DIY: Foldable Reusable Shopping Bag Hack

Happy 2020, folks! With the New Year comes new goals and this year, our family has decided to tackle our Environmental Impact. Reading and hearing about global warming and plastic islands in the oceans has really struck a nerve and makes me concerned about the future of the planet for our Kiddo.

But, it also feels INCREDIBLY overwhelming wanting to try and save the world, right?

One small step that we’ve taken here at home that has been manageable and achievable is to eliminate plastic shopping bags. Remembering to grab our stash of reusable bags before we leave for the Grocery Store on Monday Mornings was a pretty easy adjustment, but, the million of other times a week when you make a purchase and are offered a bag were completely unexpected! You truly don’t appreciate how many bags you use until you start taking note of them.

What I needed was a small bag that could be folded up and stashed in my purse or diaper bag, one to keep in each car, and maybe a few spares tucked away for surprise shopping. This DIY shows you how to make a simple, compact, reusable bag to keep with you so you’re always prepared to say “You can keep your bag. I brought my own.”

(Side note: it feels GREAT to tell a cashier that you brought your own bag!)

I picked up a few of these cute bags for $1 at Dollar Tree along with a pack of Elastic Hair Ties. This really couldn’t be a simpler tutorial.

Simply cut a hole in the top of your bag and pull your hair tie through. Pull one end of the hair elastic through the other and pull down. VOILA!

To roll the bag up, fold into thirds and roll up from the bottom. Take the elastic and wrap around your bag.

Boom.

I also tried this on a canvas bag I had on hand and it worked like a charm. Any bag should work out with this little trick.

Wouldn’t this be an adorable alternative to candy Valentines? Put a note about “Loving the Earth” on the bag and hand them out for a frugal, and environmentally positive giveaway.