckets. The buckets themselves cost relatively nothing, you can get smaller buckets too. The water essentially drains from the top to the bottom. You have a basket that sits in the bucket where the roots / plant is in and the excess water drains to the bottom of the bucket where there is a hose recirculating the water to the top again every couple hours or so. You can have them linked by hose to several diff. buckets too.

5 gal buckets: $5 ea
Retaining baskets: $2-5$ ea.
Hosing: $3
water pump: $30
growing medium (clay pebbles) : $30 - big bag
250W HPS light: $80-$150
Air pump / air stone: $10
Misc parts / tools: $100

You are looking at less than $250 if you want to only have a few plants (1-3) and if you go cheap. Don't skimp on your light!