You, dear reader, may be like me and already own a tote bag (or two, or three). That is wonderful! Bring it with you if you wish to use it immediately. If you leave it behind (or don’t already own one), don’t fret, picking up a new one in London is quick and easy.
To get the most bang for your buck — pow for your pound — a tote is necessary. In London, plastic or paper bags will cost you a minimum of 10 pence (most times more), and that change can add up quickly if you go shopping often. Note: You could buy the plastic or paper bag once and hopefully remember to bring those with you every time, but that’s no fun. It’s less fashionable (you’re in London after all), they’re really fragile bags, and they’re not great for the environment. Depending on where you pick up your tote, the price can range from about £3-£20. The quickest option would be to walk down to the local bookstores like Foyles or Waterstones and get one of their totes, but if you’re looking for cheap, they aren’t the best choice. If you want one from a bookstore, pop into a second-hand or thrift book shop and see if they have any (e.g. Skoob books have totes for £2.50/£3). However, I highly recommend getting one from any of the many museums London has to offer. The Tate Modern/Britain, The National Gallery, The British Museum, The Natural History Museum, etc. all have a range of tote bags, in size, price, and pattern. If you feel so inclined (or maybe indecisive) you can look at the totes online at any of the museums before going, to get an idea of cost and design. I’ll tell you now though, a good, standard sized tote bag will be anywhere from £7-£15. Some larger tote bags (the lined, really nice tote bags) will be more around £25-£30. The standard ones will be plenty sturdy and spacious, so I wouldn’t go for the larger ones unless your heart is truly set on one. (One large bag is the same price as two or three standard bags. You’d be a fool not to give yourself options, and more tote bags). Now you may be thinking, “That’s great Kate, but that still doesn’t answer the question on why I need a tote bag.” Patience you must have, sweet reader. Owning tote bags (as I hold the belief that if you own one, you will own several), will change your life. You can fit everything and the kitchen sink in a tote. I personally use my totes to hold my purse and oftentimes, my coat and/or scarf and hat. Totes are perfect for consolidating items into, and freeing up your hands. Conversely, a tote is easily folded and can fit into a purse/backpack/pocket for use later. (Another option available to you are the small, thin, pocket-sized reusable bags, usually found in the same area as tote bags in stores. If you throw one of these in your bag, then you’ll really be able to carry almost anything at any given moment). Don’t think small when it comes to tote bags either. Yes, they’re great for carrying your things, but they are such a versatile accessory. One or two tote bags could work in lieu of a laundry basket, thus making said chore more efficient and easier. Say you need to wrap a gift for friends or family, or you have several gifts for someone — put them in a tote. This way, you aren’t spending money on wrapping materials that will be thrown away, and the tote itself becomes part of the gift. If you opted for the large lined totes (that more than likely also zip/latch closed), you could replace your boring old computer bag and use the tote. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box (outside the tote, perhaps?) when it comes to using a tote bag. Lastly, if you are still not convinced on purchasing a tote, just pretend you are a Londoner. All of the locals carry one or two on their person. They aren’t just practical, they’re fashionable. Use your tote to rep your favorite small business and promote sustainability. Collect them like sports teams’ jerseys or Pokémon cards. Gift them away á la Oprah, “You get a tote, you get a tote, everybody gets a tote!” Have fun with them. Turn finding the perfect tote into a game. Start a spreadsheet analysis on the best place or price for one. Go on, ditch the plastic and paper bags, keep your hands free, get creative, and take up a tote!
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