reusable cloth grocery bags/ save money or not?
bretonb
16 years ago
Featured Answer
Comments (60)
quiltglo
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agobudster
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Do you bag groceries where you shop?
Comments (49)Most of the grocers here bag your groceries and offer to take it to your car except for a afew of the high volume discounts which I rarely shop at as their meat and produce quality is poor. Competition is high among grocers here so I support the better ones, in the long run, I don't save much by shopping the discount stores except at Costco who still ring up your goods and put themm back in your cart. We stopped at a costco once that had self check out but we went on strike and opted for the clerk checkout. I hate self check out, if they expect to sell me something, the least they can do is collect my money and put it in a bag for me. Otherwise I check out Amazon for the items. I would rather support vendors that are trying their best to show you they appreciate your business....See MoreSaving money in other ways since my grocery is expensive
Comments (8)I have a $125 per month food budget for two people, but that's possible because I have room for food storage, grow a portion of our food - indoors and out; and I live where food is "relatively" inexpensive. We also have a much larger list of foods we use than your restricted dietary choices and that's helpful with the bottom line. I lean towards whole foods, raw foods and use meat sparingly. -You can also make rice milk and nut milks in your diet, which would be less expensive than goat milk. Kefir is better for you than yogurt, can be used like yogurt, plus kefir is less expensive to make. -Make and use more pre-digested foods. Rejuvelac is a good source for enzymes that helps friendly bacteria grow and is cheap and easy to make with water and different grains. Even if you can't digest grains, you will probably be able to enjoy Rejuvelac made with it. Make your own sauerkraut and other fermented foods. Check your local library for books by Ann Wigmore. How to Make Rejuvelac: For approximately 3 cups, you�ll need: - 1 cup organic whole grains (soft wheat berries, millet, rye, brown rice, barley, etc.) - 3 cups pure water (preferably distilled) - a container, e.g., a wide-mouthed glass jar, a ceramic or stainless steel bowl Soak the grains in the water for 48 hours. (You can place a plate or towel over the top of the jar or bowl.) After 48 hours, pour off the rejuvelac. Drink for that day or store in a jar. It doesn�t have to be refrigerated, but if it is, it will keep several days. Pour another 2 cups water over the grains. Allow to ferment only 24 hours before pouring off. Repeat another 24 hour cycle, so that the grains are soaked a total of 3 times. A dark quiet place is ideal for setting your jar or bowl. The temperature of the fermenting environment is important. Warmer temperatures will shorten fermenting times. In the summer, try soaking the seed 36 hours to start, then 16 hours instead of 24. Let ferment to your taste. It should be tart, not sour. Adapted from Recipes for Longer Life by Ann Wigmore. -You should be able to grow something - indoors (if you have a sunny south window) or out (if you have the space). Sprouting is a good example of a garden-in-a-jar you can grow fresh food anywhere. In the winter when "fresh" food is literally unavailable because it's been shipped in from who-knows-where, I don't purchase much produce but depend on sprouts and herbs I grow indoors as my source for REAL fresh food options. Living in the middle of nowhere, local produce is only available in the summer. I use frozen food (commercial as well as frozen produce from the garden) as a better option to so-called "fresh" food. Frozen food is high in nutrition and can be less expensive. I also dehydrate a lot of produce as another method for preservation. I also grow micro-greens and wheatgrass as other sources for fresh food. Hope there's some new......See MoreSaving Time so You Can Save Money
Comments (11)I'm not sure I'll be much help on this subject since I'm just now decluttering and reorganizing my home. Here's a few little things I'm doing: Since I don't have a regular pantry (I'm going to make one somewhere, someday--lol) I keep all breakfast items in one drawer, like instant oatmeal, grits, hot chocolate, etc. So, I know in a glance what I need and don't buy extras. I just tear off the top of the pkg. and set the whole thing in the drawer. I also keep my ironing supplies on one drawer---irons, spray starch, etc. I actually had to buy a second iron because I couldn't find the first one---before I organized! I took all on my junky paper and cut it into note size, put it in my desk drawer. If I have pretty junky mail, or envelopes, I cut them up to use as gift tags or small note cards. I hate frying bacon, so I bake it now on a rack. It's healthier and I don't have to spend so much time at the stove. I actually baked a pkg. this morning, used it all at once---now, we have bacon for tomorrow. I don't have very many closets, so I'm using decorative tins and hatboxes (I went thru a hatbox-making phase a few years back) for storage of sewing and craft supplies, and anything else that I can't find a place for!!! LOL These things hold a lot, so I may not have to buy any shelves. In my foyer area, I have a narrow table with a mirrow above it. I just cleaned out that drawer in the table----I have a place for car keys (his & hers), gloves, hairbrush, and glasses. Since I wash my hands a zillion times a day, I keep either an old dish detergent bottle or shampoo bottle with soap, water (*and now hand lotion or baby oil mixed in) under the sink to wash hands with. I just saw a Dr. on Tv say that if you wash your hands too much and they're dried out, germs can enter your body thru the cracked dry skin EASIER!! They were talking about the flu viruses. He actually said that rubbing your hands back and forth, creating friction, would kill germs on your hands!! Rub your hands, rub your hands!!!!!!...See MoreReusable grocery bags, and stains on carpet
Comments (22)"cynic- Why do your put your pasta, sugar and flour in the freezer? Is that to kill any pantry bugs? That's exactly why maire_cate! We don't have anywhere near the problems that some states have with the bugs but I've been in the back rooms of enough grocery stores to say, in the freezer! I actually put them in a plastic bag to bring them home, then into the freezer, plastic bag and all for 2-3 days minimum. I've never had to clean out flour bugs from my house and hope I never will have that duty. Or should I say dooty? Say Wildchild, about your comment "Like my friend the people I see using the cheap non washable bags are those who can least afford them." Are you talking about paper/plastic from the store? Usually they're "free", but with reuseables, many stores here give a 5 credit. We all know the cost of these bags are factored into the overhead, therefore into pricing at the store. If you're referencing the reuseable bags you buy, I haven't seen one yet that can't be washed so if that's the reference, where do you get this idea? I've even washed plastic bags from the store! (The cheapie "free" ones.) Also, I have to question your position: "But if you follow the money you will see that this is just another way for stores to save money on regular bags and make a profit on cheap reusable, most of which will end up in the landfills taking more space than plastic or even paper." *If* the store has you bring a bag, AND not give you a credit for not taking a bag, then yes it's another way to save money and to that I say why not? Stores *are* in business to make a profit. However, if the store gives the credit, then I dispute your position since the bags probably cost the store less than 5¢ each so in many cases, it can cost the store money for people to bring the bags in, to say nothing of the loss of bags people don't purchase - grab, use and not mention it to the cashier. Next I'll take issue with the landfill: Yes, one reuseable probably takes more space than one paper or plastic, but I don't think it's fair to say we'll throw the reuseables away after only one use! Or for that matter after 2-3 uses even. Therefore they would keep a number of bags out of the landfill so, are you suggesting that one reuseable takes more landfill space than 50-100 other bags? I don't know what the ratio is, but I know I've used mine now at least 10 times each and they're still like new. Granted there's some wobble room there since some of the other bags would get reused as trash bags. Sometimes get reused even several times (for Aldi trips, carrying things to the vehicle and the like). And yes, sometimes I'll take a bag on top of it as mentioned. But I can't "buy" the theory that there's more landfill space used. You'll have to "sell" me on that one! For the toilet paper core, I agree completely. I've said they should have a minimal size tube in it, 1" maximum. For that matter, make the toilet paper holder thinner. 1/4" would be more than adequate. However, people buy from looks. They tried reducing core size years ago and are trying it again but in the past people rejected it as they did compaction of the laundry detergents. Didn't think they were getting their money's worth. I buy Scott 1000 sheet cheekscrape and it takes less room in the closet, costs less and is as good quality as most any other and far better than many. Compare how many rolls you need to get 1000 sheets sometime folks and you'll see what I mean. On cardboard, Aldi let's you (encourages you actually to) take and use the boxes in the store. Saves them trash costs. You dispose of it. And finally, I can't hit submit until I address the "China Syndrome"! I keep seeing the woe-is-me posts on here about all the business going to China and although yes I think it's sad, I realize what's going on. Why do we get so much from China? Because that's what people BUY! I remember the tearful threads about Walmart not carrying fabric in some stores anymore. That's not carried because people don't BUY it! Trust me, if people bought fabric and made their own clothes and such, Walmart would probably have a store called Cloth*Mart, charge you $75/year to enter it, make you check out 3 times to leave and charge you 50% more than buying it somewhere else! And people would brag about how much they save! But until people buy, they won't keep selling. Stores need "turns". It costs them money to keep the lights on and every item has to carry its weight on profit. Oops, one other thing. I found the comments on that link about sanitation of the reuseable bags to be quite interesting and I think they made a valid point. Don't forget to read the comments there if you read the article....See Morejoyfulguy
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agojannie
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agocindyb_va
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agohonest_me
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agoveggrljo
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agoAdella Bedella
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agonewgardenelf
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agobill_h
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agocynic
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agoMarilyn Sue McClintock
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agosherwoodva
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agosilverpl105
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agomakin_pennies_scream
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agokeepitlow
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agojannie
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agodilly_dally
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agopekemom
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agostargazzer
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agoAdella Bedella
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agoilene_in_neok
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agojannie
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agocaavonldy
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agostargazzer
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agomikka_north
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agonwroselady
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agocynic
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agorj_hythloday
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agomndtrp
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoseattlemike
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agooilpainter
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agocynic
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agojoyfulguy
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agomommabird
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agomustang49
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agojoyfulguy
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoneil.corrigan12
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agonewgardenelf
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agojoyfulguy
5 years agoc t
4 years agojoyfulguy
4 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoc t
4 years agosushipup1
4 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
4 years agosushipup1
3 years ago
Related Stories
SELLING YOUR HOUSESave Money on Home Staging and Still Sell Faster
Spend only where it matters on home staging to keep money in your pocket and buyers lined up
Full StoryKITCHEN CABINETS9 Ways to Save Money on Kitchen Cabinets
Hold on to more dough without sacrificing style with these cost-saving tips
Full StoryGREAT HOME PROJECTSHate Hauling Laundry? Give Dirty Clothes the Chute
New project for a new year: Install a quick route to the laundry room
Full StoryBUDGET DECORATING14 Ways to Make More Money at a Yard Sale — and Have Fun Too
Maximize profits and have a ball selling your old stuff, with these tips to help you plan, advertise and style your yard sale effectively
Full StoryCLOSETSBest Storage Secrets for Clothes
Closets and dressers don't need to be pricey. Here's how to fold, file and hang your way to beautifully stored clothes using what you have
Full StoryLIFEThe Top 5 Ways to Save Water at Home
Get on the fast track to preserving a valuable resource and saving money too with these smart, effective strategies
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESBudget Decorator: How to Save When You Don’t DIY
You don’t have to be crafty to decorate your home inexpensively. Here are other ways to stretch your design dollars
Full StorySMALL HOMESAsk an Expert: What Is Your Ultimate Space-Saving Trick?
Houzz professionals share their secrets for getting more from any space, small or large
Full StoryORGANIZINGSmart Solutions for Clothes Closets
The Hardworking Home: Explore these ways to store your clothes, shoes and accessories to make the most of your space
Full StoryORGANIZING7 Habits to Help a Tidy Closet Stay That Way
Cut the closet clutter for a lifetime — and save money too — by learning how to bring home only clothes you love and need
Full StorySponsored
c t