Marcie Rothman, a San Diego author who calls herself The $5 Chef, offers a few tips regarding fresh food vs. pre-packaged meals:

l If you look at the unit prices on items, you’ll find that many pre-packaged items are more expensive than fresh foods. Instant mashed potatoes, for example, cost around $5.98 per pound, while fresh mashed potatoes cost 80 cents per pound. Because instant mashed potatoes aren’t sold in pound quantities, first glance suggests the boxed version is cheaper.

l The same goes for Hamburger Helper and Spam. A Hamburger Helper meal costs about $5.25, while the same size fresh meal costs around $4.29. You may have to buy the fresh food in larger quantities, but you’ll have leftovers. One pound of Spam costs $4.64, while a pound of fresh pork costs $1.99-$2.99. Again, because Spam is sold in smaller quantities, the price difference can be deceiving.