blogger profile

MissAttitude

Freelance Writer, Blogger, Web Producer and Adjunct Professor

I'm a professional woman in my 30s who's spent the last 13 years working in TV news. I love shoes, shopping and blogging. I also have an advice column. In the name of full disclosure I have to admit I don’t have a background in psychology, unless you count that one college course freshman year ...

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"Green" Shopping Dilemma

So there's something I've been wondering for the past couple weeks.  When it comes to shopping with those reusable bags, is it okay to ask the cashier to use your Publix bags at Walgreens or Macy's bag in Target?  Or is that breaking some sort of shopping rule?

I've been trying really hard to cut down on using plastic bags.  According to Publix the average American uses 336 plastic bags a year, and only about 1 percent of those are recycled.  I think I'm finally remember to take my Publix bags when I go grocery shopping, well most of the time.  Thanks to my friendly cashier this week, I even have a nice little decal for my car windshield with a green Publix bag on it to remind me.

But then I went into Target and saw the store at its own reusable bags.  So I wondered am I supposed to buy ones from each store?  If I'm buyings tons of these reusable bags that's going to cost more.  And let's face it, most of us don't have extra money to spend.

A few months ago I got suckered into buying one from the Body Shop.  The salesperson gave me the spiel on saving the environment and then on top of it told me part of the proceeds went to domestic violence prevention.  Well how could I say no to that?  It would be like saying I don't care if we ruin the environment and women get beaten!  All joking aside, I've used that bag a few times for carrying things, but still wasn't sure if I could use it in CVS or Walgreens. 

Is there protocol when it comes to this?  Is a cashier going to refuse to use a different brand bag?  I asked one of my friends and she told me she's been using these bags for nearly two years and has "never had a problem."  She did have a good tip though, the ones at Macy's are larger and would be better for shopping at department or discount stores.  Then you keep the Publix ones just for food. 

But afterward I started to wonder again, will Sweetbay workers give me a hard time if I bring in my Publix bags?  Oh the dilemma!  What do you think?  E-mail me at miss.attitude7@gmail.com.

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude