Is Stockpiling Biblical? How should we prepare for the future?

Most people are familiar with the Biblical story of Joseph that appears in Genesis 41. In the account Joseph is still stuck in prison when Pharaoh has a dream:

"He was standing by the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.

He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted-thin and scorched by the east wind. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream." (NIV)

Pharaoh called his magicians to interpret his dream, but they were unable to give a suitable answer. Then his chief cupbearer remembered the dreams that Joseph had interpreted years before and suggested to Pharaoh that he call Joseph to interpret the dreams. Pharaoh called Joseph and told him the dream and then asked for an interpretation:

"I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires...."It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon." (NIV)

"And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine." (NIV)

(art from My Catholic Tradition)

Have you ever seen pictures people have taken of their stockpiles? Occasionally I will see photos of stockpiles people have accumulated from their frequent treks to CVS or Walgreens, or other favorite stockpiling source. It seems, however, that the majority of those stockpiles don't contain primarily necessities, such as food, basic cleaning supplies, and water. I've seen pictures that include heaps of brand name candles, a pile of hair coloring kits, stacks of kid's bar soap, and rows of brand name cosmetics.

Frankly, I think those items listed above won't really matter if things got really bad in our economy. What would matter would be food and water and a few other products such as toilet paper, laundry detergent, and disinfectant.

So, are we stockpiling the wrong types of things? Should we avoid purchasing so much of those "unneccessaries" even if we have a coupon and "it'll be a 95% savings" (or whatever percentage)?

What do you think?