Suggestions for (Cheap) Grow Lights

[NeedleCast]

Some background.

I live in a row house in Baltimore, MD. I have started my vegetable and herb garden from seeds the last two years, but having moved from a big house in VA to a smaller on in MD, I have a lot less indoor sunny space due to both where the windows are located and a cat that thinks my sprouts are toys. This year I started my seeds about three weeks ago but it has been unseasonably cool for a few weeks here so I have not been able to leave seedlings outside during the day to harden. Instead, they were kept inside in the best location I could find (which was still poor). Those that survived the cat are losing their first leaves and have slow/no growth.

What I do have now is a large table and an unfinished basement where I can start my seedlings. Being new at using grow lights, however, I need some advice. I'm specifically looking for something that meets the following specifications

A) Good for starting seeds indoors and allowing them to grow into plants that I can transplant to outdoors.
B) Easy to install...preferably no installation (like a lamp). If they can sit on a large, solid table and just get plugged into a standard outlet, that would be perfect.
C) Could also be used to keep some smallish pots of herbs alive year round (I miss fresh basil in the winter).

Links to any specific products would be a great help.

[Kolesar]

1. A T8 fluorescent fixture is quite efficient and economical

I bought two 48" two lamp fixtures for "the shop" in the basement. I got them at Lowe's or Home Depot.

[NeedleCast]

2. Thanks

I picked up a couple of 60 watt grow bulbs last night at Lowes and mounted them in clamp on fixtures but I think doing the largerr fluorescents in a standing wrack mount will end up being what I do in the future.