KM, since my husband is a student and we live on a very limited income, I have learned to be seriously frugal. But, I love good food. Here are a couple...

Chicken and Dumplings

One whole fryer - boiled until tender with 1 onion cut in quarters and 1 rib of celery, some salt and pepper and a bay leaf. Any of those thing you don't have on hand, don't use it!

When chicken is done, take chicken from pot, take meat off the bone. Take 2 cups plain flour, mix 3/4 to 1 cup of broth, including fat that is on top of broth, and make into a dough. Let dough rest and cool in the refrigerator for 15 minutes or so and roll out. Cut into strips and drop into broth that you have brought back up to a boil. Cook dumplings about 10 minutes uncovered and then cover for 10 minutes. Add a little milk and taste for seasoning.

Now, if it were me, I would buy 2 chickens, cook them both like this, take both off the bone, divide chicken stock in half, divide chicken into 3 batches. I would make the chicken and dumplings one night and it would probably be enough for 2 meals. Then I would make chicken soup with the rest of the broth by adding more onions, carrots and some type of pasta, and serve it with grilled cheese sandwiches for another meal. Then I would take the other chicken meat and mix it with 2 cups of cooked rice, and a can of cream of chicken or mushroom soup, and a little broth or milk.
Bake in a 350 oven for 30-45 minutes and top with cheese (same kind used for grilled cheese sandwiches)

I've added it all up, and by my estimation, all the ingredients for these meals would cost around 10-12 bucks and that would give you a minimum of 3-4 meals, including leftovers.

Hope this helps.