CHEAP Grocery Tote Bags

[BabyMommee]

I need more grocery bags. I usually use canvas. Just did a quick search, and they're pretty expensive for what they are. I guess I [I]could[I] make some but...Anybody know where I can get some cheap???

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

The cheapest is to re-use the plastic bags they give you at the grocery store.

Just use them over and over again until they fall apart.

Then put them in the recycle bin.

[GruppieGirl]

Why not post on your local Freecycle group. Someone is bound to havae a canvas bag or two laying around that they aren't using.

:

[SugarAndSun]

All the grocery stores sell them for $.99 around here. Check your grocery store. They hold up very well.

[wonderwahine]

i've found some of mine at the thrift store.

[lindberg99]

Originally Posted by SugarAndSun

All the grocery stores sell them for $.99 around here. Check your grocery store. They hold up very well.

They do around here too. But they aren't canvas. I'm not sure what they are made of actually. Some kind of synthetic.

[VBMama]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom

The cheapest is to re-use the plastic bags they give you at the grocery store.

Just use them over and over again until they fall apart.

Then put them in the recycle bin.

Are you sure that you can recycle them in your area? I know that in most places plastic bags are the bane of the recycling companies - they *cannot* be recycled by most metro recyclers and they jam recycling machines, literally gumming up the works. There was an article in our local paper about it just this week. It might be worth double-checking!


Most stores around here also sell the .99 reusable bags. We also have a ton of canvas bags from various work conferences dh & I have attended - that might be something you could ask for on Craigslist. Good luck, OP!

[CrunchyParent]

Trader Joe's sells their "red bags" for 99 cents. Their canvas ones might be a bit more. I also bought some net bags from Eco Bags through a Frontier co-op. They cost $5 through Frontier, but I got them when they were on sale one month ($4 I think). I second the Freecycle suggestion though. People always seem to have freebie canvas bags that they want to unload.

[kate42]

I made some from old pillowcases that I bought at the thrift store. They're girly.

[vm9799]

by far the BEST reusable bags i've ever bought were from reusablebags.com

these.....
http://www.reusablebags.com/store/ac...82;-p-788.html

they are not the cheapest bags, but they are HUGE! i can get my full weeks worth of groceries.....including ALL produce, etc. in 4 of them. the best investment i've made! they are MUCH bigger than paper grocery bags and much stronger too.

i've used the string bags in the past...and still have them....but they were not working well for me for my regular weekly grocery runs. they are less expensive though....i think $5.

[MommytoTwo]

my grocery store sells great ones for $1 each.

[BabyMommee]

I'm so glad I posted! Y'all had such great ideas! I love the pillow case idea even though it involves sewing. What did you do for straps on the pillowcases? I think I might get a couple of the 99 cent bags and then check out the big ones a pp mentioned. I like big bags.

[Ruthla]

I got a few canvas bags of assorted sizes and shapes by asking for them on Freecycle. Then I bought a bunch of canvas totes and 2 string bags from ecobags when MDC ran a co-op. Now my Freecycle totes are my backup bags for when I forgot to bring the bags back into the car before I go shopping again.

[imbarefoot]

Walmart has them cheap in their craft section. I plan to tiedye mine.

[prairiemommy]

Our stores sell the 99 cent ones too and I know that at at least one of the stores the bags are made out of recycled plastic. Not canvas, but recycled materials at least.

Good luck!

[eepster]

We only bought a few insulated bags ($1.99 @ traderjoes) then we just fold up a bunch of the paper grocery bags from traderjoes and wholefoods and put them inside the insulated bags. We then keep them in the trunk of the car and when we get to the store we just grab one. Sometimes I feel a little funny leaving traderjoes with wholefoods bags and vice versa, but they sure are cheap . Best of all if we forget to bring them we just get some new ones to replace any that have worn out.

[lovesdaffodils]

Originally Posted by VBMama

Are you sure that you can recycle them in your area? I know that in most places plastic bags are the bane of the recycling companies - they *cannot* be recycled by most metro recyclers and they jam recycling machines, literally gumming up the works. There was an article in our local paper about it just this week. It might be worth double-checking!

Our recycling pickup can't take them, but a lot of stores have dropoffs for plastic bags.

[Mama Dragon]

My grocery store sell reusable and recyclable bags for $.88 each...they're so room and much sturdier then regular plastic bags, but made with recycled plastic and recyclable themselves.

[jenerationx]

Whole Foods has them for $1 something and Target has some for .99. Do you know anyone that goes to lots of conferences that would have canvas bags?

[tinybutterfly]

http://www.chicobag.com/

I've gotten three Chico bags at our local health food store. They are nylon, but recycleable and they fold up into a very small pouch.

I have one canvas bag ( something dh got me from Maryland when he went there...it has a crab on it, it's like a beach bag) and a very large canvas bag from Land's End.

I like the Chico bag, cuz I can throw one in my purse and it's always there.

I constantly forget my bags.