I have always stocked up when things were on sale. This habit has helped me more than once over the years when money was short.
I learned a valuable lesson during the ice storm of 2009. I do not plan to maintain a freezer full of food, I plan to can my meat and vegetables from my garden for storage.
When I return to my homestead in the next month or two, I will live without electric. It really is not that difficult. I have a treadle and plan to convert an extra 66 Red Eye to hand crank.
It is actually fun. I am prepared to live using very little electricity. I have two springs and a small cave on my property.
I camped for several years in preparation for living with less.
Stocking up is what I have always instintively done. Life is full of things I have no control over. But I can control how I react to them and I find it easier if I am prepared, there are fewer surprises.