Yah...I think the one-gallon jobbies are about $10 with an air pump. A good investment, as they come with gravel and "plants". The Mason jar is also a good idea...
When I priced the 1 gal tanks a couple of months ago, they sold for about $15 with nothing in them. No light or anything. If I got a bowl it would cost about $10. A 10 gal tank with nothing is about $10 at Walmart, but to get the hood and everything else, it would cost a lot more. I will have to look around again to see if I can find anything cheaper. The big problem is that where I'm going to school, Walmart is the only fish supplier - except for this *extremely* expensive place in the mall. I might have to find something at one of the pet stores here before I go back and just get the betta when I go home.