[starbound25]

I've been looking online to purchase cloth shopping bags but darn they are expensive, sets of 6 bags for like $30! I'm thinking I would need maybe 12 but spending $60 is just too much then shipping too
anyone have any advice?

 

[TiredX2]

Have you checked out the Trading Post/ Co-Ops lately?

Around here a lot of places are getting cheaper (not as high quality, but still definately usable) cloth bags--- like $1-2/bag.

 

[peypeymama]

Goodwill or another thrift store. I got a bunch in the .99 - 1.99 range. There are always some random work seminar bags, but they are canvas and work great!

 

[Leta]

I kept my eyes peeled, and got four for free. Then I went to St. VdeP and got seven more for $3.50. And I made produce bags out of mesh onion/orange bags and yarn.

I don't know if this helps, but it's what worked for me.

 

[pumpkin]

I got some great bags at Whole Foods for $1 each.

I'm not sure what they are made of and I doubt they are as durable as my canvas bags, but they are holding up incredibly well. I've had a few for a couple of years now and they still look brand new.

 

[SusannahM]

Hobby Lobby has some cheap ones, and run a 40% off any product coupon on their website about every other week. That being said, we use our big Ikea blue bags (not cloth, though).

 

[Isaac'sMa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pumpkin I got some great bags at Whole Foods for $1 each. I'm not sure what they are made of and I doubt they are as durable as my canvas bags, but they are holding up incredibly well. I've had a few for a couple of years now and they still look brand new.

I have a bunch of these and they're holding up great! I like 'em cause they have over the shoulder handles so very easy to carry a heavier load. I wash them frequently and they are still in great shape.

 

[CaraNicole]

goodwill usually has them for cheap...maybe ask for some on CL or Freecycle?

 

[boatbaby]

I've seen them for $1.99 at trader joes I think....

 

[GruppieGirl]

Put out a request on your local FreeCycle. www.freecycle.org

That's where I posted my extra bags.

Even if you have just one or two bags, bring them. The saved bags and pollution will add up!

Congrats on switching to canvas bags!! I keep one in my car for unexpected stops and then a large bag of them in the hall closet. I have had lots of great conversations with people at local stores who notice my bags and say that beinging my own bags is a good idea. I hope a few of them acually start to bring their bags from home.

 

[Ruthla]

Ask on Freecycle. I got a bunch that way- not as nice as the ones I purchased through an ecobags coop at MDC, but enough to get me started (and to use at the store when I forgot to bring the good bags back into the car after the last shopping trip.)

 

[julielenore]

I just bought about a dozen at a yard sale for 50 cents. Also check out your local dollar store, dollarama here in Ontario has nice roomy ones.

 

[bwylde]

All the grocery stores here carry them now for a dollar each. Some places even guarantee them for life, which is nice

I've also gotten some nice canvas ones at dollar type stores and sometimes see them at thrift stores. I have enough now for life though, lol!

 

[serenetabbie]

I got mine at yardsales or the goodwill mostly. I told everyone I knew I wanted them too, and soon they started showing up one by one

I did buy one at Giant for quite a lot (like $3 or $5), but it is really sturdy and a very good size with long enough straps to put over my shoulder. Like a PPer said, a lot of my bags say "AARP" or "whatever Expo", but I'm ok with that. I did see that the little grocery store near me has smallish red (mesh, some sort of poly blend plasticy stuff) bags for sale for 99 cents.

 

[blizzard_babe]

Step 1: Make friends with a teacher.
Step 2: Ask aforementioned teacher friend if he/she has any canvas tote bags from "professional development opportunities."

I've been a teacher for three years and already have four canvas tote bags that I didn't have before starting (already had my grocery bags). If you can find a teacher who's been at it for a while, and is also a bit of a pack rat, you may just hit the jackpot. Or you may not get anything... a lot of teachers have so many that they refuse new ones.

FWIW, if mine weren't up in Alaska right now, I'd send you a few, just to be rid of them.

 

[mightymoo]

I bought mine at the grocery stores themselves - they are selling those folding cloth bags now for $1.50. And the same grocery store gives you 5 cents for every cloth bag you use, so they should pay for themselves if they last a year at the longest. I like them, I use them for everything.

 

[***Heather***]

The grocery stores in this area sell them for $0.99/ch but I wanted some strong bags. I bought a classy denim pinstripe fabric on sale at a fabric store. I made the bags pretty big and they ended up costing a dollar each for materials. I was happy. I also have a cloth bag that I bought at a thrift shop for pennies. It's a little ugly, but I use it for meat when I go shopping. That way, I know which one is the yucky meat bag and wash it more often/don't put fresh veggies in it.

 

[janerose]

Do you have a Hannafords grocery store near you? If so they sell their bags for something like 2/$1. They are the type that fold up into themselves & you end up with just a little square that snaps closed. They store great in a glove compartment or wherever. I've found them to be VERY sturdy & they hold a ton of food each.

And like someone else suggested, keep an eye out for co-ops here. You can buy Ecobags through a Frontier co-op as well, so don't just limit yourself to "bag" co-ops!

Also, check if your grocery stores offer a discount for using a cloth bag. We get 5 cents/bag each time we shop. So after a few trips they've paid themselves off & then some.

Good luck!

Holly

 

[shantimama]

Several years ago I bought some strong canvas bags from a No Frills store for $1 each. They are amazing! dh and I use lots of those canvas bags they give out at confernces these days as grocery bags.

 

[StrawberryFields]

I like mine from Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, they are $1 each and are sold right by the registers.