When I was in second grade (late 70s), my family moved from GA to OK so that my parents could go to a bible school. My parents were both only working part time while putting themselves through school as well as a daughter in college and three more children at home; so, my folks were always looking for inexpensive stuff.
One night, my mother browned some loose ground beef in a pan, poured off some of the grease, and then dumped barbecue sauce on it and stirred it all together. We still eat it this way on a regular basis.