I don't think I've ever planned a meal in my life unless it was for a special occasion/holiday. I know my mother never did either. We normally just cook what we have on hand, depending on our tastes for that particular day...and then everyone else can either eat it or not, their choice.
They usually eat it.
I'm fond of the one dish wonder meal and find them very economical and a great use of the pantry, left overs, etc. We also don't worry about all the variety that most folks incorporate into meal times...our fare is pretty standard and stays much the same over the years, so we don't clip coupons or take advantage of sales...everything we buy is already cheap and they don't make coupons for it~rice, beans, pasta, potatoes, etc. for the base and then whatever we grow and can here as the accompaniment(canned items, eggs, canned chicken, homemade bread), and a few items from the store thrown in(peppers, onions, spices etc.).
So, I guess our menus for frugality rely on staples, simple food made in the skillet or pot~fleshed out with multiple ingredients~ all at the same time and eaten until it's gone in the meals thereafter. Sometimes if we have soup left over and have eaten on it a few times, I'll take what's remaining and turn it into pot pie.
That's pretty much how Mom raised us nine kids and multiple grandkids along the way on just the one, small income and how I did the same with my three boys on my one small income. I guess to most of the world that kind of eating sounds boring but I never heard any complaints and we are all fat and healthy, so it worked.
