I find it annoying to have to pay for the grocery bag after I’ve just spent a large sum on the groceries already. This is a pet peeve I’ve learned to deal with or find a way around.
Here’s a few ways I try to save/avoid on paying for my grocery bags:
- I use the boxes at the front of the store by the tills that the store is trying to recycle. You do have to be careful to not put squishable/breakable stuff at the bottom of the box and not to load them too heavy.
- I use their reusable material bags that cost $0.99 and they will replace the bag for free if it ever breaks. I’ve had to replace one in the last year. The bags are also useful for other outings like carrying blankets for kids’ sleepovers at Grandma’s.
- I save up all the bags I’ve decided to purchase because they didn’t have any boxes that day or I forgot my other bags at home. I bring a good stash of my plastic bags and double bag them to avoid them breaking too fast. Some of these bags come from other stores that don’t make me pay for bags.
- when I want to be really stubborn about it I just put my groceries back in the cart without bags/boxes and transfer item by item to my vehicle then do the same at home or find something useful at home to transfer the groceries from the van to the house. Often it’s my helpful children.
- for small loads I just carry the few items in my hands.
It’s a small savings, but even small savings add up. This is one money savings that happens to be better for the environment as well.
