D.W.
First, I'm so sorry about your hubby's job!
Beans are super easy! Just soak them over night so they'll be ready to go the next day. I loosely follow the directions on the back. I love making red beans and rice. I usually will saute an onion and some garlic, maybe bell pepper if I've got it or celery till soft then add the beans, water, bay leaf and let it simmer and cook down. Usually takes 2-3 hours. Also, I like to toss in some turkey sausage that I've cooked in the pan toward the last for extra flavor. Black beans are easy as well. The back of the package will have great suggestions for recipes that you can adapt for your family.
Try using brown rice to get the most bang for your buck. It's going to have extra protein, fiber and vitamins to keep your family healthier and feeling fuller than white rice.
Whole wheat spaghetti is also another inexpensive great choice. Again, by using the whole wheat you also get protein and fiber! And it tastes better than the white pasta any day.
I buy a big bag of stir-fry veggies at sam's for less than $6 (and it's a huge bag!) and make a stir fry sauce using equal parts peanut butter (again protein), brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, then a bit of ground ginger and a small amount of galic powder-all things your probably have in the pantry! Stir all those together to combine and I add the sauce when the veggies are done and let it cook for just a minute or two so it thickens up. You can serve it over brown rice or whole wheat pasta.
I just started making my own refried beans by mashing cooked pinto beans then cooking some onion, garlic in the pan adding the mashed beans and some water then salt to taste. Super easy! Serve on whole wheat tortillas with some cheese, tomato and you are good to go.
I also buy big bags of mixed veggies for less than $5 at Sam's. My kids eat veggies at lunch and dinner and the huge bags at sam's last a long time.
I make a super easy chicken soup that is good for you too-cook a piece of chicken and shred it. Use a big box of chicken broth, a couple cans of beans, a couple cans of tomatoes, can of green chilies, some onion, garlic, cumin. Just dump it all in the pot and let it heat up. Use the seasonings to taste. Add the shredded chicken when it's hot and give it time to reheat in the soup. But this one is great because you can make up a lot of it and freeze it.
If you have a friend that has a sams membership you can shop with them!
Also, use coupons and compare the store sales to get the most out of your coupons. Most stores will honor other stores sales. Watch for BOGO and use a coupon, you can get things for almost nothing!