We use the reusable bags. They go by the garage door when empty, and get returned to the trunk of the car on the next trip out. I have a large cooler bag I keep them in in the trunk. The hardest thing is to remember to take them back into the store. I'm getting better at remembering. Only Aldi charges for bags AFAIK in this area (west coast of Florida). I ask for raw meat to be placed in a plastic bag and then put in the reusable bag.

I will say, we managed to destroy a couple bags by missing the brie cheese in the bottom of one bag, placing the bags back in the trunk, and having the car parked in July sun in Florida for three days before we figured out where the brie disappeared to. EEEeeeewwww!

Use the good ole paper and plastic for free. Those stores that are charging you to use a bag of theirs are making a profit off of you. Those bags help advertise, how many have said that they take their lunch in one of the plastic bags. When it comes to the cost of the plastic bags there is an average cost of 1/10th of a cent per page or at least that is what they cost at the store that I run. We have but bags out to sell to get ppl to use the reusable bags but it this part of the country that are not many ppl who want to use them.....most ppl want the plastic bags for trash bags and the paper ones to use to ripen fruits in and to wrap gifts in.

Gigglez, many people in your area may prefer the plastic bags because reusables are new to them, but they will eventually adapt especially as they become educated to the true cost of the bags. Our environment is paying the price and it's a hefty one. I live in TN, so I have encountered what you encounter -areas like ours are slower to catch on. I lived in England in 2000-2001 and purchasing reusable bags was already very popular over there back then. They were ahead of us in this area. I can't believe it's taken America so long to catch up, considering the massive damage we're doing. And we haven't completely reformed, as you say there are still people that look for the 'free' bags to use for lunch or trash. But there are better options, it just takes a while for it to catch on, I guess.

I really don't think the bags are true advertising. Most people will never notice the name on the bag and they shop their favorite stores anyway.

I love the reusable bags. I don't drive, so I walk home from the supermarket with the groceries, and the reusable bags are so much easier to carry. Plus I don't have to run the risk of the bags splitting when I'm halfway home...

They fold down so well, so I can keep a couple in the bottom of my pack and I'm set.

Supermarkets here have been talking about charging people for plastic bags, and I think it's a fantastic idea. The number of plastic bags you get is just absurd, it really is. Other shops here are moving to reusable bags, or even no bags where practical - seriously, do you need a bag for a couple of small items?

I have 6 cloth bags but I have to admit I forget them in the back seat or the trunk about 25% of the time Then I kick myself when I go to check out! I'll try to do better, argh! I should put them in the passenger footwell so I SEE them on my way to the store.

Tasty!

Someone the other day pointed out the obvious solution to this (which is also my problem - and I have even left them on the passenger seat after digging my purse out from UNDERNEATH them) She just has the checker reload the groceries back in to the cart unbagged and puts them in the bags when she gets to the car.

I have use for some of the plastic and paper ones - but dear god not even our friends who use plastic ones as pooperscoops for their 4 large dogs can use as many plastics as you get. And I use the paper because here for awhile we were required to sort our recycleables into paper sacks for collection, but again that is like 10% of what you would get shopping.

thanks to this thread i remembered mine today and walked out of a huge walmart trip - groceries and all- with only one of their bags and the rest mine!

I bought a bunch of black cloth bags from the Coop for 99cents each. I use them all the time. When I unload my groceries I leave them on the counter and once I leave the house I throw them in the back of my car.

I always remember to bring them with me. I always remember to keep some extras in the car. I do NOT always remember to bring them INTO the store when I go shopping! I'd realize while standing in line that I left them in the car.

I solved this problem by buying a chicobag, which is this little nylon thing that folds up into its own attached pouch, which fits in my purse. And, the pouch has a clip, so you can attach it to the outside of your purse if you need to ... or wear it on a belt loop as a fashion accessory, I suppose (joking). Anyway, I'm thrilled that I've not taken a plastic bag from a store in months!

I live in a fairly progressive city, but I still get snotty looks from the kids bagging the groceries when I hand them my bag. I just stare them down, that works quite well.

Great thread! I'm glad the reusable-bag thing is catching on.

I have a bunch of the cloth bags from at least 5 stores. I use them a lot but I don't keep them in my SUV or truck I keep them at home. I'll take them if I am at home and decide to go to the grocery but many times I'll be already on the road and decide at the last minute to stop in which case I'll get some of those plastic bags.

Luckily the store where I shop at you can bring the bags back and put them in a recycle box just for the bags.

Personally I think the stores should stop providing them It's not that hard to get 3 or 4 cloth bags and they hold twice as much. When you think of the millions and millions of bags being used many times just once it isn't neccessary.

And the grocery stores you know spen millions maybe billions on them across the US maybe they could come down a little on the prices a little if they didn't have to provide them.

I remember Rack & Sack when I lived down in New Orleans and the Bottom Dollar stores around me now sell stuff cheaper because they don't provide bags and you bag it yourself.

I went to the Bottom Dollar yesterday and their can goods and meat is cheap, cheap cheaped compared to the other chains around here.

But I STILL love going to Trader Joes for all the good stuff! AND ... I have two cool Trader Joe bags of course!

Here here! My mom was saying when she lived in Germany 30 (!) years ago, no store provided bags, people brought their own. I wonder why its taken us so long to catch up with other countries.

I have 3 big reusable bags, but I forget them about half the time. I do use plastic bags for a lot of other stuff (lunches, garbage bags for my tiny garbage cans, bringing my wet towel back from the gym, etc) and I always recycle extras or ones with holes or whatnot.

My husband didn't want me to keep them in the truck... but he never looks in the back seat anyway so I just need to sneak them back out there. I could probably use a few more, but the store that makes the best ones around here (Wegmans - they're huge, sturdy, and usually $0.99) is kinda far away and I haven't been there lately.

I grew up in Scotland through the seventies, and when my Mum went shopping, she always took a basket with her for the groceries.

I have the bags and like to use them, but I often leave them at home, in the car, etc. I am getting better, though!

Your milk comes in a bag? Hmmm, I may sound stumped at that, because I've never known it to come in a bag. Please explain it to me ~TIA