Not to sound like your uncle after he's had a few Keystones, but a dollar doesn't get you very far anymore. Despite the glorified reminiscing about times gone by, a dollar didn't actually get you a whole lot when there were genuine dollar menus at most fast-food chains.

You still needed to spend a little extra cheddar to make it a meal. So, instead, let's see where a Lincoln can take you.

We rolled around to ubiquitous chains like McDonald's, Subway, and Chipotle to find the best meal that can be cobbled together for about five bucks. To eat on a budget, you need a system. Here are the three principles driving the food selection for this list:.

We're looking for the best food the joint offers on a budget. It's not about the most food you can get. It's about the best meal you can construct. It's a little bit about the most food you can get. It's a meal, right? Also, we're not paying attention to limited-time offers that won't be around in a few weeks.

Sorry, Nacho Fries and unicorn thingamajigs. Build your own combo. What to order: It's a little tricky to get the price down while filling up at your favorite mall-based restaurant.

Nonetheless, you can get pretty close, especially if you opt to skip a soda and get some water. You probably need to hydrate anyhow, right? It's pretty damn solid all things considered. While this meal is put together with menu prices, you can pretty reliably find a deep discount in the Wendy's app and occasionally even land a free burger.

Nonetheless, to get your meal, skip the Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger and grab two Jr. You haven't really eaten at Wendy's until you've dipped your fries in a Frosty. The money goes to charity and you wind up getting free Frostys for an entire year.

What to order: If you're looking to maximize your caloric intake for the buck, the Sausage Egg and Cheese on a croissant has a whopping calories. The bagels at Dunkin' tend to survive life before your mouth a little more intact than the croissant. No, you aren't getting a coffee, but Dunkin' isn't fooling anyone with the name change.

You still came there for the donut. What to order: Chipotle is not the go-to spot for a budget-conscious eater. You really can't get anything there's a kid's menu. The same thing less the juice box from the adult menu costs slightly more.

However, it's entirely possible if you think outside the Mountain. Yeah, the Jamocha Shake is only available here, but these are the best damn fries in the game. It's also worth checking if they're offering anything for signing up for the Arby's email list. Sometimes handing over your email lands you a free sandwich or gyro.

What to order: If you've ever been to a White Castle or have seen a film with the words "Harold and Kumar" in the title, you know the drill.

What to order: No, the Colonel still isn't bringing back the long-dead Double Down. Though, the nuggets would substitute well and keep you in the same price range. Plus, you'd be getting those sweet, sweet sauces. Sometimes the classics are classics for a reason.

What to order: Jimmy John's hasn't always been the best place for a super-cheap lunch. Asian noodles are filling and cheap, they usually contain a combination of noodles, broth, veggies and proteins in large quantities that are usually enough for leftovers helping you to further stretch your budget.

You can experience these flavors without the trouble and expense of finding all the ingredients by placing an order at a nearby Asian restaurant. The enormous amounts of this dish can yield numerous meals, which is a great value for your money. It is packed with all the essential nutrients for a balanced and healthy diet.

Customizable bowls provide many protein options, including beans and grilled chicken. It can be cheaper than gathering the basic ingredients and cooking them at home yourself. Meatball stew is a hearty dish that typically includes meatballs, vegetables and a savory broth.

Buying premade frozen meatballs and canned vegetables can be a cost-effective way to prepare this meal quickly. Even though it is not hard to prepare, the benefit of buying it outweighs frying chicken at home. How Big Is Mitt Romney's Social Security Check? Florida's Retirees Are Fleeing: Here's Where They're Going Instead.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates. com : 6 Budget-Friendly Takeout Meals That Can Be Cheaper Than Cooking Them at Home.

markets close in 20 minutes. Dow 30 38, Nasdaq 15, Russell 1, Crude Oil Gold 2,

HelloFresh 76 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Don't Skimp on Taste · Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup · Hearty Vegetable Soup with Parsley Gremolata · Slow Cooker Mac Easy weeknight meals on a budget are possible. We've rounded up our favorite cheap dinner ideas that will easily feed a family of four without breaking the bank

Pocket-friendly meal deals - Home Chef HelloFresh 76 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Don't Skimp on Taste · Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup · Hearty Vegetable Soup with Parsley Gremolata · Slow Cooker Mac Easy weeknight meals on a budget are possible. We've rounded up our favorite cheap dinner ideas that will easily feed a family of four without breaking the bank

The money goes to charity and you wind up getting free Frostys for an entire year. What to order: If you're looking to maximize your caloric intake for the buck, the Sausage Egg and Cheese on a croissant has a whopping calories.

The bagels at Dunkin' tend to survive life before your mouth a little more intact than the croissant. No, you aren't getting a coffee, but Dunkin' isn't fooling anyone with the name change. You still came there for the donut. What to order: Chipotle is not the go-to spot for a budget-conscious eater.

You really can't get anything there's a kid's menu. The same thing less the juice box from the adult menu costs slightly more. However, it's entirely possible if you think outside the Mountain. Yeah, the Jamocha Shake is only available here, but these are the best damn fries in the game. It's also worth checking if they're offering anything for signing up for the Arby's email list.

Sometimes handing over your email lands you a free sandwich or gyro. What to order: If you've ever been to a White Castle or have seen a film with the words "Harold and Kumar" in the title, you know the drill. What to order: No, the Colonel still isn't bringing back the long-dead Double Down.

Though, the nuggets would substitute well and keep you in the same price range. Plus, you'd be getting those sweet, sweet sauces.

Sometimes the classics are classics for a reason. What to order: Jimmy John's hasn't always been the best place for a super-cheap lunch. However, in late , JJ added the Little John. Plus, there are seven varieties of the Little John, which gives you options, but the 6 is a solid choice if you're looking to get the most out of the smaller sandwich.

The vegetarian sandwich comes with avocado, provolone, cucumber, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. You're getting a lot more flavor there than with the spare Slim 5 and a few more calories than with the other Little John options.

If you're ordering anything but the salt and vinegar chips, you're doing it wrong. What to order: You're going to have a tough time pulling this one off.

That's the highest calorie soup they offer. For the same price, you can come close with the Summer Corn Chowder or the Bistro French Onion. What to order: You'll run into the same problem here that you ran into at Chipotle. You could turn to the kid's menu, but that can get awkward.

Let's go a different direction. What to order: The Dollar Menu is dead; long live the Dollar Menu. That's the best you'll do unless you're dining with the Hamburglar. What to order: Get dressed like you're making stops at the sock hop and Makeout Bluff, then try not to spill chili cheese down your chest.

So, there's really only one option to make it all happen here. Load it up with your favorite fixings and add in a bag of Sun Chips, because that's what you do at Subway.

What to order: Yes, you could blow your budget and more on any of its ridiculously sweet Frap du Jour surprises. But you can actually get a decent breakfast as well. Not to mention you should be checking the Rewards app to get points and see if there's a Happy Hour going down.

What to order: You could blow the budget on the new Impossible Whopper , which is really a pretty good choice. That'll land you a bacon cheeseburger, four-piece order of chicken nuggets, cookie, value-sized fries, and a ounce soft drink.

What to order: Look, you know where this is going. You can't just go to Popeyes and not get that chicken sandwich. Why we chose Dinnerly: Low prices combined with a decent variety of nutritious recipes each week ensured Dinnerly would have a spot on our list. Now Blue Apron isn't just known for gourmet meals that are fun to cook -- but also huge savings.

Savings also include free shipping on that first order, as well as additional savings across your next four deliveries. Blue Apron offers an impressive selection of meals to choose from, with more than 70 recipes to browse each week. This includes low-calorie or less , diabetes-friendly thanks to a collaboration with the American Diabetes Association , WW-approved formerly Weight Watchers , and vegetarian choices.

You can also find recipes that fit into the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet. Blue Apron also comes with some noteworthy add-ons and features. Another perk that may sit outside your food budget is Blue Apron's unique wine pairing service. We looked at these and other perks during an extensive Blue Apron review.

Thankfully, you can still save big by sticking to the no-frills weekly plan. And hey, if you want to splurge on some of Blue Apron's premium services once in a while, who are we to stop you?

You deserve it! Blue Apron also makes it easy to pause services or skip a week. This kind of flexibility is key when it comes to long-term savings on your food budget.

Why we highlighted Blue Apron: Blue Apron is a popular meal kit known for fun and unique recipes with affordable prices that really sealed the deal for this delivery service in our books. If you want prepackaged meals that cut out prep entirely, Fresh N Lean would make for the perfect addition to your weekly routine.

This meal delivery service hooks subscribers up with ready-made meals that are fresh, never frozen, and made from quality ingredients. With over menu items to choose from each week, Fresh N Lean wins points for variety.

This includes a number of low carb, vegan, and gluten-free meals to consider on a weekly basis. While not USDA-certified, this company does aim to ship organic ingredients whenever possible. In the event that an ingredient doesn't meet the brand's quality standards, it may be replaced with conventional ingredients.

Why we chose Fresh N Lean: Fresh N Lean is a great meal delivery service to turn to for budget-friendly, fully prepared meals -- especially if you order enough meals to earn free shipping each week. Do you like healthy fruit smoothies for breakfast? What about harvest grain bowls or soups for lunch?

If you started salivating at the mention of even one of those options, then Daily Harvest is the meal delivery service for you. With a menu packed full of whole fruits and vegetables, Daily Harvest is great for finding the perfect meal for breakfast or lunch.

There are more than 20 unique, flavorful, and nutritionally-packed smoothies to choose from including the dragon fruit and lychee smoothie, pineapple and Matcha, and our personal favorite : the strawberry and peach smoothie.

Don't worry, there are plenty of dinner options to consider here as well. Daily Harvest's menu includes hearty soups, forager bowls, flatbreads, and pasta recipes -- so there's truly something for everyone here.

Deliveries are put together one item at a time, so you have the freedom to build your own meal plan each week. Pick anywhere from nine to 24 items each week. Why we highlighted Daily Harvest: Despite smoothie prices that are higher than you expect, Daily Harvest is still a top contender for healthy meals and treats on a budget, especially if you're interested in the variety of breakfast and lunch options here.

Admit it: It's a bit of a flex to have a delicious, homemade meal ready and waiting multiple nights throughout the week.

It takes time and a bit of planning to pull this off, especially if you're cooking for a busy family. And that's not even factoring in high prices that come with eating out.

If you live in New York City, for example, your food budget would likely benefit from a change to meal kit delivery. But wait -- we already know your next question: "With so many meal kits out there, how do I pick the best one?

Choosing the right meal kit for you comes down to a few things. In addition to hunting down the lowest prices per serving, you should always keep an eye out for added discounts.

First-time customers can typically find some level of savings right from the plan selection page. Instead of signing up for the first appealing price you see, shop around a bit to make sure there aren't other better deals waiting for you elsewhere.

Take into account factors such as portion sizes, number of meals per week, and any additional fees for shipping or customization.

That note about shipping fees is worth mentioning again. It's not always easy to see how much a meal kit service charges for shipping until you get into the plan selection process.

In order to make the best selections possible, it's important to pull out all the stops when reviewing meal kit delivery services. We considered a number of factors when choosing the best meal kits for affordability and the biggest ones were:.

Tom Horton is a resident health expert for CBS Essentials, with deep experience in topics ranging from chronic conditions to health-care devices to diet options.

He lives in upstate New York, and draws his power from local bookstores, long hikes on a sunny day, and his cat Sammy. Major appliances, laptops, tablets, smartwatches -- you'll likely find a good deal at Best Buy this weekend.

Don't miss out on our top five picks for the Nintendo Switch games you can enjoy on your console today. A Stanley reusable water bottle is the hottest accessory of , and the new color release is going fast.

Presidents' Day is this weekend, but deals on tech, home goods and more have already arrived at Walmart. It's super simple -- and once you try a meal kit delivery service, you may never go back.

If you've been thinking about giving your three- to year old their own tablet, Amazon's kid-friendly options are on sale. These modern coffee tables from Wayfair, Amazon and more make a style statement in your living room. As this year's NFL championship game sets a ratings record, here's a look at television's other record-breaking broadcasts.

A man has been arrested in connection with the Jan. Flight attendants for major U. airlines are holding rallies at airports around the country to push for higher pay.

Officials are currently targeting late February or early March for Hur's testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, three people familiar with the matter said.

Former "Monty Python" star Eric Idle said people "always assume we're loaded. Consumer prices in January rose 3. DoorDash's "All the Ads" Super Bowl contest is giving away nearly half a million dollars' worth of items seen in game day advertisements. GOP defections and an unexpected appearance saved Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas from impeachment last week.

The law would require children under 16 to get parental consent to use social media apps. It's being challenged in a lawsuit from a group representing major tech companies. Officials said it's possible a stray cat that "regularly hunted small mammals" had the Alaskapox virus on its claws when it scratched the man.

Jon Burnett was one of Pittsburgh's favorite on-air personalities for 36 years. What to know about the plague, its symptoms and treatment options, after Oregon reported its first case since Air quality is worsening across much of the U.

Cheese related recalls spurred by listeria outbreak expands to foods sold by Amazon, Costco, Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joe's and Walmart. An official said he knew immediately that the hiker "had found something special.

The native U. reptile belongs to the largest freshwater turtle species in the world and has jaws that "can snap through bone. The gang was protected by a network of motorcycle taxis and minors who acted as lookouts, officials said.

President Biden said the U. is negotiating a hostage deal that "would bring an immediate and sustained period of calm to Gaza for at least six weeks. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce went out for a night on the town after the Super Bowl — along with Swift's parents.

Elle King admitted to being "hammered" during a birthday tribute for Dolly Parton at the Grand Ole Opry. But Parton said to "forgive that and forget it. In an era dominated by digital dating, a growing number of singles are turning their backs on apps in favor of the time-honored tradition of matchmaking—a practice deeply rooted in various cultures for centuries.

More people on dating apps are being targeted by scammers using bots and artificial intelligence, according to experts.

FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress that Chinese hackers have positioned themselves to wreak havoc on U. CBS News cybersecurity expert Chris Krebs joins to assess the threat.

The Biden campaign says it's "incorporating a sophisticated security protocol" around use of TikTok. Some Gen Z workers are posting video of themselves being laid off in search of "likes," feedback and revenge.

Google has rolled out the full version of its next-generation AI chatbot, Gemini. It gives users the ability to have conversations with the tech giant's most powerful AI model to date.

Gizmodo reporter Maxwell Zeff joined CBS News to discuss the product. Humans are to blame, the report says. Satellite imagery from recent months shows Antarctica's A23a gradually heading north toward open water after breaking free from the ocean floor last November.

Iceberg researcher Dr. Andrew Meijers joins CBS News to discuss. Michael Mann sued after two conservative writers liked his work to acts of infamous child molester Jerry Sandusky. The warmest January on record was confirmed right after the world experienced its hottest year ever observed.

New gun safety measures are taking effect Tuesday in Michigan with changes to universal background checks, storage requirements and "red flag" laws. Jordyn Hermani, a politics and culture reporter for MLive, joined CBS News to discuss the new laws. The year-old church leader is facing five charges, including for having rock and liquid forms of meth and driving without valid insurance, according to an arrest report.

Portland police said that Haynes, 70, was in police custody at a local hospital as the suspect in the fatal shooting of Janette Becraft. The third commercial station flight chartered by Houston-based Axiom Space ends with picture-perfect Atlantic Ocean splashdown.

The spacecraft's instruments will study how Earth's oceans, atmosphere and land masses interact and how that interaction impacts climate change. After multiple weather delays, the Ax-3 crew was cleared for undocking and return to Earth on Friday to close out an extended mission.

About Here's where you can see it in April NASA estimates the biggest asteroid headed our way is between feet and 1, feet across. When Tiffiney Crawford was found dead inside her van, authorities believed she might have taken her own life.

But could she shoot herself twice in the head with her non-dominant hand? We look back at the life and career of the longtime host of "Sunday Morning," and "one of the most enduring and most endearing" people in broadcasting.

A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity. Cayley Mandadi's mother and stepfather go to extreme lengths to prove her death was no accident. Days after a young woman vanishes, a man in a distinctive hat is seen walking away from her car.

Who is the man in the hat? A special election is being held in New York's 3rd district to fill former Rep. George Santos' seat in the House of Representatives. Democrat Tom Suozzi, who previously served in Congress, and Republican Mazi Pilip, a Nassau County legislator, are locked in a tight race.

CBS News New York's Jennifer Bisram reports. New England is bracing for possible coastal flooding and strong winds as a powerful nor'easter slams the area. CBS News Boston's Louisa Moller reports from Scituate, Massachusetts.

The foreign aid package that passed in the Senate overnight faces steep opposition from House Speaker Mike Johnson, who suggested Monday that the lower chamber would not consider the bill.

CBS News congressional correspondent Nikole Killion reports. Parts of the Northeast are facing heavy snow, gusty winds and moderate coastal flooding as a nor'easter impacts millions Tuesday.

CBS News' Lana Zak is watching the weather from New York City's Central Park. In , 60 Minutes went inside the construction of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Pocket-friendly meal deals - Home Chef HelloFresh 76 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Don't Skimp on Taste · Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup · Hearty Vegetable Soup with Parsley Gremolata · Slow Cooker Mac Easy weeknight meals on a budget are possible. We've rounded up our favorite cheap dinner ideas that will easily feed a family of four without breaking the bank

Buying premade frozen meatballs and canned vegetables can be a cost-effective way to prepare this meal quickly. Even though it is not hard to prepare, the benefit of buying it outweighs frying chicken at home.

How Big Is Mitt Romney's Social Security Check? Florida's Retirees Are Fleeing: Here's Where They're Going Instead. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.

com : 6 Budget-Friendly Takeout Meals That Can Be Cheaper Than Cooking Them at Home. markets close in 20 minutes. Dow 30 38, Nasdaq 15, Russell 1, Crude Oil Gold 2, Silver Bitcoin USD 49, CMC Crypto FTSE 7, Nikkei 37, Read full article Deborah Sabinus. This vegetarian spaghetti squash lasagna, with 18 grams of satisfying protein and 7 g of filling fiber , is a great budget recipe you'll turn to time and time again.

Pictured Recipe: Easy Chicken Fried Rice. Budget Tip: Fried rice with plenty of vegetables and a little meat is an obvious choice when you want to make a quick and healthy dinner that's easy on your wallet. Feel free to throw in whatever veggie odds and ends you have in your fridge.

Being versatile and using what you have on hand helps you save money and minimize food waste. Pictured Recipe: Roasted Buffalo Chickpea Wraps. Budget Tip: Canned beans are an affordable, healthy and convenient ingredient that add satisfying protein and fiber to your meals.

Here, canned chickpeas replace the more-expensive chicken but still deliver that satisfying Buffalo flavor. Stock up when beans go on sale and use in wraps, salads, soups, stews and more for a healthy, inexpensive plant protein.

Budget Tip: Canned black beans, precooked rice and whatever veggies you have on hand are all it takes to whip up this fast and flavorful bean and veggie taco bowl.

Use whatever pantry staples you have on hand to create this low-cost meal and skip an extra trip to the grocery store. Budget Tip: Chicken often goes on sale, so when it does, stock up and keep it in your freezer.

This one-pot pasta uses less-expensive flavorful chicken thighs combined with veggies, dried herbs and cheese for a delicious and creamy one-dish dinner. Pictured Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef Stew. Budget Tip: Tougher cuts of meat, like the beef chuck used in this easy beef stew recipe, are affordable options that simply need more cooking time to become tender and juicy—which makes them perfect for the slow cooker.

Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising.

Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance.

Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Develop and improve services.

Use limited data to select content. List of Partners vendors. Healthy Eating Budget Cooking Guide. By Victoria Seaver, M. Victoria Seaver, M. Victoria Seaver is a registered dietitian and Associate Editorial Director for EatingWell. She completed her undergraduate degree in nutrition, dietetics and food science and her masters degree and dietetic internship at the University of Vermont.

Video