What are you planning on building? A cab or a control panel?
If you are planning on building a cab nothing about it is really cheap and if I were you I would save up a little money first so you can make it as good as you can. It would be worth the wait. Cheap cab now that you will only want to remake or better cab later its up to you!!
I would like to echo Ghoward's sentiment. This hobby can get quite expensive,

...especially if you like to tweak, tinker, and upgrade. I would suggest building a test control panel first and get the controls configured the way you like them

. Then do the things you want to make the CP look you nice like painting it, installing overlays and T-molding. The skillz you aquire working on the control panel will help you when you decide to tackle the big cabinet

. Building a cabinet can run into several hundred $, some times thousands $$$

... But you can build a basic 1 player control panel for $50 to $150 including controls, interface and materials. Plus it is a nice way of enjoying your classic games without having to wait until you finish your cabinet.
Anyway, once you get the fever, it is hard to quit... I started with 2 joysticks, 6 buttons, and an IPAC...and now I am up to 3 swappable control panels, 1 full cabinet, 1 bar-top, 2 shelves full of assorted parts and hacked joysticks, and I spend way too much time on the BYOAC forum...

...not trying to discourage you from building your dream cab, just trying to give advice... good luck on your BYOACing!!!
