Alright so summer hit hard today and my kids started bugging me about pool toys around breakfast. Went out back and pulled our old floats out of storage – big mistake. Half were deflated, some had mold spots, and that dolphin? Totally cracked. Needed replacements fast but didn’t wanna wait for shipping.
The Online Search Mess
First thing I did was grab my phone like everybody does. Typed “pool toys near me” expecting magic. Big box stores popped up immediately but their sites were awful. Lowe’s showed inflatable unicorns but when I clicked “check nearby stores” it said “out of stock” for every zip code I tried. Target’s app straight up lied – showed stock at my local store but when I called? Nope. Zero. Waste of 40 minutes.
Decided to Actually Drive Around
Threw kids in the minivan around 11AM. Lesson #1: Never shop hungry. Gotta remember snacks next time.
Stop 1: BigMart
- Parking lot sucked. Huge puddles near entrance
- Aisle was chaotic – leftover July 4th junk mixed with pool stuff
- Found basic 12″ floats for $7 each – flimsy as heck
- Checked out anyway because kids were whining
Stop 2: Dollar Giant
Headed downtown thinking cheap means good. Wrong. Shelves were bare. Old lady at register said “Try back Thursday maybe?” Left with zero options.
Stop 3: Ace Hardware
Was passing by and thought “Why not?” Shockingly good! Back corner had legit pool gear:
- Heavy-duty 48″ flamingo float: $15
- Waterproof basketball set: $12
- Actual quality noodles: 2 for $5
Grabbed noodles and ball set. Kids already fighting over the basketball.
The Surprise Winners
Stop 4: Sports Gear (Local Chain)
Almost didn’t go – figured it’d be expensive. But they had a clearance bin right inside door:
- Splash bombs 12-pack: $3
- Small animal floats: $4 each
- Even found goggles for $2 a pop
Stop 5: Family Dollar Near My House
Last ditch effort before heading home. Jackpot on tiny stuff:
- Dive sticks: 4 for $1
- Colorful pool balls: $3 bucket
- Water squirters: 99 cents each
What Actually Worked
Ended up spending $38 total for way more than I expected. Ace Hardware and Family Dollar were champs today. Dollar Giant totally flopped. Learned that “cheap” doesn’t mean useless – you just gotta dig in unexpected places. Hardware stores? Goldmine. Big box stores? Wasted gas. Kids are splashing right now while I’m kicking myself for not bringing water.