Data source is my budget tracking, chart made using python.
I tried to annotate a few instances where specific events would have an impact on the data; I have no explanation for the recent spikes. I wish I had data from 2018 to show more of those lower prices before the pandemic. The location we moved to in the middle of 2021 supposedly has 5-10% lower food cost. We eat out maybe once per week so most food consumption is grocery.

Posted by ripcraft

23 comments

  1. fine looking graph, but not terribly interesting (and probably misleading) unless you adjust for inflation.

  2. I really don’t get why you wouldn’t just start at 0 and not 200.

  3. I don’t think the 6 month average is adding much here given the scale

  5. I don’t get the move. You moved to a cheaper area then price spiked?

  6. I have the feeling that the cost will be higher in winter, and lower in summer.

  7. Two spikes bigger than COVID and Storm prep both in late 2025, what happened

    Edit: 2024, OP confirmed via dm they are not a time traveler and I need glasses

  9. Eh, I shop mostly on Amazon Fresh and prices there a noticeably lower now than pre-pandemic surprisingly. 

    This data is pretty useless without the store/what’s being bought.

  10. So, you are the person that panic buys everything leaving shelves empty for less crazy people.

  11. A monthly averages plot may give you some temporal insights too. Btw, I would rotate the x axis labels back to zero and take the “month” label off.

  12. I know I’m from the Northeast, so snowstorms aren’t that big of a deal, but how much did you spend to prep for one?  I can’t fathom getting a couple extra basic staples at most, and generally that’s instead of getting them later which in theory should be basically a wash the next week.

    Also, I have a family of 4 and spend generally around $100-125 a week on groceries (go out to eat once a week).

  14. Also to point out on the ridiculous food spending causes, if people watch “financial Audit” with Caleb, great insight into the retardism of American financial literacy(all spectrums of income earners.)

  15. In 2015 the wife and I would shop for a month on $300 at Publix

    Now, it’s more like $800 if we stuck to the same store.

    We shifted to Costco and Kroger and it’s still about $500-600 a month.

    Things to consider, in 2015 we lived on cheap junk food and pre-made foods, now we buy whole foods, fresh, keto, organic etc. These foods cost more, but we also buy less food because we count calories and carbs.

    I have no baseline for the cost of center of store food is any more. Produce and meat haven’t climbed as much as bread and soda have. I feel like eating unhealthy food may be more expensive now.

    TLDR, a lot of these then and now grocery trip costs don’t clarify if there was a change in eating habits and store selection.

  16. Wonder what all you included for groceries. Seems quite high for 2 people outside of health conditions or kids.

  18. The 6mo average is actually rolling up and down by trending flat since 2022…

    But the modality is getting bigger, so… maybe certain things have really inflated, causing spikes when you buy those things.

    No explanation for the two big spikes in 2025? Like… even eating out more?

  19. What are the last two spikes and why aren’t they labelled? /s

  20. $400 to $700 😮 Would be cool to see something like consumer price index or inflation rate superimposed on this! Then you’ll know how much of the increase is due to the economy versus lifestyle creep haha. Probably been the latter for me

  21. What this tells me is that you eat a lot, and really well. Or you eat a hell of a lot and very poorly. I haven’t plotted or recorded the cost of food ever, but I have been a 2-person household for 15 years. Even during the times when we bought food in absolute excess, it didn’t run us $700 for the month. Living in NY.

    Shopping smarter by purchasing less and eating more appropriate meal sizes the last year and a half, and I’m spending less than $400/mo.

  22. I have never spent more than $300 for two people, even eating well. What are you eating, diamonds?

  23. Those last few months…either you live in a crazy HCOL area or you need to be more selective shopping and planning your meals around what’s on sale.

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