Speaker cable recommendations in my budget

If you can get  NBS Serpent in your price range, go for that.

AudioQuest Type-4 - No Frills Build Speaker Cables, with BFA style banana plugs on both ends, from Audio Advisor. Relatively inexpensive, well built cables, with good, solid connectors

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This........Solid core speaker cables really tightened up the bass in my system.   And at $109 shipped for an 8 footer it is a nobrainer to try.
https://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=AQT4NF&opt=474|492|494|498

Another vote for Audio Envy.Plenty of detail,sweet highs,great bass.

mofimadness-

I'm a HUGE proponent of BDR cones/pucks/pits/shelves. I have them everywhere. Don't think they'll solve your speaker cable issue though...

Right. They are awesome. And Right, they are not speaker cables. The OP will still want to upgrade cables some day. Fine. The improved dynamics and inner detail resolution Cones will bring will make it all the easier to evaluate and appreciate the differences between those cables.

In the big scheme of things where I dwell its all about picking the low hanging fruit. I never advocate anything hard and risky when there's something easy at hand. Components still connected with crappy plastic patch cords and freebie rubber power cords are only a little higher on the tree than components still sitting on the factory feet, but why reach any higher if you don't have to? Do you know any cones better than BDR? I sure don't. Which makes it a sure thing. I don't think anyone can honestly say the same about cables.

Finally, a lot of guys unfortunately are under the impression things like cones aren't serious components. Again, having used BDR you know this stuff is serious as a heart attack. So its worth it to the OP to learn this lesson early, and learn it well. For all these reasons I recommend BDR Cones over cables. 

tochsii-

How would I make my own?

Well first you would let someone sell you on the idea this is something worth doing. Then you would let someone sell you on the idea they know what materials and construction will be best for your budget and sonic preferences. Then you would shop around and buy the wire, insulation, terminations, solder, soldering gun, wire strippers, and electrical shrink wrap. Then you would let someone sell you on the idea they know what is the best way to put this all together. Because every single one of these things makes a difference, and you know nothing about it. So to say this is a leap of faith trusting someone you never met to tell you how to do it, don't even begin to cover it.

So let me tell you about making your own. I'm all for DIY. Did you look at my system???! Look at my system! https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367 DIY turntable. DIY rack. DIY acoustic panels. DIY power conditioner. DIY subs. And practically everything that's not DIY has been modded. 

Now why do you suppose a guy this much into DIY has no DIY cables? Its not for lack of trying! I have a whole drawer full of old cables. Even at one point had some DIY cables. Because once long ago I was dim and gullible enough to be sold on the idea and so I tried. Then I met a guy who was as much a believer in DIY cables as anyone you will ever meet here or anywhere else. This guy had 30 years practice working on DIY cables. One time he comes over all excited to show me his masterpiece, the best IC he ever made in his 30 years. We plugged it in. It sucked. Well that was compared to some moderately priced cables. So I went to my old cable drawer, pulled out the oldest cheapest one in there. Cost a fraction of what he had in his just in parts. To say the guy was shattered wouldn't do it justice. His masterpiece was so utterly destroyed by my old discarded cheap cable he couldn't even try and deny it. 

So listen, you can buy cones. You can buy cables. But if you decide to make your own.... GOOD LUCK!