Is it just me or does anyone else begrudge paying for carrier bags?
In fact, not only do I begrudge paying for them but I try to do the most ridiculous stunts not to pay for them and I really don’t know why.
I imagine I am going to be in the minority here on this one given that I am going to appear like an anti-recycling campaigner – although this is not actually the case.
It would probably be helpful if I pointed out at this stage that I am just not a Bag for Life kind of woman. The hessian and plastic ones do nothing for me I’m afraid. I wouldn’t go and buy a handbag with a ladybird or an apple on it so why would I do my shopping in one.
This behaviour does carry a certain amount of shame with it. This is particularly prevalent when one comes to the till and there is not a bag in sight. There is always the cashier that asks very accusingly “Do you need bags?” Shudder. “Yes please” I say feeling like I’ve got 10 oranges stuffed down my bra hoping not to pay for them. Worse still is when they don’t say anything. There is a stand-off silence as your weeks shopping flies down the conveyor belt and it’s like the cashier is daring you to mention it. When you do ask you generally get two bags, just the two and then like a fool you try to stuff everything in them.
And then of course comes M&S. He who dares to be the market leader in charging 5p for a bag. Now in the great scheme of things what is 5p when you are spending £25? Peanuts really but it’s the principle as far as I am concerned and every time I get to the checkout, I remember and off I go all indignant because I am not paying for a bag. Why, what is wrong with me – it’s 5p for god’s sake but no I am going to single-handedly try to pack all that shopping into the small free bags. Now that really makes sense, for me and for them because I’m sure 7 small bags cost more than a 5p one and what about the recycling of that little lot. I would rather they put their prices up to take care of the 5p or ditch the bags altogether.
In fact, I’m so over the whole 5p separate transaction scenario. If you go to a self-checkout you even have to tell the computer which bag you are having. This really beats me. Especially when there are no bags in sight and you have yet another reason to need the assistance of a member of staff and hold up the express queue.
My recent stunt really took the biscuit though. There I was with 5 Sainsbury bags when suddenly I realised I needed food from Marks & Spencer. What a perfect situation! I am prepared, I want for nothing, I need NO bags. Wrong! In typical fashion, I couldn’t get everything in. The very helpful assistant asks if I would like a bag, “no thanks” I say whilst at the same time putting the remaining tin of Tuna in my handbag. I really couldn’t believe I was doing this. But I did and lo and behold the very next day I reached into my bag for something and pulled out a tin of Tuna. Who in their right mind puts Tuna in their hand bag? Me, it would seem!!!
So we’ve done the bags we have to pay for, so who gets the award for the worst bag you have to pay for, with the most cheek to boot? £48.00 spent in W H Smith and you have to buy a bag whose handles are so thin they snap immediately and if they don’t, they do a very good job of slitting your wrists before you have made it home.
Maybe France has got this bag thing right. If you don’t bring a bag, you’ve had it. Annoyingly we did have the bags but unfortunately they were in the car and I was on my own. Even more annoying was the fact that you can’t take the trolley out of the supermarket. Now even I have to draw the line somewhere and there was no way I was going to load myself up with cheese and wine “Crackerjack” style and wobble out of Carrefour like Carmen Miranda.
If you have read have read my experience of providing samples in France https://notjustthe3ofus.wordpress.com/2015/06/23/how-to-do-a-sample/ you will understand my reluctance to try to attempt too many stunts during one holiday.
Is anyone with me on this one?
Nicky x
notjustthe3ofus 
I have a cupboard full of bags and forget them EVERY time!Usually end up slinging it all in the boot and regretting it when I get home! #picknmix
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I would be exactly the same even if I did think to take some in the first place. I like the slinging in boot technique apart from the 50 trips back and forth when you get home! Thank for commenting Nicky
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Ha ha, I loved your post but I’m the total oposite! I feel like paying is my penance for forgetting my bag for life! I feel ashamed when I have to get a bag and hand over my 5p with a hangdog expression feeling like I am single handedly responsible for the demise of the planet! We were in Paris last week and we tried to take a rucksack into the supermarket – we weren’t allowed – they force you to use their bags in case we use ours for shoplifting! #picknmix
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That made me laugh Morna. Interested to hear your Paris experience. I’ve only ever shopped in the big stores in other parts of France. Hope you had somewhere handy to put your rucksack! Thanks for reading Nicky
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This is a great post! I had no idea about the bag situation over there. I would not be opposed to the stores here switching to that system or doing without bags entirely.
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It does vary from place to place. You would think I’d be used to it by now. It’s certainly not a new thing here. In some of the food stores, you can’t pack at the till so you have to put everything back in the trolley and go to a separate area to pack – that is hard work especially when you’re not expecting it. Thanks for reading. Nicky
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This is seriously rocking my world! Haha! What a pain in the patoot!
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Ha ha ha I hate paying for carrier bags too 🙂 I actually have bags for life but always forget them drives me mad…. #picknmix
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Hiya! I am commenting on this one as I couldn’t find the one you linked to Happy Days- it brought up an error. Anyway, this made me laugh so much. I am the same, I always refuse to pay even if it means stuffing things in my handbag. I do use bags for life though but I never remember to take them anywhere haha!!
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Hiya Katy. That’s odd. That’s the trouble with us new bloggers! Oh well glad you found this one and got a giggle. I wonder what random shopping items you’ve pulled out of your handbag! Thanks for taking the time to find another of my posts. Nicky
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I am exactly like you! Bags do nothing for me and I think if I am buying from your store then you are obliged to provide the bags. All mine go to recycling. I have bags for life that will probably stay in my cupboards for life. I refuse to pay the 5p at M&S and they didn’t have the small bags and so to my embarrassment I had a half pint of semi skimmed sitting in my bag all day until The boys found it in the evening. (It was meant for the office and purchased the morning). Last week I went to sainsburys and had to go to M&S after…so what do I do….put my M&S shopping in a sainsburys bag. 😱
Back home, the supermarkets provide Packers and they use the cardboard cartons from the bulk groceries (as a way to recycle) and they pack, tie it properly and take it to your car or taxi. For the smaller items they use brown paper bags and pack it very neatly, then tie it with strings. I was so shocked when I had to pack my own groceries here, and worse, struggle with the morals of bag provision! What an outrage!
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Tuna and Milk for us then Gail! We’ve have obviously come out of the same pod. It’s a nice touch the packing for you – although I have to say I’m a bit particular about that – long story! Thanks for commenting x
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This post has made me laugh, it’s so funny! It is so annoying when they charge for bags, I do carry around those canvas bags you get in Primark for £1, they’re usually good for stuffing shopping in. That’s my top tip to avoid tuna in your handbag again haha! #picknmix
Sabrina xx
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Hi Sabrina – the trials and tribulations of shopping eh! I can feel myself caving in with having a bag in my bag, so to speak. Thanks for reading. Nicky
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Ha ha I am always paying for bags though have discovered the small bags that kinda fold into them selves and they sit in my handbag I have two now and out them right back in my bag after. As I hate the bag for life as they do not fit in with life #picknmix
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That sounds like a good solution. I know the ones you mean and they don’t take up much space. Some quite funky designs too. Thanks for reading. Nicky x
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Don’t forget you’ve always got that funky foldable trolley we gave you for Christmas! Don’t ever move to Wales though as it is the law for all shops to charge for carrier bags if you need one.
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Indeed I have Alison. Also known as the festival bag. I have been begged by the kid not to take it out. Wales not looking likely! x
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Haha loved this! Here in Dubai, they give away plasticbags like you’ve won the lottery. Just like you though, I never paid the 5p in UK as I felt it was just an insane amount of money! I would simply juggle all the items in my hands and handbag! Haha!
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Hiya. Interesting isn’t it – varies from place to place. I thought we were all supposed to be saving the same planet. Looks like our handbags are taking the strain in the meantime! Thank you for stopping by and reading Nicky x
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It’s all about taxing the poor!!!! Charging for food shopping bags, is an easy way to raise income and make everyone feel sh*tty about ruining the environment. But hang on a minute, go into any high street or designer clothes store and it is unheard of to charge for bags. Can you imagine packing your latest pair of Jimmy Choos in a bag for life and skipping home happily. I don’t think so. How many resources are used in the packaging of a pair of shoes and yet we are made to feel guilty about using a couple of extra Sainsbury’s shopping bags and rinsing out and recycling all our cans and jars so that we feel good about saving the planet. Just a thought……!!
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You make a good point Jenny. I think part of the carrier bag issue stems from large organisations needing to be seen to be adhering to their Corporate & Social Responsibility, which in turn has become our responsibility somehow. This, for anyone who has unpacked a Barbie, is quite a nonsense and flies in the face of common sense. I too am guilty of loving a nice bit of packaging – indeed my Jo Malone perfume looks so much more special in a box and a nice bag. We want to be ethical but, equally, can’t resist a pretty box as you so rightly say.
As for the Jimmy Choos, I’d never fit those in my bag with the tuna!!!!
Thanks for commenting Jenny x
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Maybe all that’s wrong Nicky, is that you need a bigger handbag!!!!!!!
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I’m so glad someone else feels this way. My main gripe is the way the cashiers guard the bags like they are made of gold! Even in stores where bags are “free” we have still paid for them – they are an overhead therefore they are accounted for in the pricing of the merchandise! You have to laugh when you unload a week’s shopping onto the conveyor belt and they give you 2 bags – I mean really?! And one last rant – if they weren’t so damn thin, we wouldn’t need as many! #TwinklyTuesday
Debbie
http://www.myrandommusings.blogspot.com
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Hiya Debbie, thanks for commenting. There seems to be a rich vein of thoughts on this whole carrier bag issue. Certainly a wider one to be addressed by retailers themselves. Of course, as you rightly say, we are paying for them (probably 10 times over). It’s certainly something that the public are divided on. Nicky x
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I always forget my bags for life when I go to the supermarket and feel so guilty when I get to the till without them. However, the plastic ones do come in handy for lining my nappy bin at home! I’d not be so pleased if I’d had to pay for a standard bag though! #TwinklyTuesday
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Hiya Claire, I think ‘bag for life’ amnesia is a common problem! I wonder what it is that makes us feel guilty – this issue in particular does seem to bring about the shame that I jokingly mention in my blog. I am sure that there a million others lining their bins as we speak! Thank you for commenting. Nicky x
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Excellent I hate paying for them too. I have loads of the damn things and forget them every time much to my annoyance! In aldi I use their boxes but don’t get me started on them love the price but im not equipped for the fast pace till and packing! Bags for life are ugly but mainly as s non driver they’re a pain in the arse either carry too many plastic bags or have a load of blooming big bags for life under each arm! #twinklytuesday ps new reader here will add you on bloglovin!
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Ha! It takes a seasoned shopper to hold their nerve at Aldi. I think I’d cry and leave it on the till!!! Thanks for reading and what is bloglovin? Do I need to do something? I’ve only been blogging for a month, I’m a bit green?? Thank you Nicky x
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I really hate paying for a bag. I get it, they are trying to encourage people to reuse, but I always, always forget. So annoying. Thanks for linking to #PickNMix
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I do feel like a little old lady carrying my hesian bags after going shopping, but I quite like the fact I can choose practical bags now and be ‘normal’, I may have bought a few pretty bags for shopping though…obviously a necessity 😉 Thanks for linking up to #PicknMix
Stevie xx
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I’m sure you didn’t look like a little old lady Stevie! Nicky x
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I wish they’d bin them off altogether — or provide paper bags like in the US.
The eco bags are rubbish — they break straight away — but the strong bags are non recyclable and clog up our landfill sites forever an ever. If they just stopped providing bags altogether — no 5p charge — just totally got rid of them, people *would* start bringing bags for life with them — and perhaps someone would then start designing better looking ones *without* ladybirds or apples 😉 Thanks so much for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday — hope to see you again next week! x
Caro | http://www.thetwinklediaries.co.uk
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I agree Caro. All or nothing. Nicky x
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Oh yes I can absolutely relate to this. I hate that I have to pay for something (a flimsy plastic bag) that I’ve never had to pay for before. Where did this ludicrous thing start anyway?!
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I believe it was M&S Suzanne and then a few others latched on. Nicky x
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I begrudge paying for plastic bags because I reuse them (to clean out my cats litter tray) so im already saving the planet!! seriously though if the real reason for charging is to prevent the build up of plastic bags in rubbish dumps, why dont they just make paper bags like you see on telly in american supermarkets?
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I could go on forever! I’m not going to though!
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great post and i true am annoyed with charge for bags. you would never see them in the usa or canada but i learned to use bag for life bags and i guess it will help the environment but what if i got one item then i still have to pay an extra 5p just for a bag.
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Thanks for commenting Karthic. It would seem that the 5p is irrespective of the size of purchase. It must be a huge admin burden for the retailers and not very pleasant for people on the till point while it is being introduced. Nicky
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thanks for the reply, yep it was quite bad. it would be worth if the 5p bags were made of other materials would be better.
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