I need ideas on meals that are cheap and can last a while and can feed 4 to 5 people?

Okay, me and three (possibly four) friends are going to galveston for a week in june 12th-18th. I'm trying to figure out how much the trip will cost me, so i can save as much money possible. I figured out that with the route im taking, it'll be 230.43 miles all the way there. My car gets around 27 miles per gallon. Tell me if this is right, it would cost me approx $40 to get there? $80 to get there and back? im adding a few dollars to it just to be safe. Next, I'm paying my share of the house ($75). I've got those basically figured out. Now, the thing I'm having trouble with is the food and the price of it and what type of meals to make. My friends want lots of ramen, but i do want to make dinner. I need 7 days worth of meals. something thats really cheap, and can last a while. maybe stuff that can go with rice? I have this rice+ground meat+mushroom soup mix that is good and lasts. plus get beef stew+rice. sandwhiches. is there maybe one or two other cheap meals you can tell me about? Needs to feed about 5 people. And can you tell me how much it would cost? We are a group of starving art students.. just trying to get in some vacation time before school starts.. but i am seriously running low on cash.