The Real Reason to Buy Polar at Job Lot

The real reason you should only buy Polar at Ocean State Job Lot is not just that it is a little cheaper. It is the Crazy Deal math.

Polar is already usually cheaper at Job Lot than it is almost anywhere else. Even compared with Walmart on a good day, Job Lot is often around 20% cheaper on Polar. That alone is enough of a reason if you drink a lot of seltzer.

But the real move is using Job Lot’s Crazy Deal Gift Cards.

Here is how it works.

You buy something at Job Lot that comes with a 100% Crazy Deal Gift Card. For me, that is usually stuff like patio umbrellas, patio furniture, outdoor gear, or random household things I can at least pretend I needed. The other day, it was a memory foam couch for $229, and it came with a $229 Crazy Deal Gift Card.

Then I treat that Crazy Deal money as my Polar fund.

I do not use it on random stuff. I use it on the things Job Lot is already good for:

  • Polar seltzer
  • pool chemicals
  • other boring household stuff that is actually cheaper there

Pool chemicals are the same kind of deal. They are usually about 10% to 15% cheaper at Job Lot than they are at most other places. So if I use Crazy Deal money on Polar and pool chemicals, I am stacking the discount in the only way that really matters: on stuff I was going to buy anyway.

That is the trick.

The mistake is treating Crazy Deal money like free money and blowing it on more random Job Lot stuff. That is how they get you. The better move is to use it like a boring little household rebate.

So my rule is simple:

When I run out of Polar, I check Job Lot for something with a 100% Crazy Deal that I can justify buying. Then I use the Crazy Deal money for Polar and pool chemicals.

Is this completely rational? Maybe not.

Is it peak New England dad math? Absolutely.

And if you drink enough Polar, it works.