This tip is related to the plastic bags tip, so doesn’t get its own full version number…

This is the last I’ll say on the plastic bags issue, at least for a little while. OK, so now you’re refraining from using plastic bags when you don’t really need them, and you’re reusing your old plastic bags when you do need them. So what am I suggesting now?

Eventually, after enough trips, your plastic bags are going to wear out (stretch, rip, etc.). What then? Get new plastic bags from the store? No! Let the problem end with this batch! One option is to buy some canvas bags for hauling groceries, etc., which many people do. What I’m suggesting though is that you use boxes you probably already have lying around.

The revelation hit me recently as I was buying baby supplies at one of the local big box discount stores (Sam’s Club, Costco, etc.). When you buy stuff at these places, they often don’t even give you bags. They just put the stuff back in your cart, and you’re on your own once you get to your car. Nobody seems to complain about this, so it’s obviously no big hardship.

Why not take this same practice to the grocery stores, hardware stores, etc.? When you buy your groceries, tell the bag boy just to put the items directly back in your cart – no bags. Then when you get to your car, just load them up in boxes that you brought along with you (or ask them for boxes – they’ll have plenty!). It can be boxes from the big box stores, grocery stores, moving boxes, banker boxes, etc. – we all have something around, or can easily get some that would otherwise be discarded. These will last a long time! Maybe keep a couple plastic bags handy for potentially leaky items, like juicy meats, ice cream, etc. If you use bags just for those items, you’ll only need a couple/few, and they’ll last nearly forever, too.

The beauty of the box solution is that, besides saving valuable resources, they’ll also make hauling your items into the house easier. You’ll be able to place more items in one box instead of having a gazillion plastic bags hanging from your wrist, and you probably won’t have to worry about it breaking on your way in.

Saving even more oil, and making life easier in the process. Plus, the less bags the grocery store has to distribute, that’s one less cost that goes up for them, which drives up the cost of our groceries. If we all practiced this tip, it could lower the cost of our groceries!

-Ryan