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Here's how much Kevin’s huge $20 Home Alone grocery haul in 1990 would cost in 2025
Home Alone is a Christmas classic that a lot of us will watch each year - but have you ever wondered how much Kevin's trip to the supermarket would cost nowadays?
Everyone has their favorite festive flicks, and Home Alone will fall into most people's lists.
In case you haven't watched it yet, it follows Kevin McAllister - played by Macaulay Culkin - as he is left home alone over Christmas after his family goes on vacation and mistakenly leaves him behind.
As his family desperately tries to get home after realizing their error, things take a dramatic turn back home as Kevin is forced to defend his home from two hapless burglars.
During the movie, Kevin takes being left alone in his stride and even ventures to the supermarket to gather supplies, just as any adult would.
He comes back with quite the haul for less than $20, but how much would it all cost today?
Well, inflation means that if Kevin were grocery shopping today, a $20 bill might not cut it as it did in the 1990 movie.
So what did Kevin buy?
Kevin's Shopping List:
- TV dinner
- Loaf of Wonder Bread
- Frozen mac and cheese
- Cling wrap
- Half gallon (2L) of milk
- Tide laundry detergent
- Toilet paper
- Half gallon (2L) of orange juice
- Pack of army men
- Dryer sheets
Luckily Kevin had a coupon to get $1 off the orange juice, but the total came to $19.83.
But how much would such a haul cost at the grocery store today?
Well, nasdaq.com crunched the numbers and... it's not looking great.
1990 vs. 2025 Grocery Prices:
Half a gallon of milk has gone from $1.34 to $4.85
Half-gallon orange juice has gone from $2.00 to $4.50
Wonder Bread has gone from $0.70 to $3.49
Frozen mac & cheese has gone from $1.00 to $3.69
TV dinners have gone from $1.50 to $4.99
Tide detergent has gone from $4.99 to $13.49
Saran wrap has gone from $1.50 to $4.49
Dryer sheets have gone from $2.00 to $8.79
Toilet paper has gone from $2.00 to $8.39
Toy soldiers have gone from $2.00 to $9.99
So the grand total today would be $66.67 - meaning Kevin would barely get change from $70, let alone a single $20.
The outlet states that while the almost 300% increase "may be shocking", it's not surprising given that grocery prices have jumped over 20% since 2020 alone.
Part of the reason for it includes "supply chain breakdowns, tariffs and increased unemployment rates", as well as "trade policies and global disruptions" and "shrinkflation" putting the pressure on consumers' wallets.
People expressed their shock on social media, as one person said: "$100 bill is the new $20 bill," while a second added: "Plus it wouldn't be a $1 off coupon now, it would be 50¢ off."
A third said: "So what you’re telling me is that my kids couldn’t survive if I accidentally left them home alone to go on a trip to Paris?"
Well, they probably would if you left at least $100 lying around, but we don't suggest trying it in any case.