This year, we are using our 4ftx4ftx8in cedar bed that we got from Home Depot last year It was about $40
We also started a new garden bed, this time more frugal but pretty awesome. I made a cinder block garden bed. I used (10) 8inx8inx16in blocks from Menards, the total cost was about $15. It made a bed that is 4x4x8 but the inside is about 3x4x8 and I can use the squares of the cinder block to plant things in.
We filled the beds with some organic soil mixed that had a fertilizer and some bags of cow manure/compost. I got all of it at Lowes and I'd say for all the bags I paid about $30, I believe we bought about 18 bags. I also used 3 bags I had leftover from last year. Boy, you sure do need a ton of soil for these things! I have a few bags left right now as I haven't planted some of the plants yet that are going straight into the ground.
I also invested in a big tomato cage and a medium cage for the tomato plant and bell pepper this year. Last year the tomato plant monopolized the entire garden bed.
I did all the work myself this year, my husband has a new job that he's at all day every day (except Sunday!) so it was up to me to get this garden done. We're getting a very late start, but I'm hoping we get at least some small harvest.
Yesterday, I started building the cinder block garden bed. I didn't dig it out. Instead, like last year, I laid paper down to prevent the grass from growing through. Last year I used newspaper, but I didn't have any this year so I used paper bags from grocery shopping. I put paper in all the holes too so that I can grow things in them without worrying about grass growing through.
My cat has been helping.
I've been finding TONS of slugs in our yard. They are a garden pest. For now I've been relocating them, but if they become an issue with the plants we'll have to take some more drastic steps. I want to start small with them though, I don't want to just go killing them if it isn't needed and I don't want to spread pesticide around my garden bed either. I don't think we'll need to do that. I think they won't be an issue and if they are we'll try egg shells or mulch first. I've also read putting a bowl of beer or something in there will attract and drown them, but like I said, I don't want to have to kill them if I don't have to. I also don't want beer at my house. 
Finished garden beds all filled up with soil.
I built a trellis, I haven't put it in the ground yet because I have to weed wack first, but I didn't want to spend $20 on a trellis. So, I bought some 6ft stakes and 2ft bamboo and used wired to attach them. This cost about $4 I believe. It will be for the blackberry bush I bought.
After planting pic! I planted everything today after a good rain last night. I haven't done the blackberries or sunflowers yet, but the garden beds are complete :)
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