People still buying bags when shopping

[Auburngal]

It's 8.5 years since the bag charges were introduced in England (Oct 4 2015) and longer for other parts of the UK. My friend's DS was born on that day and she has pointed out he was born on the same day bag charges were introduced in England and people are shocked.

Why do people still not come shopping without bags? See the same faces most days at work buying bags. "Left the bags in the car" - pack at the car then!

If people buy on average 10 bags at 30p each per week at supermarkets, shops like B&M, Poundland - that's £156 a year. People don't look at the price as a whole they think "its only 30p".

Then see people down my road using brand new carrier bags for rubbish. Bin bags are cheaper (per unit), bigger and able to tie them up properly.

Then my work is opposite a few other shops - see customers buy two items and buy a bag from us when they have room in another shop's bag they just purchased from. What's that about?

The number of times I have bought bags is in single figures. For example - buying a coat - none of the bags I had were big enough. Brought 2 bags with me and one broke - it wasn't the retailer's bag in question. So couldn't get the replacement free.

Please stop buying bags. Fold one up inside your handbag. I am ok with those who bought more than they intend and don't have room in their own bags they have brought with them.

Taking your own bags is a simple way to help with CoL.

Still not sure why it's okay you to buy a bag, but not someone else.

If only there was some magical way of cleaning them...

Bags are only delivered once we hit a certain number. If customers steal bags, the bags are not automatically reordered and shops do then run out of bags.

Then comes the abuse etc.

Me too. Sometimes I go with one bag to just buy milk, bread and fruit. Then I'll notice a few things on offer and end up needing an additional bag. I always buy the reusable strong ones though not the flimsy paper or plastic bags.

I hardly bought bags but its the same people each time who buy bags visit, after visit. They will never learn.

Even had customers ringing up their OH to transfer a couple of quid to cover the cost of the bags. FFS!

I carry my house keys and phone and that's it. If I have to buy something big I can take my credit card sized wallet in my other back pocket, or a debit card inside my phone case.

However, I always bring a tote bag if I'm off to the shops.

Do all just use your phone and not carry anything else? I'm intrigued and wonder if I can stop having a handbag.

I don’t use handbags much. I spent a good 5 years not using one at all. My money & cards are in a coin purse which goes usually in my back jean pocket, my phone the other and car keys in the front of my jeans. I wear jeans most days, if not then usually something with pockets. I will leave a hand bag in the car with usual hand bag stuff, but I have fibromyalgia and even the lightest of hand bags can be hard for me to carry. Even the weight of my DHs keys are too much for me as he has heavy keyrings compared to mine.

On a good day I will take shopping bags in store with me, if I remember but I have no problem packing shopping at the car. If it’s pissing down I will absolutely not pack at the car as I will end up laid up in bed if I get wet, due to my compromised immune system. If I’m having a rough day I will buy bags so I can spread the weight packing, I won’t have the energy to pack the trolley and repack the car.

I buy bags for many other reasons. I reuse all bags for many reasons.

An example of my buying extra carry bags was on Thursday, I filled my 2 shopping bags with my shopping then bought 3 carry bags which I filled with food for the food bank. I called my friend who runs a community food bank, she came to my house and took the 3 carry bags of food straight out of my car. I’m fairly certain that her, her colleagues and the people she gives the bag to are happy that I purchased the bags, especially with the CoL crisis.

I think it’s extremely judgmental criticising people who buy carry bags, there could be many reasons they do. Also personally I find I reuse plastic bags just as much as the so called bags for life.

Will buy a bag if i want to, thank you.

How did they waste over £1 on bags if they brought five with them? Surely they could fit £40 worth of shopping into five bags?

Get rid of the bag, it’s liberating! If you can pay for stuff using your phone, that’s all you need. Car key goes in my pocket and that’s me out the door.

Yup, cards and phone in pockets and I’m good to go for a quick shop or the school run. I have a nappy bag in the car to clip on to the pram but otherwise I don’t need a handbag unless it’s a big trip out when I am packing extras. It’s so liberating and it’s what men have done for a very long time.

You can't blow your nose on your phone and it doesn't keep you very dry if it rains...

If it’s likely to rain I would have a coat. Keep a tissue in my pock if I have a cold. If I unexpectedly needed a tissue, I would find a toilet. These situations have never arisen and I have been handbag free for years

Yup, or decide you need stuff when you are after, after leaving the house.

So many people don't scan the bags at self checkout so in effect are getting a free carrier bag every time, hence why you see so many plastic bags still.

M&S. And a lot of other clothes shops

Always leave a couple in my car try not to buy anymore

I just add it to the cost of the shop. Sometimes I remember bags. Sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I just don’t care. They will either become bin bags or reused then bin bags once a handle breaks or whatever.

like. Delivery charge it’s cheaper to just go but people pay it even if they could walk or drive themselves. My bags are just a cost of the shopping.

I have one of these as a general tote bag for car keys purse and phone, plus a small shop (milk, bread, toiletries)

https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/media/press-releases/ms-launches-second-bag-leading-artist-and-ms-alumni-yinka-ilori

and a handful of these bags for life that I keep in the car at all times.

https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/media/press-releases/ms-teams-alumni-turned-leading-artist-yinka-ilori-design-most-stylish-and

If I leave them in the car by mistake, I wheel the trolley to the car and load up. If it's a big shop, I leave to trolley to the side and run back to the car.

I rarely buy them

I always have shopping bags or those fold up bags.

I rarely buy a plastic one

I forget.

And I just use them for rubbish anyways.

Apologies if it’s been said before, but if I am buying new clothes, I really don’t want them in the reusable bag which previously held some potatoes and raw meat.🙄I want a nice shiny clean bag. Happy for it to be paper.

Again...if only there was some way to wash plastic/canvas bags... Ah...

I need phone, umbrella, spare underwear, snacks, water bottle, flannel, hats/gloves, small diversion for the 4 year old, keys, tissues, sanitiser, pen and notepad....

Not going they rid of bag just yet!

I walk everywhere, and although I do usually keep a small bag in my backpack there are often times when I haven't put it back in after using it. I often pop into the supermarket as I pass, so I will buy a bag if I don't have my own. I then use the bags when I have a sort out for the charity shop. I'm not in the UK, and the bags provided in shops are paper, there are no plastic bags provided here, whether you pay or not.

What I spend my money on has nothing to do with you!