Actually Jeff if you go with Iris brand, rather than Sterlite or Rubbermaid, you can buy a basically glass quality clear tote so you get the benefits and ease of plastic but still a very clear and nice view of your snake. Iris aren't as easy to find but can be ordered online or generally found at OfficeMax/Office Depot type stores. Here's a picture of both types as examples....

Sterlite brand....


Iris brand....


Iris is not only a lot closer to glass quality but the insides are smooth so you aren't having that wonderful experience of trying to pick a dried urate out of a ridge in the floor of the tub LOL.

Boomer, you can save a ton of cash on the startup and put that towards getting a well started captive born baby rather than a unknown pet store one.

For a ten gallon unless your house is heavily air conditioned a decent UTH or flexwatt should easily give you the temps and temp gradient your snake needs. Put on your list mesh lid clips...black metal...found at most any pet store for about $3.00 a pair (they are graded by tank size so look for the 10 gallon ones). As for substrate, with any baby I'd go with layers plain white paper towels so that's about a buck or two at most. For hides, because you baby will outgrow them at regularily as it grows I'd just use something like this...



Small cereal bowl type thing, plastic, easy to clean, dark, the snakes love em...3 for a dollar at the dollar store.

For a dish again your choice but an expensive one isn't always the best choice. Some of the pet store ones are a total pain to keep clean. Standing water in a warm, humid place like a bp home tends to grow nasties so a bowl that's heavy so it can't be tipped over, yet easy to sterlize is a great thing. For this we use various sizes of white ceramic ramekins, found in any department store or dollar store. The ones I get are I think 4 for $6.00...



As far as the 10 gallon itself unless they are on sale at the pet store I'd check out a few garage sales. They are usually easily found for a dollar or two. If it doesn't have one do buy a really good mesh lid and those clips of course.

Another handy thing to have is a place to put your snake while you clean it's home or have to take it to the vet. These are found almost anywhere, have secure lids and a carry handle, come in a variety of sizes...this particular one pictured (it's the smaller one) was $2.00 at the dollar store....



Lastly an Acu-Rite from Walmart (similar sold at Lowe's and Home Depot but under different brand names)...about $12.00 or less plus the cost of one AAA battery...absolutely invaluable to monitor temps and humidity and way more accurate than anything I've seen come out of a pet store for a LOT less cash....



So basically my list would be....

Used 10 gallon tank - $1.00 (new about $10.00)
Lid (assuming it didn't come with one) - $10.00
Clips for Lid - $2.00
2 Bowl Hides - $1.00
Paper Towels - $1.00
Transport Tub - $2.00
Acu-Rite - $12.00
Battery for it - $1.00
Water Dish - $1.50

Total of - $31.50 plus your choice of UTH and you are good to go.