Many of us would be lying if we didn't say that budgeting has been on our minds. Especially these past few years. It certainly feels like nearly everything has gotten much, much more expensive. And if the price of food makes you wince at the store checkout, you’re not the only one.
The r/whatsinyourcart community invites people to share photos of their shopping carts and baskets, along with the price. We’ve collected some of the most interesting ones, mainly from the United States, to show you just how (in)expensive groceries can be in some places. Scroll down to check them out!
#1 Here's What $46.34 Got This Person From Ralph's In Los Angeles
Image credits: houndizzle
#2 $192 USD In Wisconsin, Includes 48 Pounds Of Meat
Image credits: ArtisanGerard
#3 Bay Area, Ca Produce Only Haul $51.10
Image credits: crabstravaganza
The r/whatsinyourcart subreddit has been around for roughly 7 years now. In that time, the wholesome group has grown to 34k members from all around the globe. The founder and head moderator of the online community, u/JackalAbacus, once said that they didn’t expect the group to hit even 1k subscribers.
Sharing one’s shopping cart is a pretty good way to show what kind of person you are. Others can instantly tell what your dietary habits are like, how thrifty you are, and how large your budget is. It’s a very different kind of vulnerability than many of us are used to. (And we suspect some of us would feel embarrassed to share how many snacks and little treats we need just to keep going!)
#4 $185 Shoprite Upstate NY
Image credits: rissshit
#5 Am I Silly For Being Excited About Only Spending $119 On This?!
Image credits: Conscious-Parsnip35
#6 Grocery Outlet - Socal $74.78
Image credits: Playboy97k
There’s a whole legion of macro-level factors why groceries have become so darn expensive over the past half-decade or so. The Covid-19 pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine, and rising global instability have had a knock-on effect on product costs in many parts of the world.
Meanwhile, extreme weather damaged crop yields in some parts of the world, while some businesses used the opportunity to raise prices for better profit margins.
#7 510 Ksh $3.93 Local Market, Kenya
Image credits: cmband254
#8 550$ 5 Hours And 5 Stores Later
Image credits: Accomplished_Fish960
#9 It Was $163
Image credits: National-Wrangler-44
Supply chain issues and inflation have been buzzwords that we’ve been hearing practically non-stop on the news and on social media.
Many families have had to adjust their spending habits. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who didn’t make budget adjustments as prices ballooned. However, things might be changing for the better. Hopefully, for good.
#10 $145 At Kroger
Image credits: brightviolet
#11 Aldi - Florida $78
Image credits: Kttcrow__
#12 $109 In Groceries: Naknek, Alaska
Image credits: _Sockeye
CNN reports that grocery prices actually fell in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ recent data, prices dropped (an admittedly not-so-dramatic) 0.2% from March to April 2024.
While it might not sound like a huge deal, progress is still progress. If the trend persists, it should make many American shoppers feel more confident about the economy. And who doesn’t like their cash doing more for them than before?
#13 $48.52 Houston, Tx
Image credits: AndiNell
#14 Needed To Re-Up On Perishables. $49.07 At An Aldi In New Jersey
Image credits: midwest-ginger
#15 This Is For One Meal (Plus A Few Extra Things) In NYC. $47.72
Image credits: lavenderived
However, not everyone is celebrating groceries getting (ever so slightly) cheaper. The cost of food at restaurants actually increased by 0.3% over that same period.
Meanwhile, if you zoom out a bit, you’ll realize that grocery prices are still 1.1% higher than a year ago. Though, to be fair, that’s still lower than the surge of inflation, which rose 3.4% over those same 12 months.
#16 $51.08 Aldi Wisconsin
Image credits: EmuInner8774
#17 $50 At Albertson’s
Image credits: waanderlustt
#18 51.69 At Star Market In Boston
Image credits: moransnail
Over the past year through April, ham in the US became 3.4% cheaper on average. The price of cheese fell a similar amount: by 3.3%. The cost of fish, seafood, and potatoes dropped 2.1%.
Coffee enthusiasts also have something to be happy about, as the cost of that gem of a commodity fell by 2%. Among other food items that got cheaper for the American consumer were milk (down 1.2%) and rice (1% cheaper compared to 2023).
#19 Would Love To See More Grocery Hauls On Here So, Here’s Mine! $50 At Walmart
Image credits: FishCultLuci
#20 $50.86 At Aldi’s In The Us
Image credits: Shlumped23
#21 These Prices Are Ridiculous Pennsylvania. $47 For Just This!
Image credits: AbleDragonfruit4767
Apple prices were down significantly in the US. They cost 12.7% less when compared to a year ago. Meanwhile, eggs, which were notoriously overpriced in recent years, also got cheaper. They’re 9% less costly compared to last year.
However, you can’t say the same about every grocery item.
#22 $51.90 Family Dollar, Southside Chicago
Image credits: NicelyBearded
#23 $44 At Trader Joes In NYC
Image credits: Frosty-Spare-6018
#24 Just Under $60 At Walmart (Saratoga Springs, NY)
Image credits: StrawberryDreamers
For instance, the wildfires in Texas have made beef costs soar. Uncooked beef roasts now cost 10.1% more. Meanwhile, hot dogs are up 7.1%, and uncooked beef steak will set you back 6.5%.
Uncooked ground beef is up by 6%, too. In the meantime, the cost of fruits and veggies has risen by 1.7%. That’s just slightly less than the increase in the price of flour, which stands at 2.5%.
#25 $70 United Grocery Outlet
Image credits: Street_Mushroom5938
#26 It’s Friday Night Babyyyyy! Total $22
Image credits: quartz222
#27 $90 San Francisco, Ca
Image credits: disgruntledchef
Generally, if you want to save on food costs, you should be willing to do a bit of shopping around. Check out your local supermarkets, markets, and mom-and-pop stores. See what discounts they offer.
Buying food in bulk, on discount, focusing on seasonal items, and eating even slightly less red meat are all good ways to save some cash.
#28 Splurged On Everything I’ve Been Wanting To Try And Still Came In
Image credits: ehoff98
#29 $141 At Walmart, Ohio
Image credits: snarkaluff
#30 $117.43 At Safeway In Alaska (Used The App For Massive Savings)
Image credits: brainfogfordays
What are your thoughts on grocery prices these days, Pandas? What tips would you give someone who’s new to cutting costs and budgeting? How do you keep food costs down? What's your fave go-to budget meal?
Feel free to tell us all about it in the comments! Now, if you'll excuse us, we need ourselves a little snack...
#31 $193.18 At Aldi, Southern California
Image credits: icecreamsandwichgirl
#32 The "There's Nothing But Beer In The Fridge" Grocery Run
Image credits: youareovaryacting
#33 $88 Aldi Texas
Image credits: rachel___ann
#34 $112 Oregon
Image credits: Iam12percent
#35 $138.89 Aldis Run. Madison, Wi
Image credits: eat_my_bowls92
#36 $143.57 Whole Foods, Maryland
Image credits: flamelily-harmony
#37 When You Eat Mostly Veg And Produce $76
Image credits: Woodycrazy
#38 $106 Aldi New York
Image credits: AccountDepleted
#39 $125 Trader Joes In NYC (Recite Included)
Image credits: CoffeeMilkLvr
#40 $50.45, Walmart, Se U.S
Image credits: kokirikokoro
#41 $60.29 At Woodman's In Wisconsin
Image credits: bigsam06
#42 $154 At Safeway, Bay Area California
Image credits: 135ismygoal
#43 $299.00 At Costco. I Feel Robbed
Image credits: crybabysagittarius
#44 $75 Safeway In Us, Or
Image credits: Moni_16
#45 $170 Whole Foods ?
Image credits: Bulky_Ad_4390
#46 6973 Ksh ($52.87) Naivas, Nairobi Kenya
Image credits: cmband254
#47 51.69 At Star Market In Boston
Image credits: moransnail
#48 $20.71 At Super King Market In Socal
Image credits: LePetitPrince_33
#49 $38.20 Trader Joes And Target
Image credits: decerret
#50 Costco, $178.66
Image credits: Due-Excuse-2208
#51 First Groceries In My First Apartment
Image credits: Onsidebrute01
#52 Went To Whole Foods For Some Snacks…. $50.87
Image credits: iamwatered
#53 $46 At Whole Foods
Image credits: worldwidewhimp
#54 $80.13 Grocery Outlet
Image credits: serpents_sword
#55 $106.08 At Aldi, Midwest
Image credits: Inevitable-Mix-2983
#56 $117 At Whole Foods
Image credits: Winter_Shallot_774
#57 Just Moved Out On My Own. First Grocery Haul For Some Staples. $90
Image credits: AlekBiH
#58 $36.96 @ Target In Ohio
Image credits: ScaryMoviePizzaParty
#59 $56 Walmart
Image credits: Longballs77
#60 $130. This Will Feed Me For The Week
Image credits: GasPacNick
#61 $59.13 At Safeway
Image credits: Ready-Math-3775
#62 $18.26 At Sprouts In Alabama
Image credits: biogirl2015
#63 Movie Snacks To Avoid Crazy Prices. $10 From Whole Foods
Image credits: Bulky_Ad_4390
#64 $107 At Costco
Image credits: kirklandtriathlete
#65 Whole Foods Grocery Run. Guess The Total
Image credits: Important_Name
#66 $97 Grocery Haul! I Know It Doesn't Look That Great, But To Me This Means A Lot
Image credits: Glizzym8te
#67 $130.30 Whole Foods, Md
Image credits: flamelily-harmony
#68 $268.49 We're Out Of Food Kind Of Grocery Run (Chicago, USA)
Image credits: lindasek
#69 $45 Target
Image credits: Bulky_Ad_4390
#70 $70 At Walmart. East Tn
Image credits: Muhfuggajones
#71 Kroger - Midwest $31.43
Image credits: Ok_Ranger7756
#72 $65.70 @ Walmart
Image credits: onebirdonawire
#73 $56 At Aldi Today
Image credits: reddit.com
#74 Walmart - 11.29
Image credits: furthian
#75 $118 - Whole Foods Nc
Image credits: aaancn
#76 $35 At Aldi, Ne Ohio
Image credits: clvlndoh
#77 $18 At Boston Haymarket
Image credits: NotFireDaFlint
#78 $20.57 Total In Seattle
Image credits: Saritachiquita
#79 $78 In Michigan (USA)
Image credits: roadcrew778
#80 $160 @ ?
Image credits: cat_mamaa
source https://www.boredpanda.com/people-share-unexpected-groceries-prices/
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