I personally know some folks who spend all their money on fast food, and then online it seems pretty common folks not knowing how to cook causes massive financial problems.
My super duper cheap meal that takes no effort is “lazy rice veggie soup”: Can of peas and carrots cooked with a bouyon cube until cube is dissolved Add cooked rice to mix, and heat until rice is flavorful with absorbed broth
I do a cup of dried rice, and a can of peas and carrots which means the soup has 800ish calories and I think it’s pretty good as it’s either 2 small meals that you can have sides with, or one large one!
So what are your cheap meals you like to make? The less well known, the better!
Don’t be afraid to “dress up” box dinners like Mac n cheese or suddenly salad. A handful of beans, tomatoes, onions, carrots, or whatnot can stretch it and make it healthier.
Cooked and then refrigerated Quinoa, Bulgar, and Couscous make great salad bases for something different than lettuce.
Savory oatmeal is supposedly a thing, but I’ve never tried it.
A quarter pound of beef in Mac and cheese is ace and still super cheap.
Or can of tuna.
Personally, I like “White Trash Heaven”- it’s just mac and cheese with fried Spam slices.
Franks red hot sauce with Mac and cheese is amazing. If you want more protein, grab one of those already cooked chickens from the grocery store, rip it apart with your hands, and toss it in too.