Re-Useable Shopping Bags

[oxysback]

Here's the bag I use.

[Possegal]

I've acquired quite a stash of them. Some are in the house but the goal is to return them to the car as soon as possible so I always have some there, otherwise I'd never remember to use them until I got to the store and had none. I am great with them at the grocery, still getting used to bringing them to any and all stores and foregoing the plastic. I am anal about recycling the plastic back at the grocery though. But I'd prefer to not have any at all. The last time I remembered to bring mine into CVS the kid at the register was trying to charge me for it. I was puzzled - said to him, really? You think this DC-area CVS is selling these PITTSBURGH STEELER bags? He still didn't understand why I wasn't buying the bag. I had to explain that I thought they'd be more likely to sell Redskin bags here.

[AnnieBikes]

I have a bunch of the bags. One is from Adventure Cycling for making a donation , three from Appalachian Trail Conservancy (donation) and one of them is insulated, which is very handy for cold stuff, and two that I got at REI for $1 each. They are made out of a tyvek-like material and very nice and heavy. I keep them in the car all the time so that I have them when I shop. Walmart doesn't like them much as it is inconvenient for them but I don't care. I like the "green" bags and always recycled the plastic ones in the past, anyway, or used them when picking my garden.

I volunteer at our local hospital and each year they have an appreciation luncheon and give a small gift to us. The lunch was last week and they gave us each what looked like a little clutch purse but it turned out to be a reusable grocery bag all folded up. ...very nice, and useful, but now I am getting too many bags!!! Oh well, when they wear out, I will have some more to use!

[ZenSojourner]

When I go grocery shopping, I buy 2 or 3 weeks worth of groceries at the same time. I'm pretty sure I couldn't afford that many reusable bags.

I do save the plastic bags I get at other stores and use them when I go shopping at Aldi's, where they don't give you bags. I also use them as trash bags.

[lunacycles]

I keep them in the car all the time and develop amnesia whenever I go grocery shopping....fortunately, I mostly shop at a co-op that has recycled paper bags at your disposal if you left your fancy bags in the car.

[malkin]

I have a bunch and use them often, and have done so for decades.

I used to wash those plastic produce bags and hang them on the clothesline before reusing them, but I don't anymore.

[Kimmyt]

I have two cheap canvas type ones that I use, which works for me because for the most part I shop 2-3 times a week and just get small amounts. That number of trips will probably even decrease since I joined a CSA for veggies.

I keep them in my car, you can fit so many more things in a reusable bag than a disposable plastic one, so that works for me since I hate to make more than one trip from the car to the house when bringing in my groceries. If I forget them and The Boy is with me, he usually runs out and grabs them while I'm waiting in line

[Irulan]

I have about 12, and with the exception of three I bought while traveling, I just collected various bags I had around the house anyway. Canvas bags, gym bags, freebies, commemorative..."schleppers" have always been around. Places like home shows and conventions will give them away for free, too.
Then there another dozen that I made out of scrap heavy fabric that are just waiting for handles.

I guess I find the whole "buying them" thing fairly ridiculous. I have bought just a few on vacations - I got some of the best market bags in Mexico for a couple of pesos, and another one my last trip to Bonaire... it's a great conversation starter.

I am fasciated by how few bags I have around now that I am pretty consistent in taking them with me. Training myself ( and the family) is the hardest part. By having lots, I have several in the car, and I can still have some up in the kitchen waiting to go back to the car, and I always have them when I need them.

We got a whole bunch of canvas ones embroidered with my hubby's company logo... they went like hot cakes.

[GLC1968]

I have a couple of these:


http://www.envirosax.com/products/graphic_series/

I bought them at Powell's when I visited Portland prior to moving here, and I love the silly things. They are so compact when rolled up that I've got them stashed everywhere - one in my purse, one in my pannier, one in the glove box of the car, etc, so I am never without one. It's amazing how much will fit in them and they are super strong, too. We also keep a collection of fabric bags (some are mesh) in the car for larger shopping trips, but that's usually easier to remember. I find it's the little trips to the market or hardware store where you have too much to just carry out, but not enough to warrant bringing in the whole shebang...