Growing up, the parents burned two crucial lessons upon my psyche. One, if something broke in the house, unless the neighborhood kids squirted our dog with LSD through slats in the fence again, whatever wreckage they discovered inside the place was certainly my fault–so start apologizing.

Even more important though, was the lesson I’m most grateful for: Never, never, never, ever pay retail.

See, present economic conditions are really no different for me now than when I was six. Back then I hated spending money. I hate spending money now. Whenever I have to part ways with a dollar, my ears ring. Don’t ask to borrow any from me, either. The answer is no–in any denomination. I’m a real savage like that.

But while I can’t avoid exchanging some of my precious bio-survival tickets for goods and services–some of which are necessary ( like skin moisturizer for Oedipus”s paws ), others are more indulgent ( like vodka that tastes less like the runoff from a train platform ) the bottom line for me is the bottom line. That is to say, the actual cost is what matters most when deciding between products.

Which brings me to one of my favorite tricks for grabbing meals on the run while spending the absolute minimum of hard-earned ducats.

Fast food. Generally speaking fast food is cheap. By design it has to be, since it’s usually little more than sodium glutameted coated cardboard. For a moment, let’s gaze beyond the obvious health hazards, because my technique can also help reduce the physical toll of eating fat-laden fare while saving a few bucks. Two for one. Huzzah.

All three mass-market burger chains offer value meals. These cleverly packaged deals promise a quick meal at a fair price are a sort of false advertising. Even the cheapest value meal clocks near six bucks ( USD ). Jumping Jesus on a pogo stick! What if you don’t feel like a Rockefeller at that moment? Say a bit proletariat, maybe. Or like a refugee of love.

Enter the dollar menu. Consider the McDouble and the four piece McNuggets. Not in the same sitting, mind you. Separately. Even in New Jersey, a McDouble after taxes is $1.07. And the stack of tiny cheeseburgers, ketchup, pickles and onions are very close to the recommended calorie count for a modest meal, roughly 500. For approximately 1/2 the cost of a gallon of gas, stuff your face and feel good about spending less while minding the waistline.

Better yet, the technique scales. Let’s just say you are out with the significant other and the nosh bug starts claiming appendages. Double up on the dollar menu, each ordering an item. Need fries and a drink? Split a Happy Meal and a dollar menu offering. If one party insists on larger portions, order one value meal ( regular sized fries and drink ) and one dollar menu item. Kapow! A family of two eats for seven bucks. Maybe less, even.

NOTE: The first rule of being frugal is to make loved ones aware of your cheapness. This passion must flow through everything you do. Like the Force. It can not be an unexpected game-changing surprise. Better to make it known early on in the relationship you cut corners when spending. Stopping in for a quick bite after a day of fun together is not the time to announce: “Baby, you can get whatever you want, as long as it’s a single serving from column B.”

That kind of strategy gonna get your game shut down way before Valentine’s Day.