We recently saw a 2023 update to the TikTok video comparing the cost of Kevin McCallister’s Home Alone shopping cart to today’s prices. Kevin spent a total of $19.83 on his items back in 1990. We did some browsing for the same — or as close as we could get — products to see just how much this cart would cost today. Last year’s shopping cart averaged around $51. This year, according to the viral TikTok, Kevin’s cart would cost around $70. But of course, we couldn’t accept that at the Krazy Coupon Lady. We had to find it for less. And the best place to shop to shave $28 off the estimated total for Kevin’s cart? Walmart.
Walmart (and Aldi, tbh) have shown us that prices don’t have to skyrocket in 2023. They consistently offer deals that are pre-inflation prices. Though the shopping cart costs are higher today than in 1990, which is expected, you don’t need to spend $70 to get the Home Alone goods. It’s no secret that prices on household essentials, like food and groceries, are at an unprecedented high right now. We’ve been comparing the cost of cookies, pumpkin pie, and other holiday favorites. Our hope is to help you find the best prices so you can do all of your holiday shopping without busting your budget.
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What was in Kevin’s Home Alone shopping cart?
Kevin’s list includes some basic essentials, and we did our very best to match the brand and size he purchased for each of his items. We did have to purchase a 6-count of toilet paper instead of four rolls, and we had to take a few liberties with whole milk brands and white bread. But overall, we stayed as close as we could to the original Home Alone shopping cart. We compared carts at several major retailers, including two big-box stores, a pharmacy store, and an online retailer to find the lowest-priced retailer. Here’s what Kevin purchased in the movie.
- Tropicana orange juice
- 1/2-gallon Prairie Farms whole milk
- Stouffer’s roast turkey dinner
- Loaf of Wonder Bread
- Kraft macaroni and cheese
- Snuggle fabric softener sheets
- Tide liquid laundry detergent
- 4-pack Quilted Northern toilet paper
- Glad plastic cling wrap
- Plastic army soldiers
So what would Kevin pay in 2023? About 124% more than he did in 1990.
We took a peek at these essentials at Target, Walmart, Walgreens, and Amazon and the overall winner is Walmart by a few bucks. You could get everything on Kevin’s list (including the toy soldiers) for $42.34. Let’s tack on a 5% sales tax and we’re at $44.46. That’s an increase of 124% from the 1990 price.
It’s also worth noting that when we tallied up the totals last year, Walmart was at $47.68 so their prices on some items have actually gone down, which is pretty refreshing to see. Which items are lower this year? The half gallon of milk, Tide detergent, Snuggle dryer sheets, and Glad cling wrap have all decreased in price. What’s gone up the most since 2022? Tropicana orange juice and Wonder Bread have each increased by about 4.2% and 7.3%, respectively.
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