Ah, bento on a budget is totally doable! A few of us moms just rotate between simple ulam like fried egg or tocino, with rice, and then fill the extra spaces with affordable veggies (carrots, cabbage) or canned fruits, parang masaya pa rin tingnan pero hindi masakit sa bulsa. One of my friends swears by buying sale items on weekends and meal prepping on Sunday para sa buong week, tapos she just reheats at pack the night before so walang stress morning of. The key talaga is packing things na kaya mong i-repeat without going crazy, and involving your kid sa packing para excited siya sa lunchbox niya!