Yes, that is a very nifty trick in the spoiler.

I make sure there is over 1000 units of food in the refrigerator each time I leave the game. That gives me a little leeway.

My tool tray is often full of things I am keeping on hand just in case. For instance, some kind of fruit, or hand gel. There's also usually a flask of Isolaish rain just in case I have time to follow a kid around while it rains.

As I've mentioned elsewhere, although I immediately upgrade the career rooms, I delay one available home renovation in case a parent is depresed - it gives me something I can use to cheer them up. Of course, sooner or later I will run out of renovations to hold off on.