14 responses to “The cloth bag movement”

1. 

   Lauren January 13th, 2009 at 11:47

   At my Food Basics here in Ottawa we already have to pay for bags! I fill my backpack with a couple of bags on the walk there, and for the walk home I have a backpack and bags to carry my groceries in. Our aunts gave us really pretty ones that can be folded up and fit in your pocket, but still fit tons of food!

2. 

   Saver Queen January 13th, 2009 at 12:00

   Excellent point btw, Lauren, that the “cheaper” stores like Food Basics and Price Chopper already have this policy and it works just fine! A backpack is a good idea. Yesterday I got caught with my two bags and a lot of groceries and it was too heavy… didn’t think it through. I love the idea of pretty cloth bags as gifts, too! Were they home-made?

3. 

   Catherine @frugalfreebies January 13th, 2009 at 12:02

   I started buying cloth bags over 20 years ago, and I am still using many of them. I bought 3 plastic bins over 10 years ago, and they are still used every week.
   I’ve gotten several new cloth bags recently thru freebies and giveaways so it’s easy to have lots of bags on hand.

   I hang mine on the doorknob, so we remember to take them back out to the car when we go out - and I’ve finally got my new husband to remember to get them out of the trunk when we go into the store.

   By the way, thanks so much for the link to Frugal Freebies!

4. 

   Lauren January 13th, 2009 at 12:04

   No, they weren’t homemade this year, but we got some last year that were! I use the homemade one as a school and gym bag too.
   I also don’t like using plastic bags because they tend to break on me.

5. 

   Fabulously Broke January 13th, 2009 at 15:19

   I kind of don’t get it.

   Why don’t we just ban plastic bags altogether?

   People are going to learn quick to keep a bag handy if they want to buy groceries, or else they’ll shell out $1/reusable cloth bag each time they head to the store.

   Fabulously Broke in the City
   “Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver.“

6. 

   Amber January 13th, 2009 at 16:04

   I’m puzzled, because I thought we were paying for plastic bags all along at Superstore. And I’m not alone, my husband did too. Clearly we’re not paying enough attention to our grocery bill. Plus, we pretty much always bring our own bags anyway.

7. 

   Miss M January 13th, 2009 at 22:49

   I remember a store in the 90’s that made you pay for bags, a discount supermarket. I think LA is either banning bags or imposing a 25cent fee on all of them. I’ll have to look it up. We have reusable bags that we use sometimes, but I reuse grocery bags! The paper bags are our trash bags and the plastic bags are for my lunch. I reuse the same plastic bag till it gets too gunky to use, usually a week. Then they go in the recycling bin.

8. 

   steve January 13th, 2009 at 23:29

   One thing that works great for grocery shopping is a medium sized cardboard box. you can fit two bags’ worth of stuff in one and it’s easy to carry. Plus it lasts a long time.

   It’s a little unusual to bring one in, but once everyone gets used to bringing their own container, less so.

   Side bennie of it for me is that I usually go shopping on my bike and I can just bungie it over the rear racks. This is a great solution in general for any time you need to carry a lot of stuff, but don’t have fancy “bike bags” that cost $100 to fit on your rear rack. Just pick up a couple of boxes at the local bookstore or liquor store and you’re good to go.

9. 

   Brenda January 14th, 2009 at 09:47

   This year for Christmas I made cloth bags as gifts for my in-laws and sister. I bought the material at Fabricland at their “buy 1 get 2 free” fabric sale (real cheap). Enough material to make three bags - and then I personalized them. On a recycling note, I also made two bags out of empty Kool-Aid jammer drinking containers (foil bags). My daughter had a birthday party, and we bought them as the drinks. It takes about 16 jammers for one bag (less for smaller bags). When they are being used anyway, might as well keep them, and wash them. They make great bags, and on Etsy they sell for $30!!! My sister-in-law and niece loved them - and said they will be the most talked-about bags amongst their friends. For instructions on making these bags, check out Canadian Living’s website under the craft section.

10. 

    Kate January 14th, 2009 at 11:30

    Zellers sells great collapsible plastic Tupperware-like totes. I use them for everything! We keep them in the car for groceries, they can be used to haul things between houses, etc. and then they fold flat!

11. 

    Phoenix January 15th, 2009 at 14:08

    When I was at Zellars, if you refuse plastic bags they will give you 1000 point on your HBC card. And if you buy one of there reusable bags you receive 10,000 points on your card.

12. 

    Catherine January 17th, 2009 at 14:01

    SQ, forgot to ask you. Where can I buy the ‘Rolling Stones’ bag featured here? My son would love them and he has a birthday this summer…..Thanks!

13. 

    dinah January 17th, 2009 at 17:31

    we’ve had to pay for plastic bags at superstore in winnipeg since i was a little kid. i can’t believe that this is new for some parts of the country.

14. 

    Saver Queen January 18th, 2009 at 00:38

    Catherine, unfortunately this bag was bought at a boutique in Toronto - but I can recommend other stores. For example, if you have a luggage store that also sells wallets and purses, you might find one there - I bought an Aerosmith bag at one of these and recall seeing Stones bags there too. I’ve also seen them at those $15 stores in the airport. Another great place would be at “Backstage Pass” or similar such “rock” shop that sells concert t-shirts. You can look online too. Stones memorabilia shouldn’t be hard to find!

    @Pheonix - I was just at Zellers and they told me I only got 100 points for my cloth bag, not 1000. Not sure if my cashier was wrong? Also, don’t forget to ASK for your points. My cashier forgot and I had to politely remind her!