AIBU to wonder why some people still buy new carrier bags every time they visit a shop?

[Beon]

It’s 10.5 years since the bag charge in England was introduced and longer in other parts of UK.

So why are some people still don’t go to the supermarket without bags? They are 40p each.

If a family buys an average 8 bags a week - supermarket, shops like Poundland. Over a year that’s at least £160 a year.

Anyone who uses brand new carrier bags for bin bags must have more money than sense. Bin bags are cheaper - per bag, bigger and ties up better.

The bag charge - kids at primary schools never lived through a time with free bags.

Its time thinking - money, phone, keys, bags

I usually take a reusable bag unless I've been somewhere else first like the gym and then decide to go at the last minute.

How do you know they are buying every time and not just when they have forgotten though?

if I run in after work I sometimes realise I haven’t got a bag in the car so if I have too much to carry buy another bag. They always get used anyway!

I don't think that most people do this 'all the time'.

Occasionally I forget to take bags - I buy them.

Occasionally I forget to buy bin bags - I use a carrier instead.

Neither are done all the time.

It might not be every time, they might just be out and about and decide to buy something. I once carried a few things home in a pile because I was too tight to buy a carrier bag, but most people would probably buy a bag in that scenario.

Usually I always take one and there are a couple of spare bags in our cars.

🙋🏻‍♀️ sadly I’m guilty of this! I always take them when I go food shopping but if I head out clothes shopping or run up to the retail park I always forget for some reason!

Probably just general forgetfulness and disorganisation.

Because they are idiots? More money than sense? I have a wee fold up one in my bag, more in the boot of the car. The only time I ever buy a bag is when I wasn't planning on shopping and only have my phone on me. About once every 6 months max.

Also, you might have one, but then decide to buy more things than will fit into one bag, so you have to buy another one.

No handbag to put one in, I assume.

Do people actually buy new bags every time or do they just occasionally forget to bring a reusable one?

I'm curious as to how you know that people are buying new bags every time they shop, to the extent you've done a sum based on that theory

Because I never remember to take a bag.

Because I’m only popping in for one thing that will fit in my handbag then opps.

Because I don’t care about the 40p tbh it’s basically a shopping tax costed in at this point.

For the big shop though we have crates in the boot.

I honestly think this thread subject is recycled more than carrier bags!

And the answers will always involve people who either forget, or they don't drive so can't keep them in the car and may have come out with a different handbag that doesn't have a carrier tucked inside 🤷‍♂️

One thing that gets me is people surprised that there's a charge for a bag and get huffy about paying it so decide not to bother!
How can you not know most retailers have to charge for a bag?

Because I don't have a car to store them in just in case, and £160 isn't a lot of money to me.

They are probably not buying them every time in most cases. People sometimes forget their bags, or end up popping to the shop when they weren’t planning to, buying more than they planned to etc.

I have my shopping delivered so don’t go to a supermarket often. When I do, I sometimes forget bags because I’m not used to it.

Also, money isn’t a problem for everyone. I wouldn’t notice £160 a month extra never mind a year.

I do try to remember them though.

I assume because they forget to take one. So have to buy one instead. Or didn’t plan to go into a shop but realised they needed to.

Surely 8 bags a week would be far more than most people! Out main shopping is delivered so maybe I'm unusual bag-wise but if I do need to go and buy something else it is maybe every other week and I'd just buy one large bag.

I sometimes forget my bags. ADHD tax, innit. But nice to know some people are judging me for it. 🙄

Because I forget, pop in unexpected, I walk a lot so don’t have a stash in my boot I can get as I’m on foot, I buy more than expected. They are 15p here so I don’t really think of the cost much tbh. I do always try and remember a reusable bag but sometimes I end up going into a shop when I hadn’t planned. That’s life innit?

I often forget to take my reusable bags so end up buying carried bags. It’s annoying but I have ADHD and forget loads of things

See colleagues buying a meal deal at a supermarket 5 mins walk away and always buy a bag.

Then family opposite me general rubbish bin overflows with new bags

5 bags for main shop
1 bag for top up
2 bags from two other shops - Poundland, Home Bargains

Why not fold a bag into each hand bag?

Not everyone takes a handbag everywhere?