Welp, I've always wanted an AR-15 and started looking at them seriously in August. I borrowed my friends for a while and learned how to disassemble it and use the iron sights. He had a basic 20" AR-15 with a removeable carry handle. I decided to go for a kind of M4 build. So, I began piecing it together. I kept track of the parts I bought and their prices as well as where I bought them.

A3 upper complete - $95.00 - Del-Ton
14.5" JT Distributing barrel - $165.00 - EE
Eagle Firearms B/C/CH - $111.00 - Eagle Firearms
Double Star Lower - $95 - Gunshow
Generic M4 Buttstock/buffer/spring - $60 - Gunshow
Carbine Handguards - $20 - I forget where I bought it...
GG&G MAD BUIS - $100 - EE
Phantom FH - $25 - Model 1 Sales
LPK - $50 - Gunshow
Misc. parts (delta ring, gas tube, roll pins etc...) $15 - Model 1 Sales
Tools - $30 - Gunshow
Perm. attaching FH - $20 - Local gunshop
1 USGI 30rd Mag - $10 - Gunshow
Total: $808
Not exactly cheap, but I did it myself and feel a hell of a lot more proud of it than I would than just buying a Bushmaster or something.
Here are a few links to pictures:
Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3
Pic 4
Pic 5
I used white out to color in the engraved areas, then rubbing alcohol and a rag to whipe off the excess gunk. Turned out pretty nice in my opinion.

Just finished another build.

16" Kit from AR15-Rilfe.com.  $465.00
Spyder Tactical lower $100 from gun show.

We'll see how it shoots next weekend.

cool, congratulations on your build! looks good

if i get my stripped lower before they become illegal here again ill be bulding one pretty soon too!