Parenting 22 children is undeniably challenging, and a hefty fine linked to a court appearance due to a $70,000 Disney vacation means the Radford family could do without additional expenses like substantial grocery bills.
Sue Radford has revealed the staggering amount she and her husband Noel spend on groceries each trip, a sum that might make anyone’s wallet tremble.
Despite their expensive summer, the Radfords assert they are not leading a lavish lifestyle. Sue previously mentioned to the Sun: “We don’t claim benefits, the pie company is very successful and so is our media business.
“We work hard but we’re not millionaires!
“The nastiness is upsetting though. We just want to be able to give our children the best possible life.”
The couple, known for their reality show 22 Kids and Counting and running Radford’s Pie Company, posted an Instagram photo showing their kitchen counters overflowing with Aldi shopping bags, a store renowned for its affordability in the UK.
Followers were eager to estimate their grocery bill, with many suggesting around $260.
Sue soon clarified, stating: “Lots of you guessed pretty close but most guessed around £200 [$263]. The actual total was £375.65 [$494.17].”
That’s nearly $500 for each grocery expedition.
It’s not entirely surprising, considering most of their children still reside at home.
The family’s financial situation has been a frequent topic of discussion online, especially after legal proceedings related to their children’s school attendance followed their costly trip to Disney World, reportedly costing $70,000.
In April, Sue and Noel took their large family—and a few partners—on a dream holiday to Florida, incurring a reported $35,245 just on flights.
However, the magical Disney getaway was tarnished by a legal ruling when they were found guilty of failing to ensure four of their children attended school regularly, resulting in fines of $87 per child and $158 in court costs.
The vacation became more expensive when 24-year-old Millie Radford and her two children missed their flight due to expired ESTA certificates. Noel stayed back with Millie and her family as they reapplied, before joining the rest of the family a day later.
Chloe Radford and her daughter Mia did not join the family on this memorable trip, as Chloe had just given birth to her second child.
Amidst legal challenges, exotic vacations, and regular grocery bills comparable to a mortgage, Britain’s largest family appears to handle everything with resilience—one pie and one shopping cart at a time.