28-07-2025
Family of 5 Go Viral for $1K Grocery Hauls. Now They're Breaking Down the Reality of the Hefty Price Tag (Exclusive)
YouTubers Gabby and Christian Carlin talk with PEOPLE about grocery shopping for a family of fiveNEED TO KNOW
Gabby and Christian Carlin share how they involve their three kids in their grocery shopping routine, from building the list to picking the snacks
The YouTube creators break down their monthly grocery costs and why they don't stick to a strict budget
The parents of three also open up about balancing content creation with real-life parentingFor YouTube creators Gabby and Christian Carlin, grocery shopping with their kiddos is less about going viral and more about getting through the list, just like any other family.
Gabby and Christian Carlin — who go by @TheCarlins on YouTube — are parents to three children, Audrey, 5, Asher, 4, and Abbie, 2, often sharing their family adventures with a growing online audience.
Among their most popular content is peeks at their monthly grocery shopping hauls, where viewers often weigh in with their guesses on the price tag. They admit to PEOPLE that buying groceries with three little ones in tow is no easy feat.
'When we do our groceries, we always come with a big list,' Christian tells PEOPLE exclusively. 'Whenever we run out of something, we tell Amazon, 'Alexa, add this to the list,' because if not, we're going to forget.'
Naturally, with three kids, sticking to the list isn't always easy. The kids sometimes try to sneak items into the cart — 'Asher, he's like a little ninja,' Christian says of their 4-year-old son — so they make it a point to have them check in before adding anything.
'Sometimes it's something that we actually need,' Christian adds. 'They're so aware of what we need — they're so smart.'
To avoid impulse buys, the Carlins say they usually head to the store after breakfast, which helps curb cravings and keep their purchases focused and shopping may be a routine task for the Carlins, but in their household, it's something the kids actually look forward to.
'We just tell 'em, 'Hey, we're going to go do groceries,' and they get super excited because they love going with us,' Gabby time, even staple items have become a source of excitement — from frozen mangoes and peaches to a recent family favorite: Sam's Club egg bites. 'It's like we're going to Starbucks at home,' she adds. 'We make them their little meal, and they eat it.'
With a home full of activities — from dance and football to swim lessons and homeschooling — grocery trips also double as prep for the week ahead. The Carlins rely on easy, grab-and-go snacks like fruit, yogurt and veggie chips to keep their kids fueled throughout the go-to picks include easy handheld items like mandarins, veggie chips, yogurt drinks, Babybel cheese and string cheese snacks that travel well between sports, dance and days at the also keeps a small bag in the car stocked with diapers, wipes and other essentials. It's a system that comes in handy not just for the baby, but also for the older kids. 'Even for the bigger kids, the wipes are always needed,' she parents of three don't necessarily have a budget when it comes to groceries, and for good reason. Buying in bulk from Sam's Club allows them to stock up on essentials for the month, while weekly trips to Publix help replenish fresh produce, dairy and other household items as needed.
'Groceries are so expensive,' Gabby says. 'We just need to get what we need, because if we have everything at home, we have no reason to eat out [at a restaurant].'
'When we do go to Sam's Club, it literally lasts us a whole month,' Christian adds. 'People are like, 'Oh my gosh, between $500 and $600 at Sam's Club for a family of five,' but it lasts us a whole month.'Still, the Carlins make quick stops at Publix throughout the week — often for fresh produce, milk or other perishables — which adds to their overall grocery bill.
'So, five to seven hundred for Sam's Club, but on top of that, we go to Publix every week, so that's probably like $120 to $200 a week,' Christian says.
All in all, the Carlins spend about $1,000 a month to keep the whole family well-fed and ready for their action-packed days.
For the parents of three, what began as a fun, creative outlet while they were still in college has since evolved into a full-time career, one built on authenticity and lots of teamwork behind the scenes.
Still, quality time with their family is the priority. 'We are a complete team in this house,' Christian says. 'Family time is the most important.'
'Every day looks so different, so we balance it out,' Gabby adds.
Read the original article on People
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