How much would Kevin’s ‘Home Alone’ grocery list cost at a Tacoma grocery store today?
‘Tis the season to cozy up and watch Christmas movie marathons.
For many, classic Christmas films like “Home Alone” can bring a sense of nostalgia. That nostalgia might not just be because we miss our childhood, but also because we miss the low grocery prices.
It seems that today it is normal to easily spend upwards of $100 on a quick grocery store trip. But a few decades ago, the cost of just about everything was dramatically less.
Viral TikToks on pricing
In “Home Alone,” an abandoned Kevin McCallister goes grocery shopping and buys 10 items for a total price of $19.83. A TikTok user went viral for breaking down the difference in costs between Kevin’s total and the average total for those items today.
The TikTok user, @sellitlikelyons, found that it would cost 3.5 times more to purchase the same items as Kevin at his local Target today.
In the movie, Kevin buys the following items:
Half-gallon of milk
Wrappit! Plastic wrap
Stouffer’s Frozen Turkey Dinner
Snuggle dryer sheets
Wonder Bread
4-pack of Quilted Northern toilet paper
Kraft Macaroni and Cheese
Plastic army figurines
Tide liquid laundry detergent
Half-gallon of Tropicana orange juice
Kevin spent a total of $19.83 after using a $1 -off coupon for the orange juice.
How much would it cost to buy these same items at grocery stores in Tacoma? We did the math.
“Home Alone” groceries in Tacoma grocery stores
We compared the prices of Kevin’s grocery haul to prices at four local grocery stores using the regular prices. Member prices and discounts on items at each grocery store may be cheaper than the regular prices listed below.
Fred Meyer:
Half-gallon of Fred Meyer Vitamin D whole milk - $2.39
Kroger tight seal cling wrap – 200 ft. - $3.29
Stouffer’s Frozen Roast Turkey dinner - $6.29
Snuggle dryer sheets - $3.99
Wonder bread - $3.99
4-pack of Kroger 1000 sheets per roll toilet paper - $2.99
Stouffer’s macaroni and cheese frozen meal - $3.59
Fisher-Price little people figures 2-pack - $4.19
37 oz. Tide liquid laundry detergent - $6.99
Half-gallon of Tropicana orange juice - $4.79
The total price before state and local taxes is $39.40.
Safeway:
Half-gallon of Lucerne milk - $3.69
Signature SELECT Plastic wraps microwaveable– 200 ft. - $3.49
Stouffer’s frozen roast turkey dinner - $4.99
Snuggle dryer sheets - $8.49
Wonder bread - $4.49
Signature Care bathroom tissue – 6 Roll - $8.99
Stouffer’s macaroni and cheese frozen meal - $4.49
Lego Santa Claus set - $10.99
37 oz. Tide liquid laundry detergent - $9.99
Half-gallon of Tropicana orange juice - $5.49
The total price before state and local taxes is $54.61.
Target:
Half-gallon of Good & Gather organic whole milk - $3.89
Up & Up plastic wrap – 200 ft. - $1.99
Stouffer’s frozen roast turkey dinner - $3.59
Snuggle dryer sheets - $4.99
Wonder Bread - $2.99
Up & Up toilet paper - $3.79
Kraft macaroni and cheese frozen meal - $3.49
Jada Toys Nano Metalfigs Marvel die-cast figures - $19.99
46 fl. oz. Tide liquid laundry detergent - $7.99
Half-gallon of Tropicana orange juice - $4.49
The total price before state and local taxes is $57.20.
Walmart:
Half-gallon of Great Value whole milk - $1.88
Great Value plastic wrap – 200 ft - $1.97
Stouffer’s frozen roast turkey dinner - $3.48
Snuggle dryer sheets - $4.92
Wonder bread - $2.92
Scott 1000 toilet paper, 4 pack - $4.97
Kraft macaroni and cheese frozen meal - $3.17
JA-RU - Team Xtreme soldiers plastic army men set - $8.92
37 fl. oz. Tide liquid detergent - $5.44
Half-gallon of Tropicana orange juice - $3.94
The total price before state and local taxes is $41.61.
This story was originally published December 12, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
