Last week, i\n the kosher section of the grocery store I found dried soup mizes for $1.49 each. It's dried beand and veggies. You just add water and you have a complete soup. Serve with bread and salad and you ahve a complete meal.
I wish I had known about these when I was a dirt poor single mom! i touwld ahve beat "breakfast for dinner" every now and then.
Those things are good!!! And vegetarian as well. They're so easy to make, are loaded with protein, and are always cheap. I can sometimes get them for 79 cents.
Try all of the flavors--also, you can add your own pasta to it after the soup is cooked (if you add it during cooking, it sucks up all the liquid).