Unfinished Furniture Questions

I am considering going the unfinished furniture route for some bedroom items.

Does anyone have a sense of whether, after the cost of supplies, this is a reasonable way to end up with presentable items at a decent savings? I've painted some small cheap items before (bookshelves, etc.) and they are okay but look like I painted them myself. There are brush marks and some uneven spots, even though I did apply a primer. It is possible to make something presentable on a budget? Does it require expensive spray equipment to make the paint or finish look good?

On one hand, the unfinished items seem to be of better quality than the stuff that a lot of stores sell that looks alright but seems to be really cheap quality (like wood fronts and cheap cardboard or particle backs). On the other hand, I don't want the finish to look bad.

Has anyone successfully completed such a project? Are their any good online sources for the furniture? Tips appreciated.