I don't buy..... Zip lock bags Zip lock bags are one of those items that aren't 100% "I don't buy" but they are close so I thought I would post on it. For purposes of normal food use (transporting sandwiches, storing our homemade bread, containing leftovers or freezing garden produce) I do not buy bags. The reason I do have some purchased bags on hand and buy a box of them perhaps every few years is so that I can have a new bag when I want to sell or give away baked goods. We also use them some when going on a canoe trip or something like that (and not just for food but for things like cameras, etc.).

So for normal use what do I do instead?

~I wash and reuse bags. It really isn't that hard. I don't however reuse bags that have had meat or greasy things in them. To wash a bag I simply shake crumbs and such out and then I put it in my clean dishwater and swish water in and around it really good. Then I rinse it and hang it up to dry. After it hangs for a while one of us does usually use a tea towel to dry it more thoroughly before storing it. It really is a quick and easy process. Bags that I reuse come from: store bought bread, shredded cheese, frozen veggies and when friends give us food in zip locks. Above: Bags drying. Below: Reusing a bread bag for my homemade bread. ~I also try to use containers when I can rather than using bags. We have sandwich containers as well as many other containers that I store stuff such as cookies in. When we freeze fruits and veggies we use pretty much only containers (old peanut butter jars and cottage cheese containers and such).
When we freeze meat we do use recycled bags (food ones for the inside layer and then plastic grocery bags over that. Those do get thrown away then when I use the meat.

I don't think my savings is probably that huge from this process but I much prefer so save a little money AND at the same time throw less stuff away. Every little bit helps out and adds up.

Do you reuse bags or is that more extreme then you are interested in? I would love to hear from you! I am linking this post up at Frugal Fridays at Life as MOM.

Posted by Abbi at 11:14 PM Becky R said...

I reuse as much stuff, escpecially plastic bags and jars from food. In 5 years I only bought 5 boxes ziploc bags. And I got them on a super good deal (on sale and with coupons.) I still have some left.
My mom also bought me the xxl ones once and I have all three in trunk with a set of emergency clothes for each of us in each one. This way they are easy to grab and go if needed.

June 9, 2012 at 10:35 AM Using those cheese bags! That never occurred to me,I had one of those "why didn't I think of that?!" moments.
I have been reusing my bags for a few years now too :-)

June 9, 2012 at 5:16 PM I really like those ideas!! I am moving back in with my parents though and they don't do that (I will pay rent but the kitchen is still theirs...for myself I might try doing that).

June 13, 2012 at 10:05 PM From The Heart Online said...

Hi Abbi :)

Alot of the things you do are 'more extreme' than I'm doing now... But I'm working on it :) Things like canning, gardening, using home-baked buns instead of store bought bread (more often at least), choosing healthier foods, etc.

This is one of those things that(happily) I do. We still use ziplocs for sandwiches, but reusing sure stretches that dollar.

I continue to enjoy reading. You challenge me! :)
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