Final answer:
The total amount spent for food was $264. Mary and Fred had a budget deficit of $4 for food.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to find the total amount spent for food, we need to add up the individual amounts spent. The amounts spent were $87, $62, $28, $49, and $38. Adding these amounts together gives us a total of $264.
To determine if Mary and Fred had a budget deficit or surplus for food, we need to compare the total amount spent ($264) to their budgeted amount ($260). Since the total amount spent is greater than the budgeted amount, they had a budget deficit. The amount of the deficit is the difference between the total amount spent and the budgeted amount, which is $4.