I Need New Reusable Bags & Hate Shopping (sos… help!)
May 11, 2008 by Jennifer
So, I need new bags, and as mentioned, hate shopping. I really do. I like, actually love, to look at products – clothes, baby stuff, green stuff, etc, but when you get right down to it, I hate to buy stuff.
I do however need new bags. I have some reusable grocery bags but they’re seriously old and dieing. Also, I want some produce bags. I’ve never had reusable produce bags; I just toss veggies and fruits into my cart all helter skelter style. Frankly, it’s hard to manage, and I’m sort of sick of grocery clerks giving me dirty looks.
My issue is I need a big set. Cedar and I don’t go on little trips to the grocery store normally. We tend to shop once biggie style, so we don’t have to return to the store again for a while except for fresh produce. SO one nice reusable bag won’t cut it. We need at least four, but preferable a larger set. Six might be ideal.
In any case reusable produce bags were easy to find. I like these best, and they’re cheaper if you buy more.
[Organic Cotton Mesh Produce Bags via reusablebags.com]
It’s the large grocery bags I’m having issue with. I found some different options I like. I actually like the Mikado Pouch set from Envirosax for $37.95 the best but unfortunately they seem to be out of stock of almost every single item I like. It’s weird I wonder if they’re going out of business. Still, I’ve been looking around to see if another online store has it (no luck).
Too bad though; look:
Pretty right (except the red). I wish they wouldn’t post stuff that’s not available. Since Envirosax is out of these, plus linen, plus organics, I stared looking elsewhere.
My second favorite is this set from Green Concept. Pros: Beautiful and nice size. Cons: Only a set of four and not machine washable. However, right now the entire set is on sale for $18.99 so really I could buy two. The set comes with these four bags.
ACME Dual Handled Lightweight Hemp Tote Reusable Shopping Bag Set from reusablebags.com. I like this set. It’s not so artsy beautiful, but a nice color, machine washable, and each tote has long and short handles. Cons are the set only comes with 4 bags, but maybe I could buy two more separately. Cost: $39.60. Another pro is the set comes with free items – Evert-Fresh Green Bags – 10 Pack (which I don’t want) and 4 Organic Cotton Mesh Produce Bags (which I do want).
Last I found these bags but it’s an Australian shop, Ecoezi so not sure if it’s worth the energy to ship. Also, the site doesn’t say what material they use or what they look like opened? Weird. I like that you get 10 bags though and that they’re machine washable. If you’re in Australia, this seems like a good deal.
In any case, I’m hoping to get some new bags asap. I don’t know if any of these choices are perfect. I’m leaning toward the hemp totes though. I may look around and find some other choices before I decide.
What do you think of the bags above? Or do you have a better suggestion?
Me again…2 ideas – etsy.com or make your own. I don’t do big bags yet but I’m all over the produce ones. You’ve probably seen them on my blog. A friend sent me to etsy b/c I was looking for reusable sandwich bags – I found some awesome ones! Not sure how they compare price-wise. Just some thoughts….
I have to say the ones I bought at Walmart for $1.00 each are great..ok they are not pretty,black with green writing on them that say “paper or plastic? Neither” but the handles are great,they hold alot,are machine washable,made from recycled 2 liter bottles and they are cheap!
Hey Drama Mama – I’ve been thinking Etsy; but then I have to look. I LOVE Etsy, but only when I have time to browse (never) but I may end up there. If you knew me better you’d know how funny that make your own bag suggestion is – sewing + me don’t mesh. If I could duct tape fabric together maybe… or use staples. Actually, once I did make a homemade bag out of thick thrift store material and staples. It held up for a while but I doubt it would work for groceries.
Wendy, totally no offense but I can’t stand Walmart. I don’t care if other people shop there, but their green ads they recently put out are so very greenwash like, and also I get lost in big stores like that, I don’t like big stores or the mall.
But, I am glad to hear you got reusable bags there. That’s cool they’re made from recycled 2 liters – that’s what my bed is made out of.
I have a set of the Mikado, and just LOVE them. Actually got mine 2 months ago and have a Preorder in now for the Mikado and Flora for friends bday gifts, and they’re coming in 3 weeks. You mentioned $37.95, but I got mine for $34.95 with free shipping, so you might want to check them out. I’d definitely recommend the Envirosax, just love mine and use them weekly, they hold a ton (especially heavy milk gallons and cans). Here’s where I got mine, good luck deciding:
http://www.brightandbold.com/enmiba.html
I’ve been really happy with the organic cotton Eco bags (3) from reusablebags.com / ecobags.com
I also have a recycled cotton ACME lightweight dual-handed (cool feature) tote from reusablebags.com. It’s a bit smaller.
I’d say go with six. I only have four, so checkers either pack them too heavy or I end up with a plastic bag. I need to get some more too!
Also, mine are very plain solid cotton. I like it that way : )
Wendy,
I don’t shop at Walmart either, so I’m curious… Do those bags you mentioned have the Walmart logo?
I’ve found that most of the $1 bags at stores do. I don’t like that for myself, but I’m picky. I actually did buy two of those $1 bags from Schnucks, but ended up using them to help sort my recycling instead. I guess in a way I hate taking bags with one store’s logo to another store. I’ve actually had baggers make fun of me for it!
I like the ones from Target. They are red (I like red) …they are big enough to fit a small child in…and they not only fold up but SNAP for easy transport and storage…AND they were like 1.89 each.
Or..you could raise sheep, shear them by hand, with your best sewing shears… spin wool, and crochet your own using a lovers knot stitch…NOT that I know ANYONE who would be that radical…
Oh yeah..Target bags have a white tree on them..no logo.
@Kristin thanks for the review – I love those bags, so it’s nice to hear they work so well. I’m just annoyed their not available anywhere. I’ll check that shop you pointed out though.
@Peggy I knew I’d need at least six. I’m torn, because I LOVE pretty stuff, but also kind of like plain stuff too. Maybe I’ll get some of each for when I’m feeling like being understated.
Marye you are funny. Also, I think my landlord frowns on sheep, not that they’ve said so, but I’m guessing.
I don’t do Target or red for that matter although, you can’t beat $2 per bag, well except at Walmart I guess. Maybe I should try making some. Hmmm. Naw.
Yeah I would say six is a good number. I have 6 from Walmart, one from Safeway (that broke on me already), 3 from my local Co-op, and a couple of produce bags. I don’t think you can have to many.
maybe someone that has 4 industrial size bags of wool in her craft closet from the sheep she used to raise will make you a couple…someday..when she isn’t blogging 24/7
lol not offended at all..Walmart is not my favorite place either but I do like the bags…and yes they do have their name on the bag in a corner…not so noticable.I personall feel like $40 for bags is a waste of money(although they are pretty)
BTW…Food Lion for those that are near one has bags too for .89 cents and they are small and thin…stay away!
Hi Jennifer,
You should check out the bags at http://www.minusbags.com. They are made in the US of 100% cotton and come in colorful abstract designs. They hold a LOT of groceries and are very lightweight, yet strong. And if you buy 3, you get one free!
@Kristin – checked out that shop! They were a great deal; thanks for the tip.
@Wendy I think it’s a little silly to pay a lot for bags; but I don’t buy much, and I want them to last a long long time, which is my justification I suppose. We don’t have a food lion.
@mb I’ll check out the minus bag site – thanks
HI! I just met you through a search for popsicles and think this is a really cool site as I’m trying to be a bit more treehugging in my ways. Anyways, I use the $1 bags from whole foods, yes they say whole foods all over them. They are as big as a brown paper bag and can hold a ton of stuff. I have 5 and that is more than enough for a $150 shopping trip. So, they’re not pretty, but for $5 they do the trick!
I would like to get some light weight bags for bulk items and produce. That’s next on my very long to do list.
Sharleen — Welcome to Tree Hugging Family.
We have 7 bags that we tend to use for grocery shopping. 5 cloth and 2 from Martins/Giant Markets. Then I also have 2 bags from Method and a WWF cloth bag from JC Penneys that we use for regular tote bags and when we go clothing shopping. I will most likely need to replace 4 of my cloth bags soon. They are about 15 years old now.. and are getting pretty nasty. So we’ll use them for around the house things then (or for trash bags on nature walks). I personally can’t see spending a ton on bags. I like the store ones best, as most grocery stores carry them now.
@sharleen Welcome! Maybe I should go to whole foods. $5 is not bad. If they’re cloth. I want machine washable. Cedar and I toss our current bags around and drag them and stuff. They get dirty.
@Jodi Method has bags? Like method soap? I haven’t seen them.
I’ll admit that i need bags that have a decent aesthetic to them. I love this company; i bought a bag from them from a gift store where I love but I believe they are going to be sold online soon. The very roomy tote comes with 6 cotton produce bags…cool company that is carbon neutral and donates 20% of profits to an envionmental charity….how refreshing that an ‘eco’ company is actually walking the walk!
http://www.lioli.ca
hmm, I hate walmart two but will run in there for one or two items that i either can’t find anywhere else or are significantly cheaper there – and there’s not much that’s cheaper there then at Meijer… (I live in an area with Walmart, Target, Meijer and Kroger right next to eachother so it’s not an extra trip)
But stores tend to put their reusable bags right up front so I probably wouldn’t even have to go that far in it to get them…