Living Green: 5 Smart Uses for Re-Usable Bags

Today's economy is forcing people to pinch pennies, & a new attitude on recycling has emerged. Re-usable grocery bags are now getting second looks from parents seeking solutions to life's little problems. Priced at just 99 cents at most grocery chains, these bags are a great way to get more for a buck. Here are five easy & creative ways to help stretch your dollars with these bags.

1. Your New Purse - Re-usable bags are now a hot accessory for teens, parents, college students, and misers all alike. Some grocers carry bags that really are works of art. Trader Joe's is one of these stores - the bags have vibrant colors and are covered with eye-catching motifs that are hard for anyone to miss. These bags have been spotted all over Metro Atlanta & the outlying areas as purses partly because they are so beautiful. Plain bags are easy to decorate and personalize so that theft is discouraged.

2. Ball Corrals - It really is painful to trip on loose balls, and re-usable shopping bags are a great solution. The sturdy bottoms help keep spare balls rooted to the floor or shelf, and the easily-tied handles can help keep two or more balls together inside the bag. With a toddler running around, things can get messy very quickly, and having loose balls organized can be a time-saver. Plus, this enables you to put them safely on a shelf without fear of the balls 'running' back out onto the floor.

3. Go-Bags - Each child should have his or her own separate stash of diapers and spare supplies standing by the front door. Schedule planning and proper organization can get the parade out the door fast enough, but the simple act of having these important items ready to go can shave ten minutes from preparation time. Re-usable bags can be a time-saver for organized parents who live an on-the-go lifestyle and they are durable enough to be washed if a child's bottle leaks out on it. Re-usable bags are also recommended for storing car snacks.

4. Off-the-wall Storage - Why buy heavy shelves when you can simply hang bags along a wall to hold small, light toys that the kids frequently use? This cuts out the risk of small fingers being caught in storage drawers while allowing the parent the freedom of placing small hooks at any height on the wall. Plus, putting a few bags along the floor allows for immediate emergency clean-up in case visitors show up. A bag by the bed can hold an emergency roll of paper towels and diaper wipes so that a sick child can be cleaned up without the parent running to another room.

5. Painting Canvas - Traditional canvases can cost a small fortune, so aspiring artists can cheat a bit and stretch a large bag out over a real canvas, pin it down, and practice painting or other cloth-based art skills on-the-cheap. Simply cut apart the bag, pin a side on a hard surface, and start working. Plus, the fabric is flexible and can be used to demo cloth painting/gel markers to potential customers/clients.

Re-usable bags have a wide range of uses, and are a cheap and effective tool for you to use. The conservative look offered by these totes are acceptable in today's economic landscape, so go ahead - get creative and have fun while reducing, re-using, and recycling!