Five Americans describe how much they spend on groceries each month and the difficult choices they have made as food prices continue to climb. Their accounts illustrate the strain that sustained inflation is placing on households across income levels, from those living on disability benefits to professionals earning six figures.
During his 2024 re-election campaign, Donald Trump positioned himself in front of a display of groceries—flour, eggs, cooking oil—and pledged that he would bring down the price of food starting immediately upon taking office. More than two years into his second term, that promise remains unfulfilled. Supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions including conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, reductions in federal nutrition assistance, and other economic pressures have combined to create a situation in which more than half of all Americans report difficulty affording groceries.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, food at home prices held steady month-over-month in August 2026, though grocery prices remained elevated at 2.2% above the previous year. Federal food-price data showed annual food inflation easing to approximately 2.7% in August 2026 after 3.0% in July, indicating that while grocery inflation continues, it is beginning to slow.
The experiences shared below reveal how families are adapting to these persistent cost pressures through substitutions, cutbacks, and difficult trade-offs.
How are disabled and low-income shoppers managing?
Erin Hutchins, 44, lives alone in Maine on an annual household income of $15,600 and spends roughly 75% of her monthly budget on food. She is unemployed and disabled, unable to drive, which forces her to rely on online grocery delivery services. She spends approximately $300 monthly on groceries, typically ordering once a week. Since Instacart discontinued its free delivery option, she has been forced to order from Whole Foods, a store located far enough away that perishable items frequently spoil before arrival. She previously received $200 monthly in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, but those were terminated and she has not been able to restore them.
Her eating pattern reflects severe constraint: a protein bar for breakfast, popcorn and mixed nuts for lunch, and a single full meal at dinner. She dines out or orders food only occasionally—about $30 monthly, limited to a monthly social gathering at a local barcade where she orders a light meal, plus four or five takeout orders annually for special occasions, typically pizza that she can stretch across multiple meals.
When asked how she feels about her food spending, Hutchins responded:
I pay a lot more for fewer and fewer items. It is very noticeable compared to a year ago. It makes me feel sad, depressed and anxious.
What strategies do larger households use to manage costs?
Frances Sabahive works as a laboratory technician and lives with her spouse and five children on an annual household income of $123,000. She spends a substantial portion of her monthly budget on food, purchasing approximately $1,200 in groceries. She relies primarily on pickup orders from Walmart, Aldi, and Sam's Club, and visits the farmer's market a couple of times monthly for local honey and other products, partly for the shopping experience itself.
Sabahive has made deliberate substitutions to manage costs. Her family has dramatically reduced beef consumption because prices have become prohibitive for a household of seven. Chicken and turkey have become the primary proteins; she notes that her children eat turkey burgers and ground chicken in pasta dishes without complaint, suggesting they may not even notice the shift. She has stopped purchasing name-brand chips for her children, limiting their snack selection to just a couple of weekly options purchased in bulk from Sam's Club. A second refrigerator that once stored beverages and extra snacks for the children has been turned off. The family has also eliminated organic vegetables and stopped shopping at Whole Foods, which she describes as unrealistic given current prices.
Dining out and ordering food costs her household $300 to $400 monthly. She and her husband go out together a couple of times monthly and occasionally take the children out, though she notes that costs add up quickly with five children. They prefer local restaurants to cheaper chain establishments.
When reflecting on her spending, Sabahive expressed frustration and guilt:
It's beginning to feel a little irresponsible and I hate that – I feel irresponsible buying food for my family? But our electric bill is higher now than it's ever been, our mortgage has gone up an additional $350 a month and everywhere I turn it's just more and more money. At this point, we're spending a very big part of [our monthly budget] on food. It keeps adding up.
How are middle-income households with health challenges adapting?
Bee Henderson, 27, works as a contract worker in Kansas and lives with two other adults on an annual household income of $100,000, spending 34% of her monthly budget on food. She and her household members spend $500 to $600 monthly on groceries, shopping once weekly and alternating between Aldi and Walmart. She states plainly that shopping at Kroger, Target, or Whole Foods is financially impossible for her household.
Her sister, who has a disability, receives a weekly budget of $35 to choose her own food and also uses a student food pantry. Henderson's household previously received food stamps but lost that assistance in 2025. The family has shifted away from poultry and meat; while her husband and sister continue to eat meat, Henderson has chosen to forgo it so they can afford to include it in their diets. Beans, tofu, eggs, and fish have become their primary protein sources. Fresh fruit and vegetables have been replaced almost entirely with frozen options.
Henderson has a medical need to avoid gluten and lactose. She previously purchased gluten-free bread and granola bars, but the cost has become prohibitive. Instead, she now skips meals, endures the resulting stomach discomfort, and goes without these items. She describes the reality of her household's shopping:
Everything is just so much more expensive, and we do not have the luxury of getting whatever sounds good – it's whatever is cheapest.Because both she and her sister are disabled, nearly half of every paycheck goes to healthcare costs. The combination of high grocery spending and medical expenses means her household has no money available for savings.
Henderson treats her household to McDonald's once weekly, but only the $5 meal deal, spending about $60 monthly on dining out and takeout. When asked about food costs, she expressed skepticism about political promises:
It baffles me to hear Trump say groceries [are coming down] when they aren't. And we make a lot more money than most.She also expressed nostalgia for simpler times:
I miss when the biggest stressor I had at the grocery store was if I should get scoop chips or flat chips for nacho night. I also miss nacho night.
What do higher-income households prioritize in their food spending?
Steve, a 60-year-old construction project manager using a pseudonym, lives with one other adult on an annual household income of $110,000 and spends 17% to 20% of his monthly budget on food. His household spends approximately $1,800 monthly on groceries, shopping two or three times weekly. Unlike some households that hunt for deals, Steve's household does not prioritize bargain hunting. Both adults are omnivores who buy organic products when available.
Steve acknowledges that prices have risen substantially. In response, his household has increased home cooking, eaten more leftovers, reduced alcohol consumption, and eliminated snack foods. He expresses frustration about the cost of quality food:
Why is it so expensive to eat good food? It seems like it's a growing chunk of our income. And yet we are reluctant to reduce spending on local food sources like local coffee roasters, breweries, meats and veggies. Trader Joe's organics are continually a letdown.
Steve dines out or orders food $200 to $300 monthly, eating out two to three times monthly at establishments ranging from local taco shops to upscale restaurants, with typical meals costing $50 to $150. When discussing food costs and policy, he noted that while he did not support the current administration, he had hoped that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. might improve the food industry. He expressed skepticism about the likelihood of significant positive change and noted that when traveling in the European Union, Britain, or Mexico, he can eat bread, vegetables, pastries, and cheese at restaurants without experiencing the digestive discomfort he associates with standard American food.
How are professional families balancing food quality and affordability?
Nayeli, 47, is a college professor living in Texas with one spouse and one child on an annual household income of $95,000, spending approximately 30% of her monthly budget on food. She spends $1,000 to $1,100 monthly on groceries. She attempts to plan meals and shop weekly, though she acknowledges this does not always happen. In Texas, HEB—a regional supermarket chain that has displaced most competitors—is the dominant grocery destination, and Nayeli shops there regularly. She occasionally visits Sprouts, a health food chain, and very rarely Whole Foods, which she treats as a special occasion destination.
Her household's regular grocery purchases include bread, tortillas, eggs, cheese, peanut butter, tofu, soy milk, yogurt, canned beans, half and half, fresh fruits and vegetables, plus treats and snacks for her child's school lunches. She also maintains a supply of frozen items. Dining out has become rare; she spends approximately $70 monthly on restaurant meals and takeout. A family meal out in her area typically costs $20 per person including drink and tip, totaling $60 for three people, which she describes as prohibitively expensive. The family dines out only for special occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries, often at Indian, Vietnamese, or vegetarian restaurants. She orders takeout approximately twice monthly—banh mi, veggie burgers, or pizza—spending $30 to $40, and deliberately avoids meal delivery apps because of their cost.
Nayeli expressed concern about the sustainability of current spending patterns:
It feels ridiculous. Do we need to spend this much to have a decent quality of life? So far we've been privileged enough to absorb the rising cost of food, but it makes me nervous. In uncertain times, it seems better to budget and save as much as possible than simply to adjust our budget to meet inflation.She has also noticed a social consequence of rising food costs:
I've noticed as eating out has become unaffordable, it shifts the way I'm social with other people. In the past, I might meet up with someone for lunch or buy someone a meal as a thank you, and now this feels inaccessible. There are other ways of meeting up or saying thank you. But I've noticed the change.
What relief measures are coming for food-assistance recipients?
For households receiving SNAP benefits, relief is scheduled to arrive in the coming weeks. According to Newsweek reporting on federal SNAP updates, benefit maximums are set to increase on October 1, 2026. The top monthly benefit for a family of four in the 48 states and Washington, D.C. will rise to $1,023, while the minimum benefit will increase to $25. The new SNAP payment schedule will remain in effect through September 30, 2027, reflecting adjustments made by the USDA to account for inflation.
These increases come as broader economic data shows mixed signals about food inflation. While federal food-price adjustments for 2026 indicate that household benefit amounts have been updated to reflect current inflation, the reality for many shoppers remains one of constrained choices and difficult trade-offs. The experiences shared by these five Americans demonstrate that rising food costs continue to reshape household budgets and daily life across income levels, from those dependent on government assistance to professionals earning well above the median household income.
