Win one of 10 reusable bags by commenting on this post.
In honor of two stores going bagless, Albertsons gave me 10 reusable bags to giveaway on BargainBabe.com! Albertsons stores in Alpine and Carpinteria (both in CA) will no longer offer paper or plastic bags at checkout starting on Wednesday, Apr. 27, 2011. The change is in honor of Earth Day, which was Apr. 22, 2011. These two Albertsons stores will sell a variety of reusable bags for $.30-$6. Shoppers can also leave plastic bags for others to use.
We are giving away four cloth bags with the Albertsons logo, two of the $.30 bags, and four of the glossy, designer bags pictured above.
To win one of 10 reusable bags, comment on this post with your favorite use for a reusable bag. Contest ends Sunday, May 1, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. Winners will be announced Monday May 2.
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
I love to take reusable bags with me when I shop at farmers’ markets. 🙂
. I love my reusable bag for groceries! They are heavy enough to hold heavier loads and don’t break like the plastic ones would.
Besides groceries, I used mine a lot last summer at the lake.
I love reusable bags. They are they best. I use them all the time for all kinds of things.
WinCo gives 5 cent credit for each bag you bring to the store,
I use them for errands, going to the store….name it they are always with me.
Reusable bags are the best! I use them for not only groceries but toting things around such as food or items to parties / pool, etc.!
I always have my reusable bags in the car to grab when I go into a store. I also have one that rolls up and fits in my purse to use when I only have one item to buy and it turns into half a dozen!
I use the reusable bags to go to shopping, to go to the beach and carry the food, also if is a plastic one I use it to carry wet clothes and towels after a day at the beach.
I have one with me at all times for all my shopping trips….big and small.
@Lois Me too! I keep a bunch in my trunk, one Chico bag in my car door, and a few at home.
I use them at the grocery store and any other store I go to, the library when my boys take books out as well as to return the books, for sleepovers, to carry toys to share on playdates, picnics in the park, I could go on and on.
@Debbie Martinock Please do go on and on! I use my reusable bags for carrying tools, garden supplies, and especially on road trips.
I’ve used it to bring potluck meals, buy textbooks when I was still in college. I use those big Costco reusables to collect my recycles before I dump them in the recycling for pick up. Use it at the farmers markets. I love them!
We love reusable bags in my house!
We use them for different things, depending on the size:
lunch bags
errand bags
knitting project holders
gift wrapping
boot protectors in the rain
our replacement store bags
luggage (you’d be amazed how many clothes you can roll in an average reusable bag just like a duffel bag…)
produce bags
padding in the car (put a fabric bag between dishes or other fragiles and they not only hold the fragile items in place, but also protect them!)
After their lifespan is over, the plastic ones get used as book covers and cut into smaller bags. The fabric ones get used as cleaning cloths, smaller bags, purse linings, padding, and patches.
I just wanted to point out that it took us a couple years to really get in the habit of using them ALL the time. We have a sign posted by our door to “remember your bags!” and we generally keep a few spares in the car.
@Connie I love that you posted a sign by the door as a reminder. Very neat! I also use my bags to separate dirty and clean clothes on trips.
I love to use them for gift giving. Some of them are so pretty and can be used along with the gift.
I also gave one to all the member in my book club for the $1 gift exchange. They loved them
@Elizabeth M Using reusable bags for gifts is a new one (sort of). Gift bags have been around for ages, but using the reusable bag as packaging is clever. Kind of like a gift basket but more pliable!
I’ve gotten a bit better at remembering to drag in the bag; now that we’ve all been doing this, it would be great if they gave us statistics on the good effects it has had.
I use them to take things to Goodwill, or bring stuff to work. I leave the bag by the door, knowing I’ll grab it with me on my way out. Works great!
I keep a selection of bags in my car and bring them into stores with me. Whilst I applaud stores that encourage folks to reuse bags, I question a store that doesn’t provide any at all.
Sometimes I’m with a friend who doesn’t reuse and we’ll make a last minute stop to pick up a few things. That could get a bit testy if the store doesn’t have free bags available.
I’ve not been using them for long and find I don’t have enough. Trying to set an example for my 11 yr.old who is really into recycle, recycle, recycle. Do as I do, not as I say…..
Since I reuse all my plastic bags as garbage can liners I find this whole reuseable bag thing a farce. Now I’ll have to BUY plastic bags for my garbage bags that are going to end up in a landfill anyway. Eco-savings there – 0. The only benefit I find for reuseables is that most stores will give you a 5 cent credit per bag.
@Jen B. I used to use plastic grocery bags as trash liners, too, but they get holes so often. In the kitchen we use 13-gallon bags so grocery bags are way too small. I’m trying to switch to biodegradable bags for the kitchen but haven’t found any for sale at Home Depot or the grocery store or drug store. Does anyone have a source for them?
I use reusable bags for everything. I do my best to remember my bag of bags when grocery shopping. If we go to the farmer’s market, I bring at least one. We pack for trips with the bags. I even made some reusable bags to use as wrapping for Christmas gifts. Then the ladies got to keep their presents and the bags. They loved it!
I carry a mini reusable bag in my purse, a couple reusable bags in my car, as well as a flat cooler bag, in case I stop by a grocery store to buy some items, and have other errands to do before I head home. I also have a Trader Joe’s wine bag that holds 6 bottles in my car; comes in handy if I buy anything bottled.
In addition to using reusable bags at the grocery store and Target (.5 back) I use them when we travel to have on hand for those extras that we always bring back.
I use them for everything. Groceries, farmer’s market, mall shopping (all shopping really), tote kids stuff to games.
as a single mom, I have all these reusable bags folded up and I put them all in one reusable bag. I leave it in the back of my van. Once a week I have my kids go in the van and pick up everything and put them in these reusable bags and bring them in the house (a good way to keep a control on the clutter that builds up in our van). I also use these freezer type of reusable bags.. to carry our lunches and snacks when we go to the playground. It is awesome! It zips up and I love it!!
For me the key to using the re-usable bags is remembering to bring them in with me. So if I am out shopping I take a bunch out of my trunk and set them on the passenger side seat. That way I remember them when I run into a store.
For those of you who forget your bags, just go back and get them from the trunk of your car as soon as you realize you don’t have them. It takes about 6 weeks to develop a habit. At first when I started using the recyclable bags, I kept forgetting, but now that it’s a habit, I don’t even have to think to remember to go to my trunk. And even if I manage to make it all the way into a store without my bags, I still go back to retrieve them. I look at it as an extra opportunity to burn more calories!
I love using my for groceries but I also use them to tote around my diapers, toys and other needed items from my house to the babysitters! Oh and on trips to the park!
I leave the the recyclable bags in the storage compartment of the driver side door of my car, this way they are always available when I go shopping. I also use a recycalbe bag to bring my lunch to work everday, and I give my children them to take snacks to their friends houses, or to ball games and activities.
We use them for everything. taking books into and out off of the library, to carry swimming gear into lessons, to carry picnic lunches to the park… etc etc… endless in fact the list.
Besides using them for groceries, we use them for our library books!
I have three large dogs who ride in my car. The one thing I notice with plastic bags from grocery stores is that regardless of time of year, they create static so the hair from my vehicle permits me from always re-cycling them for personal trash can use in my bathrooms and from carrying items to functions as a tote (as I’m embarrassed by the dog hair). I would use the bag for transporting to my job (once I find another one in this economy) lunch and drinking water OR to shop, transporting items to friends/family, storing itme for camping/beaching. It would get use, believe me, I also have allergies so cloth bags aren’t always benefitical. Thank you!
Aside from bringing groceries home, we use them when we bring food to holiday parties, BBQs, whatever – that way your host isn’t stuck with a plastic bag! As soon as it’s unpacked, the reusable bag goes right back in my purse (until it’s needed to bring home leftovers with us)!
save the earth
we use them for groceries and weekend visit to our grandparents house. im proud of albertsons for doing this, maybe more retailers will catch on and quit using plastic bags
We use them for groceries, but they also make awesome bags for carrying gear to the lake for swimming! They’re easy to clean up after we’re done.
someluckydog at gmail dot com
I use them for all kinds of things, diaper bags, groceries, overnight bags! I think its awesome Albertsons is doing this and I think more grocery stores should follow their footsteps. Any time I have some extra ones, I like to give them away to friends to encourage them to use them as well.
@Jennifer Sutton I’m with you! I hope other stores follow Albertsons example and do away with disposable bags. Especially if you can buy a reusable bag for $.30! Holy cow that’s cheap!
What do you think stores should do about the smaller disposable plastic produce bags?
This would be a great beach bag! The colorful and fruity bags bring joy into the air.
Library books and the junk food bag for road trips!
I use my reusable bags for so many things. The latest use was packing up all the Easter food and eggs to take to my mother in law’s for our family Easter Celebration. I don’t think I could live with out them.
I use mine @ CVS A LOT paired with my green tag to get an extra buck every 4 uses. =)
Grocery and drugstore shopping.
I always use reusable bags at the Bottom Dollar right by my house because this eco friendly store does not give out bags =]
I wold love one of the cloth bags with the Albertsons logo. I take my reusable bags everywhere; from library books to yard sales. They are very handy.
I would love one of the cloth bags with the Albertsons logo. I take my reusable bags everywhere; from library books to yard sales. They are very handy.
I love taking my reusable bags to local flea markets. We have 3 flea markets within 10 miles of us and I hit at least one of them weekly! Great place for cheap produce, handmade goods, Pennsylvania Dutch cooking and new friends!
I have a few styles of reusable bags, the netted bags fit nicely in my purse (or pocket of scrub shirts) but I keep them all in the car in the larger standing bags, so I can decide how many to take when I’m out shopping
I LOVE using them at Farmer’s Markets to eliminate having to use plastic bags.
I use these wonderful bags for everything, everywhere! They are so versatile! I LOVE LOVE LOVE these reusable bags! Thanks!
I always take my reusable shopping bags to the supermarket, I love them and never go shopping without them.
I use mine for going to the library, shopping, when going on vacation, etc. The uses are endless. I am rarely without a bag.
Hope I win the contest!! I never win anything & I’d love to win a reusable bag!
I love the few I have & use them daily for shopping, picking up my mail at the mailbox & carting things up & down the stairs since I live in a townhome
I use reusable bags anywhere and everywhere I shop and I pick up all the free bags I can at local festivals and fairs. If a seam comes out I sew it up and keep using it until it cannot be patched up again.
I love to use my bags for camping or any other out-doorsy thing requiring a bag full of stuff! They are also great for groceries and a quick swing by the farmer;s market!
Enter me too. I use cloth bags at the grocery store & other shopping. I can always use another one.
I use the reusable cloth bags everywhere. Note that at Ralphs you are credited 5 points for every reusable bag you use. At Trader Joe you get an entry into their $25 sweepstakes.
So you are helping the environment – and also helping yourself!
Marie
I used them for library books and for groceries.
I use mine for groceries, but if the bag has a more nifty design, I use them when on the go. More recently, I used one at the park. But, I only have five in my trunk right now, and could always use more!
The bags are great to use at the grocery, pet store, and great for carrying cans, they don’t break and your cans go rolling in to the parking lot! Ha Ha!
not only do i use them for my groceries but they are good for holding and hiding my clutter.
I like to use the nifty ones to give gifts in, they then become an additional gift in and of themselves.
I love reusable bags! I gave them to my family as Christmas gifts when the theme of the year was “GREEN”.
Besides groceries and other things, I keep one at the bottom of the stairs so that I can
carry a lot of things upstairs more easily.
I love to use my reusable bags to “recycle” my magazines. I take them to friends and family!
Shopping. It’s my American Express card.
I love the one reusable bag I have. I always take it to the store for my vegtables. I would love to have another bag to use for the other items.
We use them for everything from groceries to gift wrap (instead of paper gift bags) to organizing the kids toys.
I always use my reusable bags for groceries. Not only am I saving the landfill but I use fewer trips from car to house to get groceries in.
I have always liked the idea and now finally putting into action trying to carry them in my car and strategic spots where I cannot forget them. My kids are trying to help me with remembering as we feel guilty when we realize at the register we may have forgotten them!
Making a much better effort. ; )
I am a teacher and use a bag in the front of my classroom for recycling student water bottles. Some of the bags are so pretty and look better than just a box for this purpose.
EVERYONE should use these reusable bags! Hope I’m not too late to win one!
I love using reusable bags to tote around my scrapbook supplies! Also, they make great beach bags as well!
I love reusable bags!
Reuseable bags add another dimension the express myself and compliment my outfits. I am always bringing something somewhere, and lets face it those cheap plastic bags just look that..CHEAP.
I am all about recycling & reusable bags! My wife however just tosses all of our local based ones (some hadn’t even been used) after a lead content scare on the news! The “designer” bags look pretty neat..(& coated) I wouldn’t mind having one for my shopping needs as well! Hopefully the hardware stores are next! what a waste! My items will barely make it to the car sometimes!
I use one of my reuseable bags to hold all the things that end up in the car with me- mail, newspaper, small items- so I don’t have my hands full with all these items separately.
I use them for everything. Today I used one to carry my newspaper, camera, batteries and ipod to my daughter-in-laws home to babysit for 6 toddlers!
I use some for storing items, some for transporting food etc.
I use them to store all of our stuff around the house. 🙂
I use them for groceries, towels & suits for the pool
I Love reusable bags ! ! !
Reuable bags are the best! Took one to the beach, took some camping, and use some for recycling! They hold up well and you don’t have to worry about broken handles!
I use them for light shopping
Our school is doing a “Go Green” project and we are looking for donations of reusable grocery bags. We are going to pass them out to neighborhood families who cannot afford to buy them but who are willing to make a pledge to use them when available.
I loove Neutregena’s “The Wave”. It really works for me, and
I use it every night to make my skin feel smooth and take away the acne.
Go NEUTREGENA!! Hope I helped