How do you get a start of the provident life? To begin living within your means?

The first thing you need to do an inventory. 

Take a look is in your trash can. Yes the trash. This will tell you what you buy and how you eat. If you see a lot of pizza boxes, fast food wrappers and soda cans you have identified a place where you can save a load of cash. Try eating a home cooked meal. They cost a great deal less and almost always have more nutrition.

Second inventory is to count your outfits in your closet and your shoes. 

Third  inventory your pantry. How many meals do you have in your home.

If you can go more days without wearing the same outfit  than you have meals in your home its time to stop shopping at the mall and get some groceries into your home. 

Easy home cooked meal for under $5

1 cup uncooked rice

1 can cream of chicken soup 10.5 oz

1 can tuna fish 5 oz

1 cup frozen peas

1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese.

2 cups water.

Put rice, water, undrained tuna, and cream of chicken soup in a 2 quart casserole dish

microwave on high for 10 min then stir. Microwave again for to minutes or till rice is tender then stir in frozen peas. sprinkle on cheese. Microwave for 2 minutes to melt the cheese. let sit 5 minutes then serve for dinner. Feeds 3-4 people. 

To feed 5-6 people add one more can of soup, 1 cup uncooked rice and 2 cups water. and cook the same amount of time.