Quit baggin on me

In my effort to accumulate less "stuff", I have started making it a point to ask stores not to bag items for me if I can carry them in my hands. Here's the crazy thing: More often than not, the cashier gives me a bewildered look and sometimes I even get a dirty look! At first, I wouldn't remember to ask not to bag the purchase until it was already done. In that case, I guess some people were annoyed that I didn't ask earlier so they didn't have to take the stuff right back out. Now I make sure to ask right when they start scanning items. This works much better and also breaks the ever-present awkward silence between customer and cashier at the register. Try it!