Having fabric bags on hand makes life so much easier.  It prevents that bulging drawer of plastic or paper sacks from spilling out onto your kitchen floor, alleviates global warming guilt, and may even make you feel a bit proud as you whip them out at the check-out line.  So, how can you get bags for little to no money? 

Ask around:  I’m a teacher and as such, am loaded with canvas shopping bags.  Every educational conference I attend adds to my cache.  See if the people you know have extra fabric bags or don’t use the ones they have.

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Visit thrift stores:  If aesthetics aren’t important to you, you can certainly score some canvas bags with cheesy slogans or colors on them.  Hey, their garish colors might make them easier to remember next time you’re headed to the store! 

Make your own:  If you have the time and creative talent, click onto this website to find patterns for sewing up your own grocery bags.  You can score cheap fabric at a thrift store or by getting creative with old curtains.  It just occurred to me that Maria from “The Sound of Music” was actually quite eco-conscious! 

If you end up having to spring for some bags, remember that they’ll save you money in the long run since most grocery stores will give you a few pennies off for each bag.  They’ll quickly earn back their expense and save hundreds of sacks from ending up in the trash.  For more great “Works for Me Wednesday” tips head over to Rocks in My Dryer.