Reusable Bag Lady

Reusable Bag Lady  

         This first blog is about something I am very passionate about. REUSABLE GROCERY BAGS!  I've used reusable grocery bags for a little more than two years. This passion had nothing to do with the environment. I just became tired of the plastic bags. Those thinly made plastic things began to take over my pantry, kitchen drawers and cabinets. I had plastic bags of bags inside plastic bags, inside boxes of plastic bags. True story! After a while I just became frustrated with the piles. My three boys and I gathered them all up, shoved them into the trunk of my car and dropped them off at the grocery store. At that moment I was done with all the plastic! I have become so passionate about my reusable bags that I get nauseated and lightheaded when my groceries are put into those thin plastic bags. The only way to avoid that nasty nauseated feeling is to remember to bring mine with me! When I first began my "no plastic bag" policy, I had a very difficult time remembering them. Within a months time, I had over 20 reusables in my possession. They had become a huge part of my life.

         Reusable bags are great for the environment, very easy to pack your groceries into, they play well inside the trunk of your vehicle, and they are very sturdy. I can recall several times during my plastic bag years, having groceries thrown all over the back seat and trunk of the car. The cold items fighting with the boxes, cans of green beans sitting on loaves of bread, and produce getting bruised by everything. Not a pretty sight at all! Then you have the times when the bag just tears as soon as you get out of the grocery store. I've had a pickle jar, sauerkraut jar and a jam jar all burst out of a torn bag and onto my feet...all at the same time! Well, maybe not all at the same time. However, I knew there had to be a better way of transporting my groceries after the sticky jam jar incident.
         The key to a successful grocery store trip with reusable bags, is to remember the bags! In the beginning, I would remember to bring them 25% of the time. That meant, having to purchase one or two each time I forgot them. During the middle part of this transition, the cashier would remind me. I would stop the bagging process, look through my purse or go grab them out of my vehicle or send my boys back to retrieve my bags. In the end, I would walk into the store with bags in hand and grocery shop, placing everything I planned to purchase into the bags. When my bags became full..it was time to stop shopping! Once I learned how to remember my bags, I became known as the reusable bag lady. Whenever I walk into the grocery store, the cashier already knows...that I have my own bags. Currently, I have a grand total of 39 reusable bags. They have become an accessory. I like to match them with my purse or shoes. When I pick out my clothes, I am picking out my reusable bag too. They go with me to the grocery store, hardware store, library, farmers market, flea market, etc. According to my boys, I have an obsession with reusable bags. It's true, but more about that in my next blog! I've become so obsessed with bags that even when I have them with me, I'll buy more at the store. They come in so many different sizes, types, colors, designs, and from so many different places...I want them all! I guess I am a passionately obsessed reusable bag lady! I'm cool with that!


People tell me that they would use them if they could remember to bring them to the store. So here is a list of ways that I remember my bags.     

1) Keep them folded. A folded bag is easier to store in your purse or wallet.

2) Make sure to have plenty of bags (5-10). Place them in your pantry, in the trunk of your car, in the bottom of your purse.

3)  Keep them on a hook near the door you exit when heading to the grocery store. 

4) Just buy a new one. When you forget to bring them with you, just buy another one when you get to the store. Most of the time it'll only cost you $1 (really nice ones, insulated with zippers, can cost more than $15)

5) Place post-its on the refrigerator, front door or garage door.
6) Put a reminder on your phone. Just think of how many times you glance at your phone before leaving your house.

A huge reminder to those as passionate as I am about reusable bags:

Remember to clean the bags after each use. I spray mine down with Lysol. If they are visibly soiled, I will use soap and warm water to thoroughly clean them. This is especially important after handling a bag with dripping meats inside.




This list is what helps me remember my bags. Please post any creative ideas you have!


Thanks for stopping by and reading my thoughts :)
Angelia