For years now I’ve been taking my own bags to the supermarket when I do my shop so I don’t have to bring home a million plastic bags. But when it’s come to purchases here and there I usually end up getting them put in some sort of bag – usually plastic – because I have had nothing with me. Until now.

I’ve finally found the answer to being able to put those other non-supermarket purchases in. It’s a nylon fold-up bag and it’s working for me.

This is what it looks like when it’s folded out and believe me you can fit quite a bit of stuff in this.

It’s really easy to fold up too, and quite quick. Fold it in half lengthways, fold the handles down as shown and then keep folding lengthways and then roll it up.

Once rolled up it’s very compact. I took a photo with my sunnies in the background (sunnies I bought from the Camberwell markets in Melbourne a good 20 years ago for $1) so you get an idea of how big the bag ends up being.

Isn’t it great? And the great thing for me is that when I get home, I unpack the bag, fold and roll it up and put it straight back into my handbag. This way, it’s there for the next time. Planning Queen, you would be proud because it’s so organised of me.

There’s even more reason and incentive for me to do this because as of early May there will no longer be lightweight plastic bags available here in South Australia. I know this one bag won’t handle my weekly shop, but it does solve the problem of having to get plastic bags occasionally when I buy clothes etc.

And even though other disposable bags will be available in other retail outlets at least I won’t have to use them any longer. My plastic bag bag (and no, it’s not plastic) I have at home should start to get emptier.

Anyway, the nylon bag I’ve shown above in the photos are available at Envirosax. There’s heaps available and they are quite affordable.

PS: I know this all sounds a bit like a sales pitch but it’s all because I think they’re great, not because I’ve been paid in any way to say they’re great.

So I want to know, do you take your own bag/s when you go shopping. If so, how do you remember them?