Every home manager reading this will have to decide what works best in their family. There are no right or wrong answers, only choices that you've already made, or ones that you may be deciding to make. Convenience foods are good to have on hand. They have allowed us quick meals in our current lifestyle, but the skill of cooking seems to be a lost art. Take some time and learn how to cook some low-cost basics.
Basic foods take less space than our modern day convenience packaging.
You can have variety and the nutritional value of incorporating basic foods in your diet will be an added benefit. How much of my grocery budget is available to build my pantry in the next few weeks and months. It should also include foods that do not increase thirst. During an emergency water may possibly be limited. Don't forget the special needs of the elderly, those with special diets and allergies, nursing mothers, and babies.