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JennGM
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There's a big push on reusable bags at all my shopping stops. I found this article from the WSJ very interesting: An Inconvenient Bag.
I'm loathe to buy those bags...they are tiny, and I would need so many to bring home my groceries.
I keep thinking I could make them, or find an alternative cheaper resource for having these bags on hand. I want handles, flat bottom, large capacity, like a brown paper grocery bag.
In the meantime, I just save my plastic bags, recycle or reuse them for various purposes.
Any brilliant ideas you can share here?
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Jennifer G. Miller
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guitarnan
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I would like bags like Jenn describes...and not bags made in China.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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mavmama
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I have made this one and my sister loves it. I especially like the little carrying case it goes in so you don't have to carry the big bag. Handy!
I think for myself, I would like a larger, more squared off bag. Kind of like the Land's End/ LL Bean totes (but not so $$).
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Liz
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KC in TX
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I wish I could find the link, but there was a tutorial on a blog somewhere to make a reusable bag. I use the ones that our commissary sells. It holds more groceries than the plastic ones do because of it's shape. I thought at first that it wouldn't but because it's got a flat bottom, it holds a lot more of the dried goods. Of course, it only works if I remember to take the bags with me to the store.
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Carole N.
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We are facing the same situation over here. When I shopped in America, I had those string bags. They don't have flat bottoms, but they do hold a lot of groceries. I did buy one at a camping store one time (could have been Coleman) that had a flat bottom, but the string sides with very stong canvas straps. It is a great bag and I still use it.
Over here we have burlap bags with flat bottoms almost like the paper bags only not as tall but a bit wider. And they have handles. They do hold a lot of groceries, and you can place just about anything in them! Fortunately for us, they sell them in the stores, so I am not having to struggle to find them.
Good luck in your search.
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 Carole ... in Wales
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JodieLyn
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I picked up one of the cheap bags fron Safeway and it seems to be very much the size/shape of a paper grocery bag. Perhaps you could check out a Safeway and see if their bags are different than what you're seeing elsewhere. they have handles and little loops so that the bagger can loop them onto the plastic bag stand (though they seem taller than that to me) so help hold them open.
I got it to be able to make some myself as Christmas gifts because I wanted to see how they were put together. So buy one and then make your own and that will get away from the "made in china" problem too.
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Mary Chris
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You know Jenn, those bags hold a lot more than you think they do. I am always surprised how fewer bags it takes to fill up the reusable ones. I have bought bags from most of the stores I frequent. I don't worry about taking the right bag to the right store though.
I just have to remember to bring them into the store.
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Mary Chris
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I also try to take a boat and tote like bag when I go to the mall. If I forget one I frequently just tell the cashier I don't want a bag and put all my purchases into one bag. It might not help their advertising but it cuts down on the bags in my house.
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Angi
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I have acme bags and the ones you buy at the grocer. Both hold a lot more than you think. Also, walk thru your house and find all of those bags that seem to appear in people's lives. Some of mine have the hospital name on them (no clue how I got them), so advertise conferences that I have been to (LLL, teaching, daycare, hubby's job). You may be surprised what you find, though maybe smaller, every little bit helps.
Otherwise check out resuablebags.com - I love that store!
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JodieLyn
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Angi, all those bags in my house already have uses  .. I love them..
there's the small one that holds unmatched socks while waiting to see if any show up again..
there's the one that holds lacrosse stuff
the one that holds soccer shin guards
the one that I carry to practises and games with medical kit type stuff in it (and room to dump in other things as well) the one that goes to my sister's house as a diaper bag so that I can drop off the kids over there without having to remember that most of the time.
the one that hangs on a coat hook for the hats (and in winter gloves too)
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Mary G
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I like the big blue one you can get at IKEA ... it was cheap and holds alot. I pop it in the grocery cart and fill it up. If you keep a few cardboard boxes in the back of the van, you can fill those from the IKEA bag and unload easily at home.
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Rachel May
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KC in TX wrote:
| I use the ones that our commissary sells. It holds more groceries than the plastic ones do because of it's shape. I thought at first that it wouldn't but because it's got a flat bottom, it holds a lot more of the dried goods. Of course, it only works if I remember to take the bags with me to the store. |
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I use these same commissary bags, but I'm finding they rip fairly easily after a few times carrying 2 gal of milk so then if I'm chucking them after 5 or 6 uses is that really all that great? However, they do hold a lot and we do end up with fewer bags to carry in. I like the Whole Foods bags better because they are stronger and bigger, but the commissary baggers always save them for last.
I thought they were made from recycled plastic, but after reading the article I'm wondering about that too. My sister is making me from canvas some for Christmas using a commissary bag for the pattern. The fabric is probably made in China though...and as the article pointed out, is there really a savings if the energy output to make the better bag is so much greater that making the cheap disposable one? But you can't explain that in a soundbyte if someone asks you why you don't use reusable bags, can you?
Thinking about it is making me feel a bit  . Guess I'll go back to help the boys finish school. 
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LisaR
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the only decent cheapo "reuseable" bags that hold alot around my area are the ALDI canvas ones- they are 1.99 and are at least twice the size of those regular sized ones at Target, Walmart, etc...
but you know, I always reused my ALDI .05 paper bags anyway, and we always reuse our plastic kroger or walmart bags for trash bags, sorting things, etc so I kind of bristle in general that I am not being "enviromental" enough unless I buy more STUFF!!! 
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Lisbet
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I like the ALDI bags too. I've been buying them, one each week for the past few weeks. While I always reused my other ALDI bags, when my kids bag, they fill them so full that the handles break off easily - so I'm constantly rebuying them anyway...
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LisaR
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Mary G wrote:
| If you keep a few cardboard boxes in the back of the van, you can fill those from the IKEA bag and unload easily at home. |
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If you buy the new ALDI bags you can just leave those in the back of the van and unload right from the cart into them!! they have nice flat bottoms and stay open nicely!!
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Lisa
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JennGM
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LisaR wrote:
the only decent cheapo "reuseable" bags that hold alot around my area are the ALDI canvas ones- they are 1.99 and are at least twice the size of those regular sized ones at Target, Walmart, etc...
but you know, I always reused my ALDI .05 paper bags anyway, and we always reuse our plastic kroger or walmart bags for trash bags, sorting things, etc so I kind of bristle in general that I am not being "enviromental" enough unless I buy more STUFF!!! |
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Amen, Sister! I echo that feeling. My spider sense tingles when something is so accepted, popular, forced down your throat by the mainstream media and Hollywood set, whom I don't usually see eye-to-eye with their agenda. So I form my own set of guidelines that make sense to me, not by some marketing or political scheme.
Preparing my soul and getting my family to heaven is my main operative. I don't think God is going to ask me "Did I use Paper or Plastic or Reusable bags?" but I do need to be a good steward of His creation without stressing out on the minutiae. It's a balance I have to strive for every day....
But I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir.
Thanks for all these ideas, ladies! And like Jodie, I'm using all those bags for other things, too. Dh calls me "Bag Lady" and I come by it honestly, as my mother is one, too! Dh keeps scratching his head wondering why do I need a different bag for everything...can't I just fit it in all one?
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juststartn
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We need those plastic grocery sacks here for diaper duty, putting into the car for gathering the trash up there, etc...we do reuse them--we keep the vast majority of them...but I'd never remember to take reusable bags to the store. Nope. Not a chance. Shoot, I have a hard time remembering to grab the diaper bag, and its right beside the door (I have considered putting it into the car and leaving it there...).
Rachel (who is sadly forgetful)
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Lisbet
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Good point on the diaper duty Rachel, and in the car. I keep half a dozen of 'em in the glove box too. My husband carries his lunch in one every day too.
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
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lapazfarm
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35 reusable grocery bags you can make
Have fun!
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lapazfarm
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I absolutely love this idea!
Furoshiki
Watch the video!
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Loom: Reusable Grocery Bags
