DIY Grocery Bag Holder: Making Road Trips a Breeze

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family packing for road trip

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 Brie Schmidt



This car-friendly bag dispenser takes just seconds to create

woman with plastic shopping bags

This DIY grocery bag dispenser idea is so simple that you’ll wonder why you never thought of it yourself. Take an empty cardboard tissue box — the kind with an opening on top — and insert your first plastic bag, keeping its handles sticking out. Take the bottom of your second grocery bag and place it through the handles of the first, again keeping the handles at the top. Hook and fold the bottom of the second bag around the first so that, when you pull one bag out, the next one will also pop out of the box (similar to how tissues are folded together inside tissue boxes).

Repeat the process with as many bags as you have, pushing the grocery bags into the box as you go. When you reach your last bag, keep the handles sticking out of the opening so you can easily reach and pull it out when needed.

Finally, place the tissue box in an accessible spot in your car, such as in the glove compartment or the backseat. When you get new bags, put them in the box to keep your car mess-free, and never waste time digging around your trunk for an old grocery bag again.



Dave Pennells

By Dave Pennells

Dave Pennells, MS, has contributed his expertise as a career consultant and training specialist across various fields for over 15 years. At City University of Seattle, he offers personal career counseling and conducts workshops focused on practical job search techniques, resume creation, and interview skills. With a Master of Science in Counseling, Pennells specializes in career consulting, conducting career assessments, guiding career transitions, and providing outplacement services. Her professional experience spans multiple sectors, including banking, retail, airlines, non-profit organizations, and the aerospace industry. Additionally, since 2001, he has been actively involved with the Career Development Association of Australia.