Paper or Plastic? Neither! I Use Patty Reed Insta-Totes!

I'm a huge fan of bringing your own reusable bags to the grocery store! Those skimpy, grocery-store plastic or paper bags that inevitably tear, rip, and end up in the trash are nothing but a menace. The idea of lugging home dozens of these flimsy bags (often with as few as two items in one bag) drives me crazy. And, it never fails...my trunk is always littered with groceries that have slipped out on the way home. I end up rearranging and repacking those miserable bags (often in the dark or cold) before I can even start the chore of bringing in the groceries!

Did you know the average person uses 355 plastic throw-away bags a year?

Over the last few years there was a big push by stores in my area to encourage shoppers to bring their own bags. Reward programs like $.05 off your order total for each tote you brought with you swayed shoppers to start being more eco-friendly. Me included. 

Did you know approximately 100 billion plastic shopping bags are used in the US every year? It takes 12 million barrels of oil to make that many plastic bags!

So, for awhile now, I've been one of those shoppers who brings their own bags. While I felt better about reducing the long-term costs to our environment, I still fought the battle of groceries spilled everywhere before getting home. I'm thrilled to report...I have found a solution! A totally chic looking Patty Reed Designs Insulated Shopping Tote has fixed all my problems!  

Did you know that 2,500,000 plastic bottles are used every hour? And, most are thrown out!

Patty Reed Designs offers a "green" alternative to your stash of plastic bags. These lead free totes are made from recycled water bottles. The form fibers of melted down bottles are woven into the durable, waterproof material used in their totes!

I had the opportunity to check out the Insulated Shopping Tote from Patty Reed Designs...and I can't tell you enough how much easier a trip to the grocery store is now!

The checkout clerk stuffed a crazy amount of frozen and dairy groceries in my tote! My guess is I probably saved at least 4 plastic bags! No need to double bag my orange juice in those inadequate plastic bags! Everything fit (I had room for even more) and I was able to comfortably carry the tote. The 15" x 15" x 7" tote opens up and retains it's rectangular shape with strong well placed strap handles that allow me to load up and still zip it up tight to carry my groceries with ease! And, the best part? When I got home...all I had to do was grab my tote by the handles and head inside. No rummaging around for that lost carton of ice cream!

Patty Reed Designs has my stamp of approval! They offer a wide variety of different eco-friendly totes from the cutest Lunch (just $4.50) and Picnic Totes (just $3.00) to my favorite Insulated Shopping Tote (only $12.00)!  I was totally floored at how inexpensive these totes are and at the high-end quality. Easy to clean, durable, and totally user-friendly, I'll be bringing my Patty Reed Designs tote on every shopping trip!

Cherries Insta-Tote Shopping Tote

Patty Reed Designs has generously offered to sponsor their Cherries Insta-Tote Shopping Tote to one lucky Saving Common Cents reader! Enter the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win! Good luck!

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