cheap eats

[Dreamweaver]

Load up on meat that is labeled Manager's special (nearing the "Sell By" date) and stick it in the freezer.

I advocate shopping at an import/Asian food market nearby. You can get huge bags of rice for $15. Rice is filling and goes with anything. Get cheap meat and some cheap frozen veggies and you can have a nice stirfry. You can also get noodles for really cheap, along with a gazillion types of sauces and bullion to season it up and make soups. (just yesterday I made a shiitake egg drop soup).

Frozen premade dinners are handy, but expensive in the long run. Instead of buying individual pre-packaged portions, buy a larger jar of something and package it in individual cup-sized tupperware (like with applesauce or pudding).

Don't forget to shop for fresh fruits and veggies in season. Bananas are always cheap; if you don't eat them before they overripen, just freeze them and make banana bread later.