Use Them Again & Again

Something that I use everyday, something that I hoard, something that I get crafty & make [read: crochet] from time to time, are these. I use them so often I've written about them before, here. 😊) They're durable, helpful, super useful, reusable [read: recyclable], colorful, washable, foldable (so they don't take up much vehicle space either), & lots more.

I'm not sure if there's technically been a craze on them, though in the whole realm of recycling, many brick & mortar stores use their reuse-ability as a discount or sales ploy. This includes two of the main grocers I support. One provides customers with the option to "keep" or "donate" a nickel for each bag they reuse at the checkout. Depending on how much a customer spends (item size-wise, not monetarily), deems how many bags they'd be choosing to use. Just buying an item or two, (or three)? Then it's likely that you'd only be reusing one bag. That's a nickel you'd be able to donate to the store's current selected charity. Otherwise "keep" your nickel & essentially get a "nickel off" coupon on your total order. Buying a few produce items as well as, say a container of cottage cheese & another of yogurt, maybe a bottle of this & this too? These last four items would suite well bagged separately from the produce items & at the register they'd organize your purchases as such. That'll then become a dime saved off your total order. 💰Cha Ch'ing!💰

I've also found bringing in my own bags with which to shop assists with eliminating the need for the ever-bulky cart as well as managing a basket (& certain discount grocers don't offer baskets as shopping options ☹). I prefer to "sweep" through the store's aisles & sort of "weave" as I might when I'm running in a large group at the beginning of a run & maybe a "dodge & weave" seems necessary; this is similar to how I oftentimes enter a grocery store. Having these bags right alongside me, just over my shoulder, makes for an efficient "breeze-thru", & therefore, satisfaction.

While one grocer monetarily rewards for reusing bags, another charges, & has a variety of recyclable, as well as reusable bags tucked away just underneath their belt counter where each customer can set down their selection while waiting in line, stand back, & quickly notice that, "Oh wait, these bags will be helpful, & for a nickel for the smaller size, & a dime for the larger size, why not?" And so these customers toss a bag or two from the sales shelf below to their order sitting atop the belt headed toward the smiling cashier. This same discount grocer also applauds customers for bringing in their own bags, so they're not all "money-bad" in the bagging department; it's just their own version of being resourceful.

Another grocer, where I do not shop very often (further distance as well as minimal product need) offers customers to reuse their bags for a chance to win a store gift card. I see this "promo" as an "in between". It's only a chance & it's not an instant reward. Couple these pursed-lips-causing-moments with my already infrequent visits to this grocery chain, & I simply allow these cashiers to load up a paper bag (which, I of course, recycle! 😂)... I fill these paper bags with my paper recycling from random personal paperwork to mailbox paraphernalia to cardboard off of containers (basically, wrappings) after purchasing & once I begin using them.

Then there are the options with the "ordinary" grocers who always have basic "grocery store plastic bags" available, & they always automatically bag your order right into these plastic bags. Still recyclable: instant in-house, bathroom & bedroom trash can liners. Tie them up & pop them into the top of the household's main bag; or, if already filled, it's simple enough to keep the room fillers alongside the main bag for trash pick-up (or to walk the load to the appropriate dumpster).

If shopping at a warehouse store, these, as I've written about before in this post, can come in handy when dealing with bulkier items. They've multiple length handles, so depending on load size & weight, the user can best determine how to appropriately & efficiently carry their purchase well.

These really are the way to go. I'm in constant appreciation of the ability to reuse & recycle. Buy some or click here & learn how to make your own out of these. 💗😂💓



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