Supermarket Bag Mistake Costing Brits £78 a Year

Forgetting a reusable shopping bag could be costing Brits up to £78 a year, as buying replacement bags at the checkout quietly adds up. New research reveals that some supermarkets charge nearly four times more than others for standard reusable bags, with Waitrose topping the list at £1.50 per bag, while many rivals charge just 40p.

Costly Oversight

The analysis by thimbl.com found that the 'small mistake' of buying a bag each trip can significantly impact household budgets. Personal finance expert Joe Lytwyn at thimbl.com said: "Forgetting a shopping bag feels like a tiny mistake, but it's one of those everyday costs that can quietly add up over time."

"Most people won't think twice about spending 40p or even £1.50 when they're already at the checkout, but if it's happening regularly across multiple shopping trips, it becomes another unnecessary expense that's easily avoided," he added.

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Price Differences Add Up

Even where the price difference is smaller, such as 40p to 65p per bag at some stores, it could still add up to roughly £21 to £33.80 a year, assuming everything fits into one bag per trip.

The carrier bag tax was first introduced in October 2015 for England, meaning it has been more than a decade since shoppers were handed bags for free. The charge started at 5p and doubled to a minimum of 10p from 2021, but most shops can set their own prices, with some charging up to 40p per bag.

Avoid the Expense

Intentionally walking out with a carrier bag without paying is considered shoplifting or theft under UK law. While store staff may challenge you or ask you to pay, police involvement is rare for a minor item unless part of a larger incident.

To avoid this often-forgotten expense, shoppers could keep at least one reusable bag in the car boot or by the front door, store a foldable bag in a handbag or backpack, reuse Bags for Life, and keep spare bags in the places they're most likely to need them.