Parents of 11 Reveal $1,200 Weekly Grocery Bill After Adopting 6 Kids

Groceries are expensive for everyone, but for Alicia and Josh Dougherty, who are raising 11 kids, the cost is overwhelming.

The couple, known online as the Dougherty Dozen, have more than 12 million followers who watch their daily life, including grocery hauls, meals, and what it takes to care for such a big family.

Alicia’s shopping trips often go viral, showing her pushing up to four carts just to feed her family for a week. She told PEOPLE that their grocery bill has skyrocketed to nearly $4,800 a month.

“The cost of groceries is increasing rapidly,” Alicia explained. “During the pandemic-ish time, I was spending $500 to $750 a week. Now I’m buying the same things, our menu hasn’t changed much, and I’m spending about $1,000 to $1,200 a week.”

Parents of 11 Spend Up to $1,200 a Week on Groceries After Adopting 6 Kids with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

With so many kids, Alicia says she’s careful about where the money goes.

“If my kids could, they would eat steak every week,” she joked. “But a four-pack of ribeyes cost me $101. So I buy more chicken because it’s cheaper.”

She used to drive to several stores for her kids’ favorite items but realized it wasted too much time. “To get it all at one store is easier for me,” she said. Still, she admits she shops at wholesale stores more often now “probably double what I used to.”

Worries Beyond Food Costs

Rising prices aren’t her only concern. Alicia also worries about cuts to Medicaid and how it affects foster children.

“Six of our kids have Medicaid. Thankfully, Josh has great health insurance that also covers them. But what about the 400,000-plus children in the foster care system who rely on Medicaid?” she said.

The Doughertys have four biological children — Zoey (13), Dashel (11), Bodhi (8), and Harlee (6) — and six adopted children — Alex (19), James (18), Patrick (16), Bree (14), and 10-year-old twins Jordan and Jason. All six adopted children live with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), which can cause learning, behavior, and physical challenges.

In 2022, the family also welcomed 15-year-old Dayshawn, the son of a woman Alicia grew up with. “His last name’s not Dougherty yet, but he’s a Dougherty,” Alicia said proudly.

Social Media as a Full-Time Job

While Josh works as a teacher, Alicia has turned their social media into a full-time career, putting in about 75 hours a week.

But online fame also brings negativity. Alicia said that the “backlash and hate from strangers online” can feel invasive. Some people accuse her of “child exploitation,” even while they profit by making their own videos about her.

At times, the harassment got so bad that the family had to hire security. Alicia admitted she often wonders if she should stop posting, but she keeps going.

“I don’t want the bullies to win,” she said. “If I quit, then they’ve won. And honestly, what other career could I have that makes this kind of money to support my family?”

Parenting Big Kids Brings New Challenges

Alicia is now adjusting to parenting adult children, which she says is harder than raising little ones.

“Parenting adults is my hardest parenting adventure yet. You can tell them what to do, but they don’t always listen. I can’t force them to take medication or make choices,” she explained.

Back in 2020, Alicia shared with PEOPLE how they adopted Alex when he was 4 years old. Caseworkers were so impressed with how well he thrived that they continued sending the couple more children who needed help.

“So many people gave up on these kids, but they knew we wouldn’t,” she said then.

Today, Alex has a full-time job at a construction supply company, lives on his own, and has a girlfriend. James completed a two-year culinary arts program — “That was his dream, and he’s doing it,” Alicia said.

Family First

Even with the challenges, Alicia says she tries not to let small frustrations get to her.

“Every week when the house is a mess, I think, ‘Oh my God, I can’t stand this.’ But then I remind myself — someday it won’t be messy, because they won’t be here anymore.”

Despite the chaos, she and Josh still make time for one-on-one moments with their kids, cherishing every bit of family life.