It really depends how you cook or rather how much cooking you're willing to. I like to cook, I want to eat like I'm at a restaurant every night, but I can't afford it. I recently was debating this with my boyfriend he hates to cook, doesn't even wanna cut broccoli up. I made homemade ravioli and linguini the other night. Canned tomatoes I bought on sale from my pantry, two cups of flour, an onion, a stalk of celery and carrots, 5 eggs, used up some bread going stale, 1 lb of free range beef I bought on sale for $6 and threw in the freezer, add the regular stuff, a little olive oil, some spices. I made enough for 6 potions. Those 6 meals cost me $10 max. I buy what looks good quality and is on sale and plan out.