Get pool-ready without spending all your cash

It’s officially summertime, and with the intense summer heat, the swimming pools are… It’s officially summertime, and with the intense summer heat, the swimming pools are calling. So be prepared! There are amazing deals hiding around the Pittsburgh area for all of your summer necessities and poolside accessories.

At the SouthSide Works, you can find summery dresses galore at H’M, a store that offers very current fashion and quality pieces at an affordable price. The Waterfront in Homestead offers a wealth of bargain buys. Everything from cute straw hats to water clogs can be found in retail stores at the Waterfront.

Let’s start with the necessities. The first is sunscreen. You’ve got to protect your skin, and Bath and Body Works has a great line at a good price. The True Blue Spa line carries everything from SPF 45 lotion to “Calm Cool and Protected Sunscreen Mist.” Best of all, these items will only set you back about $12 to $20. You can find traditional sunscreen for less at places like CVS, but if you’re looking for a higher-quality line of sun protection products, Bath and Body Works is the place to go.

Being that it’s summer, major retailers are already moving their summer lines out to make room for the fall. Translation: great deals but slim pickings.

While you’ll most likely find discounted swimsuits in most retail stores, Target currently has a nice collection, too. Some separates are now 30 percent off and range from about $4.98 to $10.98. Isaac Mizrahi’s collection, priced at $19.99 per piece, is also featured in Target.

The great thing about separates is that you can mix and match to create a truly unique swimsuit. Other places to check for last-minute suits at the Waterfront are TJMaxx and Marshall’s. Also in Target are swimsuit cover-ups by Merona in classic colors: brown, black and white.

What about poolside footwear? The award for best deal on casual flip-flops goes to Old Navy, currently offering a huge selection of the classic flip-flop in numerous colors. The shoes are normally priced at $3.50 each or 2 for $5.

The Water Clog, a seemingly hot trend this summer, can be found at Target for $9.99. Target also carries a nice variety of styled flips-flops ranging from about $5.99 to $9.99. Filenes’s Basement at the Waterfront is another retailer with a large and affordable selection of flip-flops.

The final necessity is the towel. Bed, Bath and Beyond at the Waterfront has the largest variety of beach towels at the most affordable prices. A favorite is the Cabana striped beach towel, which is 100 percent soft cotton and only $7.99.

So now that you have the necessities, let’s move on to the accessories. Some great accessories are the pool tote or beach bag. Check the clearance racks for your best buys. Target offers a super-spacious straw bag with faux patent-leather trim- perhaps a bit much for the pool- but at $6.48, it might just get the job done. This roomy tote could fit your towel, shoes and a whole lot more. At Whole Foods in East Liberty, you can find reusable bags for only $1. These are intended to replace paper and plastic waste when you grocery shop, but they double as durable tote bags. All that, and they’re stylish, too.

All these bargains prove that you can be pool-ready and stylin’ in Pittsburgh without breaking the bank.