$90 is a lot for most people, especially, I suppose, most people working for the Sun. For Sam Zell, it wouldn't be. There's a line somewhere between the two.

Cheap meal? Beans and rice. Take a pound of dry beans (any kind: red kidneys; black beans; chick peas; etc.) and soak 'em in water overnight (or over two nights if you get busy). In a biggish pot, soften some chopped celery, onions, and pepper in a little shortening (bacon fat is more traditional and bad for you). Rinse the beans and put them back in the pot. Score a ham hock in a criss-cross pattern, and put it in the bottom of the pot with the beans and veg. Add just enough water to cover everything. Season with red and black pepper.

Put the pot on a low heat and let it simmer, and simmer, and simmer. The beans should break down and become creamy. The scoring on the ham hock will allow the meat to split and come off the bone, which can be discarded. You should have enough now for several meals.

Serve over rice, for a filling and cheap meal. I like to serve it along with spinach.

Cheap Jim, thank goodness Restaurant Week isn't every month! If we mostly have meals like the one you describe, I think the occasional pricey dinner could work. Then again, that meal wouldn't taste as good to me. My expectations would be too high.

Speaking of bacon fat, you could probably sub bacon for the ham hock, right? --- lfk.

Bacon, while tasty, is more expensive. Think lower on the hog. Or go without, even. Vegetarians have an advantage when it comes to grocery bills.

Definitely, a big advantage. --- lfk.

I am pretty sure that shortening (trans fat) is worse for you than bacon fat.

I don't use any meat at all when I cook beans. The fresher the dried bean, the more flavorful they are, and less time they take to soak.

I recently bought some heirloom beans online, which were very flavorful, and still cheap, I thought.

But, since I know Brent, I know there's no way he'll eat a meatless meal anyway :)

Good luck, Brent!

Use the weekly grocery store circulars to see what is on sale and then stock up on your favorites and things that you use often even if you don't need them at the moment. If you really do not like to cook, the grocery store salad bars and hot food bars can be very affordable.

I like to get the healthy choice pre-made meals when they are on sale for around $2-3 each and eat one or two boxes ('one serving' is never enough for 'one serving') for lunch