While we can’t quite get the hang of remembering to bring along our tote bags to the supermarket, we are learning the scan and bag method of shopping at Stop & Shop.

Except we seem to underestimate the number of bags needed.

And, it appears that in the last few weeks, the size and sturdiness of the paper bags has changed.  We use the paper bags to neatly consolidate our paper to be recycled and they just don’t hold as much and rip more easily.

Trader Joe’s bags are still reliable for the job.  Probably because in part they don’t want your bottles of “Cheap Chuck” wine falling through the bottom on the way to the car.

In order to save money on kitchen wastebasket liners, we buy wastebaskets that work well with the size of the plastic grocery bags that we always have an abundance of.  We fit several at a time, so that as a filled bag is removed, there is another one right underneath it, ready to go.  This also helps if one bag is a “leaker.”  The multiple bags catch the leaks.

Although we may have to take out the trash a little more often that having a large trash barrel, our barrel fits conveniently under the sink, and we have never, ever bought bags for it.