The Bag Lady in All of Us
Katie McMenamin | Friday, January 10, 2014 
Kelly and I are putting the finishing touches on our book proposal and have been coming up with "universals", i.e., "Quick Organizational Solutions that Work for all Types." But one of the things we hadn't touched upon was organizational problems that all types share. And if there's one of those dilemmas that rises above all others, it's bags. Plastic grocery bags, reusable grocery bags, giveaway tote bags, thick fancy paper clothing store bags, and of course actual traveling baggage. We've all got it. No matter what the type, we are all to some extent Bag people somewhere deep inside.
The solution?! Why you know the answer: Get rid of them already! It can be your first resolution for the new year. The photo above should be enough inspiration for all. But I jest, sort of. The reason we don't include bags in our "universals" is because each type tends to get rid of those bags in a different way. Or rather they need to come to it in their own way and personality type informs how they can or need to do it.
Classic Structures (STJs), Fun Structures (STPs), and Smarts (NTs) all use logic as their primary means of making decisions so getting rid of an overflow of plastic grocery bags? A no-brainer. And yes it's okay to keep some of them, just buy one of those containers designed for them and when it's full, throw the extras away. This also holds true for most other bags that serve no useful purpose besides waiting in your closet to be used ... one day. Old travel bags that they've upgraded, or even fancy store bags, or even a picnic bag that someone whimsical (yes probably an Organic) wedding guest thought would be a great gift, can get the heave ho in seconds. Just make sure that your partner doesn't have romantic (read: illogical never going to happen) plans for a picnic.
If you tend to have more trouble throwing bags away then it's more likely that you make decisions subjectively, like Classic Freedoms (SFJs) and Fun Freedoms (SFPs) and Organics (NFs). Only God, you and your unconscious knows why you all are holding on to your bags. Perhaps there's some kind of deprivation or fear of running out that might be helping you towards hoarding those plastic bags creating a collection that's akin to the supposed floating mass of them that's collected together in the Southern Sea somewhere. Maybe that's why you're so loathe to throw them away! If that's the truth then invest in reusable grocery bags that sell for a dollar or less at most grocery stores and go ahead and buy matching as it will make you feel better about how they look and the environment plus make it easier for you to throw the free ones away. Just remember to wash them every blue moon.
There are other reasons for hoarding, however. After I started writing this, I thought that sometimes logical types can have trouble throwing bags away too. I have one of those nifty little grocery bag containers on the back of my bottom sink cabinet and when it's full I throw extras away. But no matter what I say and do and yell, those bags keep creeping back into my life on the top little spot above my fridge. I even put our heavy cork placemats there as a home to keep the space clear, but to no avail. My husband's a logical Smart Freedom (NTP) decision maker and here he is hoarding bags, even to his wife's displeasure.
So while before I would just yell at him and throw them away, today I sweetly asked him why he stashed them there. He somewhat sheepishly answered, "I hate bending over to get them." Since he is the one who uses these bags every day to dispose of the kitty litter, it is only fair that I find a solution that doesn't annoy me and saves his back a little wear and tear. It also demonstrates one of our actual "Quick Solutions for All Types": Keep all tasks as close to one step as possible. Bending over, opening a cabinet, and then grabbing a bag is three steps. Grabbing one as you walk by the fridge on your way to the litter box is an easy one.
Besides my soon to be remedied overflow of plastic grocery bags above the fridge, I am a subjective Organic Freedom (NFP) decision maker, who loves being able to throw cheap grocery bags away, not to mention ugly totes with random corporations logos on them. But a couple of years ago I bought matching funny totes and they're whimsical and sweet and represent my personality. My Classic (SJ) sister Kelly bought of set of matching monogramed tote bags from LL Bean when she threw out her myriad corporate logo totes. Mine haven't proved to be as practical as I'd like and they're beginning to show their age, but all baggage: tote, grocery or luggage deserves to be useful, practical, and wanted, and frankly bring a little cheer. It's a good adage to go by as you start the first purge of the new year and take one step away from the photo at the top of the page.
Reader Comments (2)
We recently moved and I realized I had an issue not only with bags but with boxes too........saving really "good boxes".....so many of them. The one thing I did discover was vintage bags from B Altmans and early Bloomingdales
But really.....what am I going to do with them?
I literally just stored a couple of "good boxes" today that I received birthday gifts in and I thought I might use them. It's the practical SJ in me. I do sometimes use these "good boxes" to organize things under my bathroom sinks to keep them from being a mosh pit. But, if I don't use these new ones within 6 months, I'll throw them out the next time I come across them. Time limits help remind you that if you don't have a use for them within 6-12 months, you're not likely going to need them.
About the only thing I can think of to do with vintage bags would be photograph 'em and list 'em on eBay. If you don't get a bite then trash them. Okay, okay, I lied another idea depending on whether they artwork on them is really cool or not is to have them matted and framed. I once took a doggie bag home from the restaurant Craft and Craft bar then matted and framed the main image as an anniversary present for my husband. The former is where we celebrated after being engaged and the latter is where we had our first date.
Hope that helps!
Kelly