California father of 6 spends over $400 on groceries at Trader Joe’s. Is this the norm for large families?
When Sergio Gonzalez went to Trader Joe’s on a grocery run in June, he wasn’t expecting to spend more than $400 to keep his six children fed for a mere week-and-a-half.
The Southern California-based title insurance professional took to Instagram to show his $444 grocery bill, which he says included organic ketchup, two packs of chicken soup dumplings and sourdough bread.
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“We’re the modern-day Brady Bunch in California,” Gonzalez told FOX Business Network (FBN) in an interview. The post detailing his itemized receipt went viral, leading FBN to invite Gonzalez on air to share his experience.
However, this may not be the norm for all large families. There are a few factors that make this grocery bill exceptionally steep.
Location
Part of the reason the bill is so expensive is because of the location of the Trader Joe’s that Gonzalez visited. He doesn’t specify the exact location, but he lives in California, which has notoriously high prices.
On top of that, Gonzalez and his family live in the LA-adjacent town of Westlake Village, California. The city may have a small population of 8,378, but has been home to big names, such as Joe Montana, Will Smith, and an original Brady Bunch cast member, Maureen McCormick.
Even outside ritzy suburbs, the cost of living in California is 38% higher than the national average, according to RentCafe’s cost of living calculator.
This may be a factor in California's mass migration. The most recent United States Census Bureau data show that more than 75,000 people left California in 2023, the second-largest population decline of all U.S. states in that year.
FBN anchor Stuart Varney asked Gonzalez if it’s “worth it” to stay in California — considering the high cost of living his family has to bear.
“We’ve looked at it,” Gonzalez said. “We’re weighing our options.”
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High cost items
As many commenters point out, Gonzalez needn’t go to Trader Joe’s when there are significantly cheaper options available to him, such as Costco or Stater Bros.
These grocery stores offer bigger portions and bulk deals, whereas Trader Joe’s specializes in smaller batch items and doesn’t offer coupons or markdowns, according to food outlet The Kitchn. As such, the savings at Trader Joe’s tend to be better for single people and small families.
Commenters also point out that Gonzalez bought many organic items, rather than the cheaper alternatives.
But he sees it as the more cost-effective strategy in the long-term: “It costs more to select the healthier choices than the generic brands, but I think it’s cheaper than some of the medical bills later on in life,” he said.
However, no matter where Gonzalez goes, he’s going to find high grocery prices. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that the country’s food prices increased by 25% between 2019 and 2023.
Fortunately, food prices are starting to cool down, but Americans are still struggling to pay their grocery bills.
Kids will cost you
At the end of the day, Gonzalez has six kids to feed. His grocery bills will likely always be high.
On average, it costs an estimated $310,605 plus an extra $26,011 (adjusted for inflation) for a middle-income family with two children to raise a child up to the age of 17, according to the Brookings Institute's most recent numbers. That means that Gonzalez could be shelling out more than $100,000 per year — just to support his six kids.
This number doesn’t just account for food, but includes shelter, clothing and daycare. According to recent data from Child Care Aware of America, the national average price for child care is $11,582 — a 3.7% increase from 2022 to 2023. This takes up 10% of a married couple’s median income.
The cost of children has become so expensive that many young people can’t afford to have children — even though they desperately want to be parents.
For many, it really comes down to whether having kids fits into the budget. Though a financial commitment, growing a family can outweigh the costly bills if you start your money management journey sooner rather than later.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.