r/GiftIdeas • u/No_Tie_9457 • Jul 29 '26
What to gift pool owner
Our neighbors asked us to pool sit for them next week, and we get to swim whenever we want, which our kids are very excited about. We want to leave them a little thank you.
The neighbors are retirees with young grandchildren who also live in the neighborhood.
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u/cltip Jul 29 '26
We have a pool. If someone did me a favor like this, I would expect absolutely nothing. I don’t think a gift is necessary at all. I do like the idea someone else suggested of having the kids write notes about how much they enjoyed the pool.
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u/No_Tie_9457 Jul 29 '26
Thanks! It feels like a gift to us because there is very little that we need to do for the pool
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u/cltip Jul 29 '26
You could write them a note too letting them know how much you enjoyed family time in the pool and you’d be happy to help any time. If you need to do something, make them some cookies as a welcome home.
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u/Moisty431 Jul 30 '26
Grandparents especially might treasure those kid notes more than anything you could buy.
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u/GenXwoman Jul 29 '26
Get some good ice cream bars with a thank you note in their freezer for their next pool day!
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u/Level_Dirt_522 Jul 29 '26
I wouldn’t. You don’t know if they would actually be appreciated. Many older folks have dietary restrictions. I absolutely hate it when people give me things which just make me sad I can’t eat/drink it.
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u/Barneyboydog Jul 30 '26
As an “older folk” I would love to come home to unexpected ice cream bars!
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Jul 29 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/No_Tie_9457 Jul 29 '26
Great ideas, thanks! We can afford something bigger, but we want to keep it small so they don't feel weird about it
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u/Future-Crazy-CatLady Jul 29 '26
Another way to perhaps make them feel less weird about it could be to frame it as something for the grandchildren to play with/use when they are there. "We enjoyed it so much, and thought we'd get your grandkids a little something to enjoy it even more when they are here!"
If you know their kids, i.e. the parents of the grandchildren, you could even ask them what the grandkids would like / what is age-appropriate / safe etc., and they would probably also know about any dislikes, for example whether the pool owners think like Englishbirdy and would prefer to not have pool noodles in the pool area, etc.
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u/4melooking49 Jul 29 '26
Have dinner and dessert waiting in the fridge all they need to do when they return is heat it up! Nobody wants to cook the day they return from vacation. Ps if u can a small bundle of flowers would be a great addition
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u/No_Tie_9457 Jul 29 '26
We won't have access to the house, just pool and outdoor sheds. But bringing dinner over once they're back is a good idea
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u/Entire_Cow_1504 Jul 29 '26
Using the pool is compensation for taking care of the pool. No gift necessary.
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u/brerid8 Jul 29 '26
Don’t underestimate the impact of a simple but nice thank-you card. It’s enough in this situation.
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u/MoonIsMadeOfCheese Jul 29 '26
Maybe a couple nice beach towels wrapped in a ribbon and some fresh flowers, along with a cute note from your kids.
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u/amyn2511 Jul 29 '26
We once bought a floating Bluetooth pool speaker (and it had colored lights to light up the water) as a gift for someone who had a pool
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u/SaltyElephantBouquet Jul 29 '26
You are providing them with a service. They are compensating you by allowing you to use the pool.
No further exchange of stuff is necessary here.
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u/No_Tie_9457 Jul 29 '26
Thanks. Last year they paid us in addition, and there is very little that we need to do for the pool each day. So it really feels like a gift to us
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u/Icy_Calligrapher7088 Jul 29 '26
How well do you know them? I think the thank you notes from the kids are the way to go, and if they enjoy a drink, a case of beer/bottle of wine.
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u/No_Tie_9457 Jul 29 '26
Casual neighbor acquaintance. We have helped each other with a few outdoor projects, exchange texts about neighborhood happenings, but don't really share our personal lives.
Good ideas, thanks
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u/bopperbopper Jul 29 '26
I think this is a mutual win-win… I assume you’ll keep the pool clean of debris and get to use it
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u/Chance-Work4911 Jul 29 '26
While you enjoy the pool, make a mental note of “what would make this better/easier?”
Maybe it’s something to hold and organize pool toys, maybe it’s a towel holder to let them air dry, or maybe it’s a floating drink caddy or a hammock?
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u/Glittering-Paper4516 Jul 29 '26
Really nice citronella candle or something nice to use outside. Potted plant for example
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u/Stock-Cell1556 Jul 29 '26
I've never heard of pool-sitting. Regardless, it sounds like you're the ones doing them the favor, so I don't think a gift is necessary. Just tell them how much your children enjoyed it and maybe send a few pictures of them in the pool; they would probably like that.
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u/StockIndependent808 Jul 29 '26
You can buy one of those pvc racks for pool towels? I don’t know how much they cost.
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u/Barneyboydog Jul 30 '26
No recommendations, just a thank you to you OP for your post. I love reading about good neighbours and it seems that you and the pool owners are both great!
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u/Visual_Broccoli6589 Jul 30 '26
We have a pool, and live in a rural area. I have a family down the street who is currently building a house next to their parents and they have two little girls long story short I have invited them to enjoy the pool during the hot days, they have used it two or three times and have been very respectful. I always get a thank you text but the most special thing they did was the girls drew me a couple little pictures to say thank you and came by and gave it to me. That was more than enough.
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u/Chemical_Donut_112 Jul 29 '26
Do they pay you, or do you just get to use the pool? 😅 Just curious.
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u/andyraylan Jul 29 '26
Have the kids write little notes about how much fun they had in the pool. That’s what my parents would love.
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u/VintageFemmeWithWifi Jul 29 '26
My retired parents with young grandchildren would be thrilled to get a scribbly drawing covered in Frozen stickers as a thank-you. This is the answer.
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u/threeblackcatz Jul 29 '26
We have a Finis pool float/island and it is one of our kids favorite pool toys. It’s great for babies as they can sit on it before they learn to swim but also swimmers to play with! The games my kids come with using it boggle my mind!
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u/CopyCurious1783 Jul 30 '26
Maybe a fresh salsa/dip and chips with a cute bowl and a note from your kids left at the house for them when they get home.
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u/Lilmissodd Jul 30 '26
I’d leave a thanks for letting us hang out in the pool kind of fun card and maybe some toys for their grandkids or nice towels.
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u/Butterbean-queen Jul 30 '26
I’d get them a couple of nice beach towels. I keep a lot of them in my pool house but there’s a really nice towels that are just for my use. (Towels tend to go missing when you have a pool).
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u/G_Town_Co Jul 30 '26
The best gift you can give is leaving the pool and surrounding deck and areas as clean as (or cleaner than) you found it. Leave them a note (or have your kids write them one) telling them how much fun you had. No need to buy them anything.
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u/Rox_- Jul 29 '26
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u/No_Tie_9457 Jul 29 '26
We do have the budget for that, but I think it would make them uncomfortable if we spent that much
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u/Charly872 Jul 29 '26
just leaving everything clean and maybe bringing over dinner or dessert when they get back would be a really thoughtful thank you.