‘You can’t budget your rent’: Gee challenges budgeting advice as WA tops the nation in estimated grocery spending

Washington residents had the nation’s highest estimated grocery spending in 2025, at $4,612 per person, according to a ConsumerAffairs report. The report put an average-sized household’s monthly grocery bill at about $946 and ranked Washington third for grocery costs relative to income.

The figures prompted co-host Gee Scott to push back on advice that struggling households simply need to budget better during “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, with co-host Ursula Reutin pointing to the expenses facing grocery businesses.

“People tell me, Ursula, that folks need to budget better,” Gee said. “You can’t budget your rent. You can’t budget better with your car payment. You can’t budget better with even your internet and fixed bills.”

Grocery spending takes a larger share of income

ConsumerAffairs estimated Washington’s grocery spending at 44% above the national per-person figure. Its calculation of household grocery spending relative to median household income was 11.4%, compared with 9.8% nationally.

“That’s why food insecurity is a real thing here,” Gee said.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food assistance to eligible households. Gee’s comments also addressed opposition to those benefits.

“We have people in this country that are hell-bent against people receiving SNAP benefits,” Gee said. “That kind of triggered me. I’m glad you brought this topic to us today.”

Higher spending is not the same as higher prices

The report’s spending estimates measure how much residents spend, not just the price of an identical basket of groceries. ConsumerAffairs estimated that Washington’s average-sized household grocery bill increased by $430 between 2024 and 2025, the largest dollar increase among states.

Ursula connected grocery bills with the operating expenses businesses must cover.

“We do have some of the highest minimum wages in the country, expensive commercial rents, high gas prices. Have you seen insurance rates lately?” Ursula said. “Utility costs are about to go up again, and the reality is all of that gets baked into the price of what we pay at the grocery store.”

Ursula questions who absorbs business costs

ConsumerAffairs cited federal data showing Seattle-area grocery prices increased about 3.3% in the 12 months ending in September, compared with 1.8% nationally.

“The grocery store pays more for its employees, its building, its electricity, its transportation, etc.,” Ursula said. “They’re not going to take that on the chin. They’re going to pass it along to us.”

Gee returned to the pressure those bills place on households.

“A lot of costs are going up, but that’s kind of a scary thing when it comes to the groceries,” Gee said. “Seriously.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio.