Are you planning to rewatch “Home Alone” this holiday season? Good choice. The classic holiday movie starring Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister has plenty of cult-favorite scenes, including his solitary trip to the grocery store where he stocks up on essentials. But it’s not the contents of his cart that stands out today — it’s the final dollar amount that McCallister has to fork over at the register.
The year was 1990, and McCallister’s sizable haul of groceries cost a measly $19.83. Less than $20 to feed himself, keep the house clean, and unleash chaos on unsuspecting burglars. So how much would that cost today?
Surprise, surprise — at roughly $70, the 2025 total is more than three times higher than it was in 1990. Thanks, inflation.
What’s in the Cart?
So what did the young McCallister take home as he plotted the downfall of his enemies? Some pretty standard items, actually:
- Half gallon of milk
- Half gallon of orange juice
- Loaf of Wonder Bread
- Frozen mac and cheese
- TV dinner
- Tide liquid detergent
- Saran wrap
- Snuggle dryer sheets
- Toilet paper
- Bag of toy soldiers
He used a coupon for the orange juice, lowering his total by a dollar. What a deal!
How Much Would It Cost Today?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $19.83 has the same “buying power” as roughly $48 today. But if you look at videos from people who tried to recreate the “Home Alone” grocery list, most are spending more than $48. Take this TikToker, who not only applied discounts to his groceries but also notably did not buy a toy.
His trip to Albertons with the same grocery list (minus the toy) left him with a total of $61.44. Cue the famous Kevin McCallister scream. With the toys, other outlets report that the total would be closer to $70. And, of course, prices vary depending on where you’re shopping.
How to Beat Inflation
Let’s say you want to stock up on those same essentials but don’t want to spend $70. The Krazy Coupon Lady did us all a solid and showed how you could get a similar grocery list for less than $25.
To start, they visited Dollar General to find the cheapest prices possible. They subbed out Tropicana Orange Juice for Minute Maid’s version, which, after rewards, ending up costing less than Tropicana. In 1990, McCallister paid 70 cents for a loaf of Wonder Bread, but the Krazy Coupon Lady picked up a bag of Clover Valley sandwich bread for $1 — cheaper than Dollar General’s Wonder Bread, which costs $2.95 today. They were also able to find a frozen mac and cheese for $1.50, a Banquet frozen dinner for $1, a box of saran wrap for $1, and dryer sheets instead of fabric softener for $1. Check out the full video for more smart saves they made:
At the end of the day, obviously grocery prices are going to be higher in 2025 than they were in 1990. But here’s the deal: We wrote about this in 2023, and that year’s total came in around $50. Just two years later, it’s jumped to $70. See you in 2030, I guess, when 10 basic items will cost $100.
More From Cheapism
- Costco’s $1.50 Hot Dog Combo, AriZona Iced Tea, and Other Cheap, Inflation-Resistant Grocery Favorites — Here are seven inflation-proof groceries that have thankfully stayed relatively affordable while many other grocery prices have skyrocketed.
- Soda Prices Have Nearly Doubled Since 2020 and Outpaced Inflation, New Study Finds — What was once considered a cheap staple in many homes has now turned into a luxury item.
- Beef, Coffee Prices Soar in Latest Inflation Data, But Some Groceries Are Getting Cheaper — No one who shops for groceries needs proof that some prices have gone way up in the last couple of months, but it is nice to be validated when data backs up your shrinking bank account.
