All of those ingredients, with the exception of the garlic, will stay good for years as well. I find it infinitely more resourceful to have a well-stocked kitc

All of those ingredients, with the exception of the garlic, will stay good for years as well. I find it infinitely more resourceful to have a well-stocked kitchen with ingredients that last a good while than to go out and buy a single serving of anything. I would never consider buying a specific spice or sauce "an investment" in a single type of dish given both the small cost and the viability of those items in other types of cooking. Hoisin is great when making hamburgers or chilis, for example.