I also buy canned goods when on sale, in large amounts. also buy meats that are marked down and can them, I do the same with produce. Aldis is a great place to purchase veggies to either can or dehydrate. It is the time of year that front yard produce stands are popping up. I found a great deal on spinach and bought and canned three bushels last week. Also check out the LDS cannery for inexpensive deals on sugar, beans, noodles, etc. their dehydrated refried beans are really good and really cheap. My LDS cannery is only open one day a week. My parents always had lots of canned goods, the freezer was always full, they had a garden and fruit and nut trees. For me this has been a way of life for as long as I can remember. It was just natural for me to continue after I was married.
If you choose to commit to this lifestyle you will find ways to make it happen. Judy has a lot of great ideas to help us along the way. Plus the added bonus of reading the comments of other folks and their blog posts.