9.07.2007

Good Habits

I finally did it! I went to the store and used my re-usable grocery bag. I have about 10 of them from trips to TJ's or Von's, but I purchased those the same time I bought my groceries, so that was a no-brainer. This time I had to put the bags in my car and then remember to get them out of the car when I got to the store. And I did it! I hope I can make a habit out of this.

8 comments:

Christine H. said...

Okay, it is so funny that you blogged about this because I wanted an excuse to tell someone about my bag experience, but I didn't really want to blog about it.

Yesterday, I went with Autumn to Costco while Amber was in preschool. They sell reusable bags now, 3 for $5. They're huge, and one is insulated. So, I'm trying to do my part and buy bags wherever I shop. I bought them and then the nightmare began. I had to educate the checker and bagger on what to do with them (not their fault, they should have been briefed on it). The bagger didn't even use one of the bags and instead used a box (which defeats the purpose) and he put my cold things in the green non-insulated bag (even though I told him over & over to put them in the blue insulated one. And the bags are HEAVY to lift when they are full, much heavier than a box. Then I got ten minutes down the road and at my next store realized that Autumn's favorite bear was missing. I went back to Costco and it wasn't in the lost and found. I was sick about it (Autumn didn't even know it was missing) Guess where it was? The bagger (not me, because I wasn't even near the bags) put the bear in the bottom of one of the bags with the food. I was so happy, but so frustrated about the whole ordeal. And then I got to thinking...the bag idea at Costco doesn't really help the environment like it does at other stores because Costco just re-uses boxes to pack your food. Yikes!

Anonymous said...

Great job Amber! I am getting pretty good at it and even getting Abby to be my little reminder. Although I can't stomach buying a bag for all the stores so they all have to use TJ's because their bags are the best I have seen so far. Plus we shop at 5 different grocery stores! I can't just pick one and tend to go where ever I am close to, or has the best sale that week!

stephanie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
stephanie said...

This is funny because the other day I was thinking I should make some bags on my own. Also at fabric and craft stores they sell similar bags for you to decorate yourself. That way I could use them at any store. Plus they are great bags for taking to the park, and what not, because they are easily cleaned.

frisky said...

We just leave ours in the trunk, but even still, it takes getting used to remembering. In the beginning, I would write "take green bags" on our grocery list and that would help. Unless of course when Billy went one time and he read it as "green tea bags"... hahaha, that was so funny, I was wondering why he got green tea all on his own.

I think the only store that "gets it" with the whole re-usable bag thing is TJ's. Target and Von's are like, "Duh, what do we do with these?"

We have an assortment from those three stores and now I wish I would have bought generic ones from somewhere else instead. Oh well, live and learn I guess.

heidibelle said...

Well... I have not ventured into the reusable bag thing yet. I am sure I would not remember them. But that is a really good idea. Good for you Amber. I am impressed. I know Rob Bell would be impressed. (He also thinks we should use cloth diapers. I am not 'there' yet.)

ATSmith said...

heidi - that's funny about cloth diapers. I was just thinking the other day that if we were going to have more kids (we aren't, but if) then I would seriously have to consider cloth diapers and I got tired just thinking of all that poopy wash!
Stephanie - You can make the homemade bags as big as you like, too. I will be making my first tote bag in my sewing class this year : ) Guess I'll be using it for groceries : )
Christine - So Sorry about your fiasco. That is crazy. I think you are right though -- the cardboard boxes are just as good as re-usable bags since they can be recycled, right?

Christine H. said...

Yesh, I think Costco just wanted to get in on the re-usable bag bandwagon without thinking that they are already green-concious because they reuse the boxes. I think I got "took." and now I have these HUGE bags that I don't know what I'll do with. Oh well! At least now I can tell others not to buy them!