I bought a sturdy arm-carry shopping bag (with multiple sections and some padding), and it really is nice to have. That thing can hold several disposable plastic bags worth of goods, it’s more comfortable to carry, and it’s definitely not going to break. I use it all the time, and it makes me more willing to go shopping on foot.

I can credit California’s current bag policy with this purchase. I felt guilty buying the common reusable plastic bags and throwing them away, but also didn’t like the experience of reusing them. Paper bags break. A solid fabric bag really is a lot better.