I Set Out to Quit Buying Groceries Sold in Plastic, and Ended Up Saving $40 a Month Along the Way
Mackenzie Filson describes how she gamified grocery shopping by refusing items sold in plastic, instead choosing [[aluminum]], [[paper]], [[glass]], or package-free goods, and cut about $40 a month (roughly 20%) from her grocery and household bills. The shift reduced her exposure to [[microplastics]] and curbed impulse buys; it also pushed her toward in-store services like meat and cheese counters and bulk selections such as the bins at [[Sprouts Farmers Markets]]. Filson lists plastic-free swaps—jarred yogurts from [[Oui]], [[nounos]], and [[Chevoo]]; [[Better Than Bouillon]] instead of cartons; loose produce from the [[farmers market]] or [[Misfits Market]] boxes—and suggests easy homemade alternatives (hummus, dressings) kept in reused [[glass]] jars. She notes social benefits, lower per-unit prices, and tips for asking for paper wrapping at counters, and highlights ways to discover new brands.