Trash to Treasure: Step2 Company Adjustable Sand & Water Table #thriftstorefind
Liam is obsessed with blowing the seeds from a dandelion, playing in dirt and often drenches his outfit with water from a bucket. He doesn't need any toys to hold his attention. However, I cannot pass up on the great finds that I come across at the local thrift stores. Not only are these toys classics; they are also affordable.
Just this week, I found a Step2 Company Adjustable Sand & Water Table outside at the thrift store. I raced to get Liam out of the car and into his stroller before anyone else got their hands on it. As I got closer to the table, I noticed it was a bit faded and extremely dirty. To most people, this would be an absolute deal-breaker. But, I'm not most people. In fact, I love it when I see an item at the thrift store that needs a little bit of tender loving care. It becomes an instant project to me.
There was already a price tag on it. It read, "HAI $8". The "HAI" stands for Help Association, Inc. It is a local thrift shop in a city a few minutes from where I live. I frequent this spot and love the quaintness of the tiny, white building. I have found a lot of treasures here and I have also donated several items as well. Perhaps this cycle of give-and-take is creating some positive karma, allowing me to stumble on these great deals and finds.
I hesitated to purchase this sand & water table at first. Surely Liam did not need another thing to play with. He already has enough stuff. Then, I thought about how this particular piece would add excitement to our days of being outside, combined with his love of playing in the dirt and water. It was a no-brainer – this was coming home with us.
I handed over the money to the sales associate. As I was doing so, another customer walked by and smiled. She stopped and told me how great of an item the table is and gave me kudos for such a great score. I am pretty frugal, but even I thought $8 was reasonable. The Step2 website is asking $74.99 for a brand new one. That's almost a savings of 90%.
We made it a family event (well, Daddy did most of the work) and cleaned of the table yesterday.
After getting a bath, the Step2 Adjustable Sand & Water Table looked brand new. It was missing a sticker, a few of the toys for the inside and a few minor tears in the umbrella. Other than that, it was good to go.
We filled the table up with water on both sides. Liam already has a Little Tikes Turtle sandbox (that I also purchased from the thrift store, for $5), so I was in no rush to add sand to the table.
He was splishing and splashing in no time. Water was everywhere...including on his face.
Want to know the funny thing about children and their toys? They usually could care less about them. They go for everyday items, like water buckets. Ha!
I would tell you to stop spending ridiculous amounts of money on "stuff" for these busy bodies. However, it's YOUR money. And if you can find great deals like this one, I say go for it. Even if you cannot use it, consider making a donation to a local church or organization for young children. I am sure they will appreciate it.
Tell me, what great find or deal/bargain have you found recently? It can be anything. Leave a comment below.
----------
Don't miss a post! Have Mommy 2K updates delivered to your mailbox. Sign up here.
Let's Connect.
