There was a time when heading to the grocery store with $50 meant that you were going to be able to fill your cart with some of your favorite items. However, those days are long gone, and now many people say they are struggling to put food on the table each week.
And while most people complain about rising costs in the abstract and say everything has gotten so much more expensive, one dad is highlighting just how little bang you can get for your buck these days by showing off his latest grocery store haul.
Threads user @thepurposeddad_ posted a photo of the results of his most recent food purchases on the social media platform, sharing his frustration about the current prices in the U.S. “How are we supposed to keep a fridge full and a pantry stocked like this,” he captioned part of his post, adding that this shopping trip didn’t even involve big-ticket items like toilet paper and paper towels.
People had mixed feelings about the post in the comments, ranging from criticism to commiseration. That being said, everyone did seem to agree on the fact that food prices just keep going up, making it hard for many to stock up on the essentials.
The Groceries Were Purchased at Costco
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According to the Threads user, he purchased the items at Costco, which is supposed to be a little more affordable since you get a better deal when you buy things in bulk. However, he didn’t feel like he really saved much money on this trip, walking away with some fruit, cheeses, meats, bell peppers, and a snack.
The people in the comments were mostly sympathetic, with one person writing, “I used to have interests. Now I just pay for groceries.”
Meanwhile, other Costco shoppers shared how few items they were able to get at the store, with one person saying they spent almost $75 while shopping last week. “I bought toilet paper and coffee,” they wrote. “Two things.”
Others Thought the Poster Got a Lot of Food
When it comes to grocery hauls, how well you made out depends on who you ask. “That’s a lot of food,” one person wrote. “At least 6 pounds of meat, 4 pounds of cheese, a lot of peppers, some fruits and chips. Sounds reasonable, to be honest.”
However, the numbers don’t lie, and even the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service has reported that food-at-home prices (aka groceries) have increased 2.7 percent since July 2025. And the prices are expected to continue to climb, according to the agency, which said that grocery prices are expected to increase 2.5 percent in 2026 and 2.1 percent in 2027.
That’s bad news for anyone who commiserated with the original Threads post about grocery store prices, since a similar post in 2027 would likely show an even smaller grocery haul.