'I pay a lot more for fewer and fewer items': five US shoppers on their food budgets
Guardian readers share how much they spend on food and the changes they’ve had to made in response to rising prices
TL;DR
- Donald Trump's promise to lower grocery prices on 'day one' of his second term has not materialized for US consumers.
- Supply chain issues, tariffs, wars, SNAP benefit cuts, and the climate crisis are contributing factors to high grocery prices.
- Erin Hutchins, unemployed, spends 75% of her $15,600 annual income on food, eating less and facing challenges with online grocery delivery after losing SNAP benefits.
- Frances Sabahive, with a household income of $123,000, spends about $1,200 monthly on groceries for her family of seven, cutting back on beef, name-brand snacks, and organic vegetables.
- Bee Henderson, a contract worker earning $100,000, spends $500-$600 on groceries for three adults, relying on beans, tofu, and eggs for protein and often skipping meals due to the cost of gluten-free items.
- Steve, a construction project manager, spends $1,800 monthly on groceries for two adults, focusing on home cooking, leftovers, and eliminating snacks and UPFs, while noting the declining quality of some organic options.
- Nayeli, a college professor, spends $1,000-$1,100 on groceries for her family of three and finds dining out increasingly unaffordable, impacting her social interactions.
- All readers express concern and frustration over the high cost of food, with some questioning the affordability of a decent quality of life and noting the disconnect between their reality and political promises.