My "secret" is that I freeze absolutely everything. Right now, my freezer has: bread, cheese, fruit, vegetable, raw meat, cooked meat, soup/chili/stew, chicken stock, chicken bones waiting to be made into stock (incl veg scraps), almond pulp, whey, yogurt starter, burritos, pocket sandwiches, baked goods. Nothing prepackaged (and nothing years old wilting away), I love it!
I've got beef stew with mashed potatoes on the stove now. I don't usually add up the cost of my meals, but I'll give it a try (this will be an expensive one, but I only make it about twice per winter season because it takes a while).
Beef (shoulder roast - my meat guy didn't have much of his cow left) - $28.95
Olive Oil - $0.25
Onion - $0.26
Garlic - $0.25
Tomato paste - $0.99
Beef stock - $2.50
Carrots - leftover from last fall CSA
Turnips - leftover from last fall CSA
Parsley - $0.59
Potatoes - $0.81
Cream - $0.25
Butter - $0.30
Spices - negligible, nothing exotic
==============
$35.15
Obviously, the driving cost is the beef, which can be had for much cheaper if needed (I love my local beef, though!). I got pretty good deals on the onion and potatoes because of a new grocery store opening up in my town.
For 8 servings, the cost is $4.40 each. With a bottle of wine ($22), this meal will be $30 for the BF and I - worth it because it's so good! And I'll have leftovers in the freezer for lunches for 5 weeks (I generally have enough in the freezer that I don't have to repeat my lunches during the week).