A tube of Smarties, 3 bags of Space Invaders, a pack of Sainsbury’s Basics Choc Digestives, 3 Chomp bars, 5 packs of Haribo Star mix, a pint of milk and a second class stamp…

These are some of the things you can get for 50p.

So how about dinner for two? Turns out some seriously scrummy stuff can be racked up for half a quid. Get out your silver and fork out on these 7 meals that will see you through a thrifty week...

Have you visited the world's first ever online Freshers' Fair yet (all years)? It has loads of freebies and discounts and it’s free to get in.

• Take me to freshersfields.com for discounts and free stuff

Potato, onion and bacon pie

• 2 large pots
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 4 slices of bacon
• 2 large potatoes, sliced

Put a layer of potato in the bottom of an ovenproof dish, then a layer of onion slices, then 2 slices of bacon. Repeat and end with potatoes. Add a little milk over the top and bake in the oven quite slowly for 45mins-1 hour.

Tuna Kedgeree

• 1/2 onion, diced.
• 1 tsp oil
• 1/2 cup rice (value rice)
• 1 cup water
• 1 tin cheap tuna
• 1 egg, hard boiled and chopped
• 1/2 cup frozen peas

Fry the onion until translucent, add the rice and stir round. Add water, bring to the boil. Leave for ten minutes with the lid on and on the lowest heat possible. Add the peas and leave for 5 more minutes until the water has been soaked up. Heat up beans and add to the rice and peas along with the hard-boiled egg and drained tuna. Season.

Soufflé Omelette

• 4 eggs
• Grated cheese
• Mushrooms, sliced
• 2 Onions, sliced

Carefully separate the egg yolks from the whites. Whisk the whites up into stiff peaks and then (even more carefully!) fold into the yolks together with a little grated cheese and fried, chopped mushroom and onions. Pour the mix into a frying pan and cook one side. DO NOT TRY TO FLIP OR TURN! Instead, place the pan under a heated grill to brown the top side.

Fish Cakes

Cheap and healthy brain food

• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 3 Tbs oil
• Tin tuna, drained
• 2 Potatoes, boiled and mashed (leftovers will do)
• Breadcrumbs from crust of loaf
• Dried parsley
• 1 egg, whisked and split into two - half to bind the mix, half to dip the fishcakes in
• Salt and pepper to season.

Cook onion in 1 tbs of oil until soft then add to potato. Add the tuna, half egg mix, parsley and season. Shape cakes into patties with your hands, dip them into the egg mix and then into breadcrumbs. Chill in the fridge. Fry the fishcakes in remaining oil until golden brown.

Veggie Wraps

• 2 wraps
• A couple of handfuls of mixed veggies (e.g. carrrots, mushrooms, courgettes, onions, peppers, beansprouts or whatever’s in season)
• 1 onion
• Handful cheese
• Tbs oil (if you’ve got it, sesame is super scrummy!)
• 2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chilli flakes/powder

Stir fry the onions and veg until soft. Add chilli and cumin. Heat the wraps then fill with veg and some cheese. Fold up, sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and put under the grill to crisp up and so the cheese is melted.

S-ou-per Soup

• 1/4 pack red lentils
• 1 medium onion
• couple of medium potatoes
• 2 large carrots
• 2 heaped tsp bouillon powder
• splash soy sauce

Peel & chop all the veg, plus any greens you have spare, e.g. couple of brocolli stalks, the dark green top of a leek (well cleaned) or a few sprouts. Make about 3 pints of stock by boiling the veg in a large stove-top casserole dish or saucepan. Add all other ingredients and simmer for about half an hour. Liquidize.

Cheese and Onion Pie

Why bother with Greggs...

• 1 onion
• Grated cheese
• 1 egg
• Pastry (buy if you can't be bothered to make it it won't dent your 50p ceiling!)
• Salt and pepper
• Milk

Roll out the pastry and line it in an oven proof dish. Cover with a layer of chopped onion and then grated cheese. Beat egg with a little milk, pour over cheese and onion. Season with salt and pepper. Roll a pastry lid, brushing the edge of the base before hand with a little milk. Seal the edges and brush the lid with milk. Pierce the surface with a fork and cook for 30 minutes.

In the world of the money-scrimping student supermarket 'own brand' reigns supreme - so it probably goes without saying that if you're using gourmet mushrooms and Cathedral cheddar cheese you're going to break that 50p barrier!

Make friends with Tesco Value, Saino's basic, ADSA Smart Price and you've got a weeks worth of meals for 25p a head. Can't say fairer than that!

Get discounts and freebies at The National Online Freshers' Fair - all years (Domino's, Urban Outfitters, Warehouse, Greggs...and masses more!)

• Take me to freshersfields.com for discounts and free stuff

Tags: Student food