We all know the that using reusable shopping bags makes a difference. We’ve also all been in line at the grocery store, ready to check out and – shoot!  Forgot the bags. Oh well – it won’t hurt just this one time, right?  Well those “one times” really add up. Here’s a few tips on remembering to grab those bags before you check out.

Keep them in your car
For those of us who drive, keep your reusable bags in your back seat, seat pocket, or trunk. Even more importantly, put them back into your car after unloading groceries. Procrastinating will make you forget to put them in, and then the cycle begins again. If you’ve got a good memory, keeping your keys in the bag will make sure you can’t leave without them.

Hang them next to your door
If you hang your bags next to your coat and keys, you’re more likely to grab one than if you keep them in the kitchen or in a closet. Keep the smaller ones inside of the larger ones so that you can take multiple with you.  If you don’t have a coat rack next to the door, and you know you’re going shopping soon, just leave the bags in front of the door so that you can’t miss them!

Keep one in your purse / bag
Several brands of reusable bags have been made recently to be compact and easily stored, and can fit almost anywhere.  Keep one in that spare pocket in your backpack, or next to your wallet in your purse. Just like with your car, make sure that you put it back as soon as you’re done putting groceries away so that you don’t forget.

Make your own
Are you crafty? Reusable shopping bags can be made out of almost any old clothes. T-shirts are a bit too thin and stretchy, but the following fabrics work well and are easy to sew:
Denim
Dress Shirts
Pleather
Even old tarps work really well and are easy to sew. Just glue the edges down.

It’s bound to happen – we’ll forget eventually
We’re all human, right? We’re bound to forget at one point. If you do forget, reusable bags are inexpensive and most stores have them. If not, just make sure you ask for paper bags, and either recycle or compost them once you’re done with them.