My local grocery has whole loins on sale for under $2 per pound every few weeks. Just cut it yourself at home into chops, or smaller roasts which are great for the crock pot. Beef is still stupid-expensive at the grocery, fortunately a local farmer gives me screaming deals on quarters.
If you're on a budget check your grocery store circulars for what is on sale, make a list before you go shopping, and never walk into the store hungry.
Try to stay out of the center aisles with the processed food (the baking aisle is the exception).
For recipes focus on savory rather than sweet dishes, unless the sweet comes from honey. A lot of cooking sauces have added sugar or HFCS, as does catsup.