I'm making mashed potatoes for dinner because I'm poor until Wednesday.

Do you have onions, or creamy soup? You could add all kinds of stuff to poor potatoes. That is what I do when I am poor.

Potatoes are so versatile. Try them like this instead of mashing...it makes a world of difference flavor-wise(even if you don't stuff garlic in between the slits, especially if you use seasoned salt.
http://www.seasaltwithfood.com/2009/05/hasselback-potatoes.html

brown rice and veggies is a normal night dinner for me...

mashed potato popovers are amazing!