General helpful tip

18 years ago

Last Christmas I received two mail-order deliveries of food gifts. They both included meats (genereous givers!) and were shiped in styrofoam containers. Being generally frugal, I saved the containers and didn't want to just throw them out witrh the trash. They were in the garage and I thoughht they were small enough, I could fit one in the trunk of my car. Mow I use them whenever I buy frozen or refrigerated items at the grocery store, Just place them in my styrofoam box and they're safe. It's hot summer here, 90 some days,but I can buy shrimp and ice cream and get them home safely.

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Comments (11)

pawsitive_gw
18 years ago
My DH bought me a travel fridge that plugs into the car for my agility trial weekends. I usually take that when I have to go shopping and it's hot outside. We also have small coolers that come in handy with one of those frozen ice packs. Good tip!!
FlamingO in AR
18 years ago
That's a great idea, Jannie. I'd do that but I can't stand the sound of styrofoam, and I have a SUV so I can't slam a lid on it. lol

I have an insulated bag in my backseat, got it at Sam's for $10 and it's paid for itself many times over. Since we're at least 10 miles from the nearest grocery and usually 25, it really comes in handy. Woody keeps one in his truck, too. Stick a liter bottle of ice in it and it'll keep anything cold for hours.
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dotmom
18 years ago
a few years ago when we still lived in our home (we are in an APT now) I had a couple of these styrofoam containers. Leftover from food gifts. I filled the halves with soil and planted some peppers. herbs, and lettuce in them and set them on the deck right out of my kitchen door. Real handy. Dottie
jannie
Original Author
18 years ago
I sort of got the idea from my brother. He owns a log cabin in the woods with no electricity or heat. He asked family members to save any big pieces of styrofoam they receive in packaging with appliances, etc. He stuffs the walls of his cabin with it.
JoanMN
18 years ago
Flamey, we have one of those Sam's club bags, too. We live 75 miles from Sam's club, so it works great for us.
JoanMN
naughtykitty
18 years ago
Great idea! I have 2 of those coolers in my garage!
glenda_al
18 years ago
I used styrofoam for my bedroom AC window unit, as an insulator from summer heat and winter cold. Those slides your pull out to hold your unit in the window are so thin, the styrofoam works for me.
OklaMoni
18 years ago
I am like flamey, and can't stand the styro noise. Actually, I sort of hate Styrofoam. That carp is hard to sweep or pick up, and doesn't break down, and is a general nuisance. But I am glad, you recycle it.

Moni
wildchild
18 years ago
I have a couple of bags like Flamey's. They don't take any space up and hold A LOT. My super Walmart is 30 miles away and that bag even keeps ice cream hard for over an hour.
joyfulguy
18 years ago
I have a cooler that I carried in the car with me on my trips to the Prairies and NC/GA this summer - kept stuff, e.g. milk, cool when needed.

ole joyful
azzalea
18 years ago
Another suggestion--if you can stomach it, LOL. My SIL used to bring home those styrofoam shipping containers from the hospital. They got stuff shipped in them, and would just toss them, so she had a pretty stady supply of them. If you know anyone who works in a lab, where they get refrigerated shipments, you might ask them to save you a few of the containers.

I, took have a plug in cooler for the car. I use it for the treks back and forth to the country house. Also have a household outlet in my car, so in a pinch, I can also use my dd's dorm fridge, if necessary.

General helpful tip

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pawsitive_gw

FlamingO in AR

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