^^^^
I have built up a few bikes and have always been blown away how much they end up costing. For instance, one of bikes frames cracked beyond repair. The bike had good components on it, so I decided to get a new frame and transfer the old group onto the new frame. After scoring a deal on a frame, i began to transfer the old components onto the new frame, which you would think would be an even transfer. Between handlebar tape, new cables/housing and brakes shoes and chain and a couple of other brikabrak, i spent close to $150 for essentially nothing (this does not take into consideration the frame cost). $150 isn’t isn’t a lot, but it kind of puts it into perspective that you will be spending a couple hundred on things you didn’t even think about. One other thing, and almost any will tell you, you will be spending more on proper bike tools than the actual bike.
I’m not trying to discourage you, just prepare you. You should never start with the intention that you are going to be saving money. With Craigslist there are tons of cheaper options. Anybody who says they save money building themselves has long forgotten all the money they spent on those spare bike parts that fill their garage. You are however going to gain a ton of knowledge about your bike. Information that will transfer over to servicing your own bike, which in the long run will save you a ton. Also no turn-around time, unless your basement gets backed up for some reason. Those expensive bike tools will easily pay for themselves. Also, you will have a weird connection with the bike, because damn it, you know ever nook and cranny. Most importantly, and most expensively, you get what you want. You can mix and match components and parts that suit you specifically.
). Basically, the kind of bikes that would make decent commuters.