Yep. It’s not fun, but it can be done. If you want your meals to be fun, get a job, start a business, rob a bank - but show some freaking INDUSTRY for crying out loud. DO something. Produce something. Or live on bad tasting, but healthy food.
It doesn’t even have to be bad tasting, really. A bottle of hot sauce is cheap and can liven up a plain beans and rice dish.
Red beans and rice - throw in a ham hock and a few bay leaves in with the beans while they cook (preferably all day). Splash on the hot sauce of your choice. That’s decent cheap eating. Plain, but good po’ folks food. I was raised on that.