I’m No Longer Letting TikTok Shame My Grocery Budget 🛒

So let me tell you what happened to me the other day.

I was minding my own business on TikTok. Just scrolling. Innocent. Vulnerable. Coffee nearby. Life was fine.

And then… she appeared.

A woman calmly explaining how she feeds a family of four on $300 a month.
Not per week.
Per. Month.

She had spreadsheets.
She had freezer organization.
She had confidence.

And suddenly, my very reasonable $75 a week for one adult human started feeling like I was personally financing a yacht.

I closed the app and just sat there like,
“…am I bad at groceries or is she living in an alternate universe where eggs are still 99 cents?”

This is the weird thing about watching “different” content online — it sneaks up on you. One minute you’re entertained, the next minute you’re questioning your choices, your budget, and whether you should apologize to your checking account.

Here’s the thing though (and this is the important part):
Context matters.

That creator might live in a low-cost area.
She might coupon like it’s an Olympic sport.
She might eat the same meals on repeat.
She might have storage space I simply do not possess.

Meanwhile, I’m over here buying groceries for one, paying today’s prices, and occasionally choosing convenience because I value my sanity and my time. And honestly? That’s allowed.

When I stopped watching that video, I realized something:
Just because someone else can do something wildly different doesn’t mean I’m doing something wrong.

It just means the internet did what it does best — show me a highlight reel without the fine print.

So yes, I spend $75 a week on groceries.
Yes, sometimes it includes snacks.
Yes, I will defend my choices.

And no — I will not be comparing myself to a TikTok spreadsheet warrior ever again (until the next scroll, obviously).

The moral of the story?
If content makes you feel bad instead of informed, it might be time to swipe away and protect your peace… and your grocery cart.