NCS asked parents how they feel about the general economy.
“sad, disappointed”
“always changing”
“nervous”
Grocery payments form how American customers view the financial system — and dad and mom are significantly attuned to meals costs as they determine what to feed their youngsters every week.
How individuals are maintaining their households fed on a funds in the course of the affordability disaster
Published November 21, 2025
For many dad and mom, grocery buying can really feel like an countless balancing act.
Shifting gross sales and coupons. Unexpected house bills. Birthday muffins and particular events. The list goes on.
And this yr has introduced much more challenges. The Trump administration’s unprecedented tariffs, the immigration crackdown and world pure disasters have rattled the meals provide chain. Grocery costs rose in August at their quickest tempo in three years and increased again in September, in response to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This is coming on the heels of the very best inflation in a long time. More than half of Americans are careworn about meals costs, The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reported in an August ballot. Fifty-three % of respondents mentioned grocery costs have been a “major” stress, whereas 33% mentioned they have been a “minor” stress.
NCS spoke to 10 dad and mom throughout the US about what they’re spending on groceries and how they’re making an attempt to save lots of. The interviews befell in September and October.
On a scale of 1-10, how a lot of a stressor are groceries?
“The most stress I might find is discussing what we should get with my family members, which we do every week.”
“Right now, I don’t think it’s a stress at all because I’ve been consistent with the planning. … but it’s been a stress for me in the past.”
Grace Waterman
Kansas City
“It definitely makes meal planning harder.”
Lauren Myers
Windsor, Colorado
“I have a really good system in place with meal planning and shopping. And I feel that that part of my life is very, very controlled and stress-free.”
“I think there’s just other things that we have to spend money on, like daycare, that is a much bigger stressor for us.”
Marisa Olson
Naperville, Illinois
“It’s not a major stress point for us.”
“Towards the end of the month, that’s when things do become a little stressful … like, ‘Okay, we got to get this. We got to get that. It’s no more this.’ I get overwhelmed a little bit.”
“I’m an even-steven kind of person. … what are you going to do, you know?”
Jae Beck
Huntersville, North Carolina
“We have the kind of budget where every dollar has a place to go, but my life would definitely be a lot easier if things were cheaper.”
Tori Lightcap
Pueblo, Colorado
“We definitely have had our struggles, but I, at least, am blessed to have a good job and can afford to feed my family. A lot of people can’t.”
“It’s quite expensive now compared to before Covid. Before Covid, everything was still okay, but … the prices never have gone down. Everything has stayed inflated.”
Ben Tampa, Florida
What’s your month-to-month grocery funds and household dimension?
For consistency, weekly or biweekly budgets have been adjusted to replicate month-to-month spending.
Higher stress ranking (6-10)
Chyna
Philadelphia
$800
One parent and two kids (ages 9 and 14)
Jae Beck
Huntersville, North Carolina
$2,100
Two parents and three kids (ages 11, 14 and 17)
Tori Lightcap
Pueblo, Colorado
$1,000
Two parents and two kids (ages 7 and 12)
Shannon Gladden
Virginia
$800
Two parents and two kids (ages 4 and 9 plus a college student who occasionally eats at home)
What’s your month-to-month grocery funds and household dimension?
For consistency, weekly or biweekly budgets have been adjusted to replicate month-to-month spending.
Lower stress ranking (1-5)
Sarah
Central Texas
$1,350
Two parents and two sons (both age 13, plus three cats)
Grace Waterman
Kansas City
$400
Two parents and two kids (ages 2 and 5)
Lauren Myers
Windsor, Colorado
$600
Two adults and a toddler (age 2.5)
Alli Powell
San Diego
$600
Two parents and two kids (ages 12 and 14)
Marisa Olson
Naperville, Illinois
$800
Two parents and two kids (ages 1.5 and nearly 4)
Ben
Tampa, Florida
$700
Two parents and three kids (ages 11, 15 and 21)
“It seems like as soon as we start to figure something out, something big changes.”
Alli Powell San Diego
Meats and contemporary fruit have been overwhelmingly the largest expense for the dad and mom interviewed.
What’s your largest splurge?
Prices were taken from interviews and grocery receipts provided to NCS.
Vegetables and fruit
Bananas: $1.49
Ben
Sparkling water
Sparkling water: $4.29
Alli Powell
Meat and fresh fruit
Hamburger meat: $11
Tori Lightcap
Spices, pet expenses and meat
Chinese chili oil: $4.91
Sarah
Soft drinks and premade smoothies
Smoothie drink: $3.37
Jae Beck
Snacks like cookies and ice cream popsicles
Shortbread cookies: $1.99
Shannon Gladden
When it involves the financial system, “I just feel like no matter what, we’re defeated.”
Tori Lightcap Pueblo, Colorado
Eight of the ten dad and mom mentioned they presently discuss to their youngsters about funds or plan to sooner or later.
What are your largest ideas for saving at the grocery retailer?
Order online and plan around sales
Tori Lightcap
Take stock of your pantry before shopping
Grace Waterman
Buy store brands instead of name brands
Lauren Myers
Have a grocery list and stick to simple meals
Marisa Olson
Coupon and look for deals
Chyna
Keep track when certain groceries run low
Ben
“I feel like everybody is on the same page with things when it comes to the economy, like it’s rough right now.”
Chyna Philadelphia
All 10 dad and mom who spoke to NCS famous the uncertainty within the American financial system. This yr, whereas a handful of grocery merchandise received cheaper, dozens extra spiked in value from January to September. For households that are strapped for money, all of it may imply shopping for smaller sizes, utilizing coupons and consuming extra meals at house. It’s a part of the technique for individuals who are straining to get the naked requirements.
As Chyna, the mother primarily based in Philadelphia, advised NCS: “Everybody is, in a sense, struggling, trying to make ends meet.”