Gross or genius? This Woolies shopping bag 'hack' is going viral – but not everyone is a fan
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How many times has this scenario happened to you? You pull into the supermarket parking lot, ready to start your weekly shopping when you notice something important... You forgot to bring any of your reusable bags with you.
We’ve all been there before – you're not alone, folks!
When you're running errands and doing everything you need to do on any given day, reaching for your reusable shopping bags may be the last thing on your mind.
Thankfully, an organisation and decluttering expert on social media is here to share her tip for when you forget to bring your green bags to the supermarket!
However, not everyone is completely on board with the idea...
Sharing on TikTok, Anita Birges revealed her 'controversial' shopping bag tip for those times when she forgets to bring her reusable shopping bags to the supermarket.
The advice given by a Woolworths shopper has gotten people talking on social media. Credit: TikTok/@miseenplace_au.
Birges mentioned that whenever she needs grocery bags, she simply goes to the plastic bag recycling bins that are located inside Woolies stores. The bins are usually stuffed with old and used bags, as well as other soft plastic items that customers have brought back to the store to be recycled.
Whenever she arrives at the store without her shopping bags, all she needs to do is walk over to the recycling area and take 'a whole bagful' of recyclables.
"There you go," she said in the TikTok clip. "Saving hack, recycling hack, and shopping hack all in one!"
The so-called shopping bag hack caused a stir on social media, where users were sharply divided as to whether it was "gross," "genius," or whether or not this kind of behaviour was even allowed in the supermarket.
Many users agreed with Birges, calling this shopping bag trick a brilliant idea.
One person who left a comment said something along the lines of, "Can't believe I didn't think of this, no more juggling!" A second agreed and added, "Well done, good share!"
Others, on the other hand, found the idea of using someone else's used bags to be a little repulsive and voiced their worries regarding personal hygiene.
"I don't think I'd be able to use bags that I had no idea who had used them last or what was inside them," said one user. Another agreed and wrote, "I would never put my stuff in another person's used bag. Who knows what's in there!"
Some even argued that they would rather buy the store's 15-cent bags than use someone else's discarded bags.
While a heated discussion was going on, other customers were wary about whether or not customers were even permitted to collect bags from the recycling area, with one person saying, "I didn't think we could grab bags from there…"
"It makes sense but maybe they don't allow it," said another.
We here at the SDC are all for supermarket tips and tricks that would make our shopping experiences so much better. However, we have to advise that bags in the recycling bins are not intended to be used in this manner.
Instead, here are some tips to help you remember your reusable bags every time!
Gather a variety of reusable bags for shopping.
When you go to the store, you're more likely to have at least a couple of bags with you if you have a lot of bags at home. Apart from the stores where you shop, you can find cloth bags in a variety of places, including thrift stores.
Don't put your shopping bags in just one spot.
Make sure you don't keep all of your bags in the same place. Consider putting them in your car, coat closet, purse or bags, or even by the front door so you don't forget them! And after you have finished using them, make it a routine to put them back exactly where you had them stored.
Always use and bring your own shopping bags with you.
If you always use your reusable bags when you go shopping, it will become second nature and you'll be less likely to forget them when you go to the store.
Include shopping bags on your grocery list.
Making bags the first thing on your shopping list can really help, especially if you don't have many convenient places to store them.
If you have a habit of double-checking your grocery or shopping list before leaving the house, this little reminder might help you remember to bring those bags with you.
We hope these tips are useful for your next grocery run, folks. Have fun shopping!
We’ve all been there before – you're not alone, folks!
When you're running errands and doing everything you need to do on any given day, reaching for your reusable shopping bags may be the last thing on your mind.
Thankfully, an organisation and decluttering expert on social media is here to share her tip for when you forget to bring your green bags to the supermarket!
However, not everyone is completely on board with the idea...
Sharing on TikTok, Anita Birges revealed her 'controversial' shopping bag tip for those times when she forgets to bring her reusable shopping bags to the supermarket.
The advice given by a Woolworths shopper has gotten people talking on social media. Credit: TikTok/@miseenplace_au.
Birges mentioned that whenever she needs grocery bags, she simply goes to the plastic bag recycling bins that are located inside Woolies stores. The bins are usually stuffed with old and used bags, as well as other soft plastic items that customers have brought back to the store to be recycled.
Whenever she arrives at the store without her shopping bags, all she needs to do is walk over to the recycling area and take 'a whole bagful' of recyclables.
"There you go," she said in the TikTok clip. "Saving hack, recycling hack, and shopping hack all in one!"
The so-called shopping bag hack caused a stir on social media, where users were sharply divided as to whether it was "gross," "genius," or whether or not this kind of behaviour was even allowed in the supermarket.
Many users agreed with Birges, calling this shopping bag trick a brilliant idea.
One person who left a comment said something along the lines of, "Can't believe I didn't think of this, no more juggling!" A second agreed and added, "Well done, good share!"
Others, on the other hand, found the idea of using someone else's used bags to be a little repulsive and voiced their worries regarding personal hygiene.
"I don't think I'd be able to use bags that I had no idea who had used them last or what was inside them," said one user. Another agreed and wrote, "I would never put my stuff in another person's used bag. Who knows what's in there!"
Some even argued that they would rather buy the store's 15-cent bags than use someone else's discarded bags.
While a heated discussion was going on, other customers were wary about whether or not customers were even permitted to collect bags from the recycling area, with one person saying, "I didn't think we could grab bags from there…"
"It makes sense but maybe they don't allow it," said another.
We here at the SDC are all for supermarket tips and tricks that would make our shopping experiences so much better. However, we have to advise that bags in the recycling bins are not intended to be used in this manner.
Instead, here are some tips to help you remember your reusable bags every time!
Gather a variety of reusable bags for shopping.
When you go to the store, you're more likely to have at least a couple of bags with you if you have a lot of bags at home. Apart from the stores where you shop, you can find cloth bags in a variety of places, including thrift stores.
Don't put your shopping bags in just one spot.
Make sure you don't keep all of your bags in the same place. Consider putting them in your car, coat closet, purse or bags, or even by the front door so you don't forget them! And after you have finished using them, make it a routine to put them back exactly where you had them stored.
Always use and bring your own shopping bags with you.
If you always use your reusable bags when you go shopping, it will become second nature and you'll be less likely to forget them when you go to the store.
Include shopping bags on your grocery list.
Making bags the first thing on your shopping list can really help, especially if you don't have many convenient places to store them.
If you have a habit of double-checking your grocery or shopping list before leaving the house, this little reminder might help you remember to bring those bags with you.
We hope these tips are useful for your next grocery run, folks. Have fun shopping!
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