Never waste money on plastic bags again – supermarket shoppers find genius alternative

Never waste money on plastic bags again – supermarket shoppers find genius alternative When you realise you didn't bring any plastic carrier bags to the supermarket, it's majorly frustrating as you know you need to spend at least a couple of pounds on replacing them for the weekly shop Every home in Britain has that stash: a crumpled bag of bags – plastic carriers, “bags for life”, tote bags, the lot. The only problem? The moment you actually head to the supermarket, they’re mysteriously nowhere to be found. So they sit on the kitchen counter instead, while we fork out again for yet another “just this once” bag we didn’t need — which, of course, goes straight into the same growing pile when we get back. It's a never-ending cycle. But what if there was an entirely different way to carry the weekly shop that meant you'd never need to reach for a bag for life again? One savvy shopper has shared a brilliant tip that could save you money on buying new plastic carrier bags at the supermarket, because, let's face it, they don't come cheap these days. Ensure our latest Mirror headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings What is the supermarket hack you need to use? TikToker Abu has a simple idea that could save you money and cut down on plastic. It's all about ditching the carrier bags and grabbing a cardboard box instead. In his video, he picks up an apple box from the produce section – the kind that often ends up flattened out back and sent off for recycling anyway. Some viewers told him he should “ask permission”, so he does exactly that, approaching a member of staff… who’s perfectly happy for him to take it. And honestly, asking first is the easiest way to avoid any awkwardness if someone wonders what you’re up to. Once you’ve got the go-ahead, you just carry the box around as you shop. Then at the checkout, when your items are scanned, you can pack straight into the box there and then – no frantic bag-juggling, no trying to keep up with the conveyor belt, and you can fit in a surprising amount. When one box is full, stack another on top in the trolley, fill that too, and you’re basically done. At the end, it’s a quick slide into the boot – just don’t overpack it to the point you can’t lift it. Reaction People say the tip really works. Not only does it reduce the amount of plastic you have lying around, it can also help out workers in your local supermarket if you're considerate. One commenter wrote: "You don't even have to buy anything, you can just come in and take them if you want. Retail stores have to pay for their recycling – the less they have, the happier they are. They get crushed in the bailer throughout the shift anyway." Another chimed in: "As a produce worker, take as many as you want, less for me to tidy up later." A third shared: "My mum does this all the time. She goes as far as rearranging nearly empty boxes so she can take them and permanently has one as a tidy box for her car boot stuff."