I`ve been skint, brassic, penniless a lot of my life and have learned to be resourceful and frugal.
You need time, patience and imagination more than money.
When I had no money I bartered my time, skills/experience for food from farmers and growers.
I`ve lived in the Middle East (Tunisia-Sudan-Egypt) and Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Poland) and I know how to survive in the wild so to speak...At least you`re near civilisation lol.
I`ve eaten snakes, Cockroaches, scorpions, rats, wild goat, roots, berries, cacti, flowers, roadkill...game..you name it.
If you know what mushrooms to gather wild...they are excellent protein sources and there are lots of great food in woods and forests to eat...but you need a good guidebook with clear illustrations or find someone with local knowledge.
I go to markets at the end of the working day to haggle and get bargains.
I go to farm shops directly and also buy/swap from friend`s allotments and garden plots.
I can make my own pancakes and chapatis
http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/showthread.php?30008-Indian-bread-how-to-make-JAPATI.
Pea, ham and lentil soup made from Pork shanks is amazing and cheap.
Buy a big pot and bulk cook; then portion and freeze in plastic bags or plastic containers.
Buy cheap cuts of meat, trim to death then cook long and low for tender melt in your mouth texture or get a second-hand slow cooker.
You can also cook a stew by bringing it to the boil for 20-30 minutes then wrap the hot pot in a well-insulated tea-cosy like covering and it will cook itself slowly in a few hours.You can make the jacket from thick material filled with polystyrene pieces. newspaper etc.
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Onabudget/Pages/Savemoneyfood.aspxThere are amazing videos on youtube for basic cooking skills; I didn`t have any books or PC to help me when I was growing up; I asked for advice from friends and family; I also lent cookery books from the library when I was a poor student.
http://www.guidingtech.com/13245/youtube-channels-learn-basic-cooking-skills/Get to know a friendly grocer socially with a costco account etc and he can get you a big bag of rice or potatoes at least; you can breath on the basics with herbs and spices and stocks etc.I eat very little processed food...too much salt, fat, sugar, additives and chemicals for me.