Using those reusable grocery bags

I went to the grocery store this weekend, armed with my reusable grocery bags.

It's getting a lot easier to use them. The cashiers and baggers are more used to seeing them and they don't give me the nasty looks any more. In fact, they've actually thanked me for bringing my own bags.

And people in the store are starting to talk to me and ask questions. The most frequent question I am asked:

"How do you remember to take your bags along?"

It takes discipline, I'll admit. But once I got into the habit, it has become much easier to stick with it.

When I get home from the store, I unload my groceries. Then, before I do anything else, I gather up all the bags again and put them back in my car. That way I'll always have them available.

I keep the bags in the front passenger floorboard, so they're always in sight as a reminder to use them.

I also keep a secret stash tucked in my purse - the secret is Breezy Bags. These are nylon bags that fold up ultra-flat and ultra-tiny, but they unfold into full size bags, just like the regular plastic grocery bags. These, however, are much stronger. They're also machine washable. They come in a pouch that has 5 bags. One bag folds up small enough to be tucked into a wallet or even the pocket of a tight pair of jeans.

The Breezy Bags are perfect for last minute or impulse shopping trips, when I may still forget to have any of my regular shopping bags along. When I get ready to pay, I see the pouch of Breezy Bags in my purse and remember to use them.

The second most frequent question I'm asked is "where do you get your grocery bags?"

I'm all about cheap, but why settle for cheap when you can get free, right?

I constantly monitor the internet for freebies. There are some companies that if you sign up for their e-mail list, they'll send you a free reusable grocery bag. Go to "freebie" websites to help keep tabs on the latest offers. My favorite is "Hey, It's Free."

There are also some stores that have had grocery bag giveaways. Last year, Wal-Mart gave everybody a free bag on Earth Day 2008. Other stores sometimes give a free bag with a minimum purchase. Books-A-Million has been doing this recently.

If there is an Earth Day festival in your community this year, it would be a great place to find grocery bag giveaways. Last year at the Knoxville EarthFest, there were two booths giving away free reusable grocery bags.

Conventions are also a good place to find them, along with the pens, koozies, and other standard convention swag.

If you want to buy bags, you can find them at most of your major grocery stores. Currently, they're averaging at about 99 cents a bag. It can be pricey to buy a whole bunch at once. But if you buy one or two per trip, soon you'll have enough without having to cough up the cost all at once. If you're sharp, you can find them on sale. About a month ago, Walgreen's had their bags on sale at 3 for $1.

If you're handy with a crochet hook, here are a couple of options for making your own bags.

The first one is for a mesh/net type grocery bag. It's nice but I don't prefer it myself because of the holes. You can find the free pattern at The Adventures of Cassie.

Another crocheted bag, of which I am quite fond, is called The Ultimate Grocery Bag. Get this - you crochet it out of plastic grocery store bags! It's a fun and easy project and it makes a surprisingly sturdy bag to boot! While you're there, check out the rest of RecycleCindy's projects. She has made all sorts of things out of grocery bags, and even cassette tape and video tape! Everything from bags to hats to Barbie clothes.

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