TIP #2

#2: Always bring your own bag(s).

There are 4 main reasons you should always bring your own reusable shopping bags:

1. You'll help cut down on unnecessary waste.
2. They're sturdier than the standard plastic bag, so your new goods are less likely to spill out in the middle of the parking lot.
3. They have a larger capacity than the standard plastic bag, which means fewer bags for you to carry.
4. You'll save money.

Probably the main reason I always try to bring my own bags is to cut down on clutter around my house. When I do get plastic bags while out shopping, I try to save them and reuse them, which is better than just throwing them in the trash, but they inevitably wind up taking over the closet or cabinet where I stash them, exploding out at inopportune moments. Plus, the fewer plastic bags I take, the fewer plastic bags eventually go to the landfills.

The sturdiness is another major factor, especially at clothing stores where they leave the clothes on the hangers. I have had so many plastic shopping bags rip from hangers, sharp plastic packaging, books, etc., which can be quite inconvenient if you're carrying 6 bags and your purse through a large parking lot when everything tumbles through the bottom of a ripped bag.

Likewise, the capacity is a huge help, especially when buying lightweight items. Things like pillows, fleece throws, dog beds, plastic storage boxes, and even clothes can take up a large amount of space without weighing a lot. By bringing my own large capacity reusable bags, like the ones I get from IKEA, I can fit way more items per bag, decreasing the number of bags I have to carry but not usually making the weight per bag unbearable.

Finally, while it's not one of the reasons I bring my own bags, getting a little money off a purchase for each reusable bag I fill isn't a bad perk. Stores like Target and Giant will give you a set amount off per reusable bag filled; I believe it's $0.05/bag at those two stores. So it's not a huge savings, but it's not bad, either... every little bit helps!

Read through to learn where to dispose of your plastic bags and where to get great reusable bags.

What to do with plastic bags

If you do wind up getting some plastic bags — and you will, at least once in a while, whether it's because you miscalculated how many bags you'd need or you forgot your bags at home — don't just throw them out. Many grocery stores have collection points for plastic bags so that they can be recycled. So combine all the bags into one, toss them in the back of your car, and drop them at a recycle point the next time you're at the grocery store (or just drive past it).

Where to get good reusable bags

You can really use any bag you have, although the sales clerks' might find it a little weirder to stash all your purchases in a backpack than in a tote or store-branded bag. I have a couple tote bags that I use for shopping, but mainly I use store-purchased reusable bags. They're generally the same shape and sizes as the brown paper handled shopping bags some stores use, but they're much sturdier and their nylon handles are less likely to rip.

My favorite stores to pick up reusable bags are Marshalls and TJMaxx. They always have cute, large-capacity bags for $0.99/bag, and they change the designs and patterns every season. IKEA's iconic blue bags are $0.59/bag and very hardy; they're just not very high on fashion. I still have 3 of them, though — they're cheap and great for carrying groceries.

Got a favorite brand of reusable bag, or know a great place to get them? Let me know in the comments!