Everyone has a different idea of what's "easy" or "cheap", but here are some relatively easy, inexpensive, meal ideas for single guys (or gals).

The classic: A pot load of any kind of pasta with sauce. (Canned sauces tend to be less expensive than those that come in jars, and don't require the work that sauce mixes do.) A container of store-brand grated cheese, oregano and/or basil can make the meal a little less boring. Add a French bread or multi-grain roll and some bagged salad to make it more of a meal. (Bagged salads are more convenient, but it's a good idea to give them a washing even when the package says "ready-to-eat".)

A variation of the above: Pasta with olive oil, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese.

Another variation (rotini works well with this): Pasta served cold with olive oil, black olives, mushrooms, tomatoes, and Italian seasoning.

Yet another variation: Cook a single-serving of fettuccine in a small skillet, rinse, and drain. Add a tablespoon of butter or margarine, as much light cream or milk as desired (depending on whether you like a lot of sauce or just a little), a hint of garlic (or garlic powder), and grated cheese to taste. Voila - fettuccine and "faux" Alfredo sauce.

Getting away from the "classic single-guy pasta", there are lots of meal options available at your grocery store. Don't be intimated by the price of some, because some packages offer more than one meal (which for the single person means being the one to eat the second meal, as well as the first). In other words, the package with a $4.00 price (as compared with the $1 price of a package of pasta) may amount to $2.00 each for two meals.

There is a wide variety of protein sources packaged for the microwave and/or conventional oven. Whether it's chicken breast, fish fillets, or tofu turned into something like "artificial chicken breasts", many of the packages containing two whole portions (or several smaller portions/pieces) sell for in the area of $4.00.

Rice in all varieties is available in microwave cups (at around $1) or in microwave-in-the-bag packages (also around $1). Boil-in-bag rice is cheaper (especially store brand), but it takes just that little bit more effort.

Canned, whole, potatoes can come in very handy. Rinse them well to get rid of any possible metallic taste and heat them in a small skillet with olive oil and sage.

Keeping a few bags of frozen vegetables (usually a little over $1 each) lets the single person throw a mix of vegetables into the microwave, and serve with any meal. Although we often hear how frozen foods are among the most expensive, don't let that keep you away from the frozen vegetables case. There are lots of packages of frozen vegetables with or without other vegetables and/or pasta, aimed at serving one individual at a time and costing about in the area of $1.20 to $1.50.

Again, bagged salads are another way to get some vegetables. Darker-leaf lettuce is healthier but salads made with it tend to run a little higher in price. Adding some cheddar cheese chunks or croutons can make for a heartier salad.

A small package of ready-to-eat carrot slices, or baby carrots, isn't very expensive (even though ready to eat "anything" always costs more per unit than food that isn't ready to eat; but a small package only costs about $1 (or so) and offers an easy way to add carrots to any meal or salad.

Keeping a jar of real or artificial bacon bits offers an easy way to add flavor to any number of meals. A package of soy "sausage" links is another handy item. Microwaving two or three, slicing or crumbling, and adding them to pasta or sauces offers variety and taste.

Another approach to meals - the great sandwich. A loaf of French bread, focaccia, saloio, or any other tasty bread can be the beginning a great sandwich. A handful of bagged (and washed) salad can go into a sandwich too. Add your choice of cheese (or cheeses), a good Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, oil and seasoning or your favorite salad dressing. Half-sour or dill pickles sliced for sandwiches, sliced tomatoes, and/or cucumber can make a good sandwich even better. For meat-eaters, deli-sliced cold-cuts can turn this "veggie and cheese" sandwich into something completely different. For vegetarians, adding soy "sausage" (links or patties) or any of the varieties of soy "cold cuts" does the same.

A can of your favorite soup with your sandwich can make it even more of a guy's meal.

Speaking of canned foods, if you don't mind the fact that they come with a lot of sodium, don't forget things like baked beans (in cans or jars) or canned hash. Speaking of canned hash, it goes well with an easy omelette made with scrambled eggs, canned mushroom slices, red and/or green frozen peppers, and cheese (Swiss cheese adds a little extra flavor). An alternative to fresh eggs may be the eggs products in cartons, including "whites only".

These days the frozen food case has a variety of complete meals in a bag. Depending on the size of the bag and the brand, these microwave and/or skillet meals range in price from about $3 to as much as $7. BirdsEye offers the "Voila" line (one of the least expensive) of meals, some of which are low-carb while others are not aimed at the carb-conscious consumer.

Don't forget fruit. Keeping fruit that doesn't go bad can be a challenge when you're one person living alone, and one way (not as good as fresh fruit) is to buy diced fruit in single-serve snack. cups Diced and sliced fruit comes in cans too, of course, although they're less handy. Applesauce is another way to get fruit. Always look for fruit that has no or little as possible sugar added.

Fresh fruit that keeps a little better than some are apples, oranges, clementines, and pears. Consider keeping a small jar of honey or single-serve caramel dips to have apple or pear slices for dessert.

Frozen berries (strawberries, unsweetened or sweetened, are good) last in the freezer until you thaw them. A container or can of whipped topping (sweetened, unsweetened, low-fat, or whatever other kind you prefer) can turn frozen berries into a dessert too.

Finally, when it comes to coming up with meals that are easy and cheap, consider "cheating". Stop at a local take-out restaurant where you can get something like a reasonably priced serving of chicken, fish, teriyaki; or a sandwich large enough to cut in half. Turn what you order into two smaller portions for two separate meals, and add your vegetables, salad, or rice for each meal.