If you go on BBC food they have a great recipe search. You can put in a search term like pasta and get loads of great recipes. Some are simple, but it's nice to experiment sometimes and stretch your skills. Learn to cook a stir fry.
Heat a vegetable oil / sunflower oil
Add strips of raw chicken fillet (not too large)
When all sides are white, add some veggies (for a veg like carrots slice diagonally to cook it quicker)
They should cook in about 5 mins, should still have some crunch
You can add some sesame seeds if you like
Cook on a medium to high heat, and stir regularly because it will stick / burn. DO NOT LEAVE THIS UNATTENDED WHILE COOKING UNLESS YOU TURN HEAT OFF. (Cos it can burn or smoke easilly and you need to be there to turn the heat down)
Eat it plain, or add a soy sauce, oyster sauce, packet sauce, sesame oil or something like that.
Very cheap because it's just veg and chicken or you can use fish / beef / pork whatever. But be careful that meat is cooked through. Sauces and stuff can be expensive but if you like them and don't use too much it will be OK.
Rice and noodles are cheap too.
A good way to cook rice
Get a pan and put in a serving of rice (remember it swells when it cooks)
rinse it a few times to get rid of any dirt / some starch
Add enough water to just cover the rice
Bring to the boil on highest heat
When boiling, turn pan down to lowest heat setting
Leave for about 10 mins
Resist temptation to open pan before
If it boils over, remove for heat while it settles down and then put it back
Rice does not need stirring, does not get sticky and is cooked to perfection and is fluffy.