If it feels like groceries are eating up more of your budget, you are not imagining it.
In a recent Spergel survey, respondents reported cutting back on food, relying on credit for groceries, and delaying bills to keep food on the table. In a drastic shift from normal shopping habits, respondents demonstrated financial coping behaviors that often show up when household cash flow has no breathing room. These findings are consistent with higher average costs of living we’re seeing across Canada.
Our findings below show how most people are managing their grocery budget across Canada, and what our trustees are noticing through their clients and consultations.
Key findings from the Spergel survey
- 60.6% said they skipped meals or reduced portions due to financial pressure in the past 6 months.
- Over half of the respondents used BNPL/line of credit/payday loans to buy groceries in the past 6 months, and 70.3% are in the “credit orbit” (used it or have seriously considered it).
- 2/5 of Canadians delayed paying a bill so they could buy groceries in the past 6 months.
- 57.6% worried about grocery money at least sometimes in the past 6 months.
- 1 in 2 Canadians feel that debt payments made essentials at least somewhat harder (groceries, rent, utilities) in the past 6 months.
Respondents also described common coping behaviours: 55.8% shopped at multiple stores to chase deals, 49.1% bought less meat/protein, 49.1% used coupons or price matching more than before, and 44.2% bought fewer fruits and vegetables.
What does grocery debt and bill juggling look like?
When people hear “food insecurity,” they often think of an extreme situation. In reality, many households first feel it through everyday trade-offs:
- putting groceries on credit
- delaying a bill to pay for food
- cutting back on healthier foods because they cost more
- worrying at the checkout even when they have a job and are “getting by”
These patterns matter because they can create a cycle. If groceries go on credit, then bills get delayed, then late fees and interest pile up, and debt stress grows. Many people describe constant stress at the checkout and ongoing worry about groceries.
“For many Canadians, the warning sign is not one big financial event. It is the steady pressure of higher living costs combined with existing debt payments. We are seeing the cost of groceries show up in real household budgets. When budgets do not stretch, people lean on credit or start shuffling payments to get by.” – Rob Kilner, Partner and Licensed Insolvency Trustee, Spergel.
Learn more about how debt affects mental health: Debt Load and the Impact to Psychological Wellbeing Study.
What Canadians told us, and why it matters right now
|
What we asked Canadians |
What the survey found |
What it means |
Why this matters now in Canada |
|
Are people cutting back on food? |
60.6% skipped meals or reduced portions (past 6 months) |
Many are eating less because money is tight. |
Food insecurity has been rising nationally (10 provinces): 22.9% in 2023. (Statistics Canada) |
|
Are people “financing” groceries? |
53.2% used credit/BNPL/LOC/payday loans for groceries (past 6 months) |
Groceries are becoming a debt expense, not just a household expense. |
Grocery prices are still rising: “food purchased from stores” was +5.0% YoY in Dec 2025. (Statistics Canada) |
|
Are people juggling bills to buy food? |
40.5% delayed paying a bill so they could buy groceries |
This signals cash-flow strain that can spiral into arrears and deeper debt. |
Record food bank demand suggests strain is widespread: nearly 2.2M visits in March 2025. (Food Banks Canada) |
|
Is food stress widespread (even before food bank use)? |
57.6% worried about grocery money at least sometimes (past 6 months) |
Stress is broad. Even households not using food banks may be one unexpected expense away. |
National estimates show food insecurity continued rising: 25.5% in 2024 (10 provinces). (PROOF) |
|
Is debt directly squeezing essentials? |
51.7% said debt payments made essentials harder (past 6 months) |
Debt is competing with rent, utilities, and groceries. |
Rising food insecurity and record food bank usage align with household budget pressure. |
Note: Our findings are from a survey of 269 Canadians. National figures are measured differently, but they help put these experiences in context.
What to do if groceries are going on credit
If any of this sounds familiar, you are not alone. It can help to understand your options early, even if you are not ready to take action.
Depending on your situation, solutions may include:
- Budgeting and planning tools like budget trackers to help regain control.
- Reducing spend on food delivery apps and trying “Pantry-First” meal planning.
- A consumer proposal (often reduces monthly payments and stops interest), in cases of severe debt load.
Spergel offers free, confidential 30-minute consultations to help Canadians understand their options and next steps, without judgment.
