Your best bet is going to be rubbermaid's or a box if you have tools. Here's my setup.
https://www.rollitup.org/grow-room-design-setup/167843-growbox-analyze-my-new-setup.html
Tell me what you're working with.. are you going to be using everything "Over the counter" like miracle gro soil/ferts?
Anyways. Take your bag seeds (the darker the better, just don't use any cracked ones that expose the white embryo) and place them in small cups (12oz-20oz) in wet soil about 1/2" deep. I feel this is the safest way to germinate because if you germinate in a paper towel, you risk damaging the radical (the main root). Buy a CFL (the curly lightbulbs) and place it 1" above the soil. Wal mart has 26w CFLs (which are equal to 100w incandescent, this is what the 26w = 100w means). Get a 6500k spectrum (normally called Daylight bulbs) as this spectrum is the primary one needed for growth.
To be honest.. my recommendation, and a cheap one at that, is to go to Wal-mart. No matter what anyone says, just use Miracle-Gro potting soil. It works well enough for small grows, and even the great Uncle Ben doesn't frown upon it.
Shopping List:
Clamp lamps w/ domes - found in tools section ($6 a pop)
V light splitters - found in surge protector/timer section ($2 a pop)
Electric timer - be sure to purchase the THREE prong, not two, this allows for more watts. ($7)
Surge protector - for a good high amp/volt one. It comes with an extension cord ($10)
26w CFL 6500k - usually labeled daylight and usually blue packaging. ($6 for two, depending on where you go)
Fish Emulsion fertilizer - don't use this until your plants are around 4 weeks old. You're probably only going to find this fertilizer at Home Depot in garden center. This has an NPK ratio of 5-1-1 (Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potash (potassium aka K)). This is around $5. Schultz makes a good one, but any will do.
This is all you'll need to get your seedlings started. The most important thing as a new grower is to try and FORGET about your plants. Don't overanalyze them, but still be observant/aware of their changes.. Plants take a while to grow especially under conditions that may not be the best. When I started out, it took my seedlings 5 days to break soil. Takes me around 2 now. Try not to overwater your plants, to put this into perspective, I put my seed into the soil and water it in.. this is all my plant needs to sprout and all it needs until I transplant it. Some plants need more/less and this depends on your seed production/turnover. If you buy the timer (which is a good investment if you are planning on actually going anywhere with this) schedule your lights for 18 hours on, 6 hours off. This mimics the long days of summer where growth is heavily promoted AKA the vegetative stage.
Hit me up with any other questions, like growbox design etc.
