With the extremely high temperature lately, we’ll all be using more ice — whether it’s for drinks at home or filling the cooler for a family adventure. Once the ice from the freezer is depleted (or for those without an ice maker), you have to go buy a few bags of ice. Of course, you’ll want to find the hottest price in town. And what’s more convenient than heading to a McDonald’s drive-thru?
The fast-food restaurant sells an 8-pound bag of ice for just 99¢ at participating locations. The price may vary by location, up to $1.49 or slightly higher — still a really cool deal, as it’s less expensive than most grocery or convenience stores. (Note: Some locations do not sell ice at all.) From our random check around the city, it seems most locations sell bagged ice — the price just varies, but all under $2.
True cheapskates keep a small cooler in the car with bottled water and other beverages on hot days, when running errands all day. (Do you really think a bargain hunter would pay $2 for a bottle of water or soda? No way!) Plus, it works for keeping perishable items cold from the grocery store, so you don’t have to rush back home — just bring along a few gallon-size Ziploc bags to keep the items from getting wet in your cooler.
Anne says
Better yet don’t use ice in your cooler. Ice is great to put in beverages, when camping, cooking out, picnicking or using an old fashioned ice cream churn. Unfortunately it melts, is messy, gets things wet and the cooler has to be drained. I keep a cooler in my trunk year round because of the distance we live from the grocery store. Can’t beat reusable blue ice/chill packs/cold packs or whatever they are called = artificial ice. Even for the thrifty refreezable ice packs are cost effective and last for years. Purchased when on clearance I have enough packs to alternate. I keep 2 frozen packs in plastic grocery store bags. I can grab a bag or two by the handle and drop them in the cooler. At the end of the day back in the freezer they go. Nothing to drain or clean up.
Mary McK says
I ordered one of those Meal Prep kits (I paid $9 for a Groupon – $120 Fresh Chef kit – 3 meals for 4 people). They came with 8 refreezable ice packs. I kept the ice packs and re-use them as blue ice/cold packs. I use these and an old dollar store styrofoam cooler in my car, so that Ice Cream and other frozen goods make it home safely (especially when shopping at Costco/Sam’s Club).