3 Reasons a Pool Isn't Worth It for My Family

I can admit that I sometimes get a little jealous when I see my friends post pictures of their families lounging by the pool. Granted, when said jealousy really kicks in, what I tend to do is inform those friends that I'm on my way over with my book, a towel, and a bowl of fruit salad as a thank you for letting me take a dip. 

But there are times when I think having our own swimming pool would be a nice thing for my family. Then I allow reality to set in. And I'm reminded that having a pool doesn't make sense for us for these reasons.

1. It's a lot of money

HomeGuide says the average cost to install an inground pool is $35,000, with most homeowners spending between $28,000 and $55,000. Now, I could try to finance a pool installation with a home equity or personal loan. Or, depending on the amount quoted, I could seriously raid my savings account. 

But that's a lot of money to spend on something I can't even use year-round. I live in the Northeast, and most of the people I know with pools open them on or around Memorial Day weekend and close them back up around Labor Day. 

It would be one thing to shell out all that money if I lived someplace where the year-round climate is conducive to pool usage. Since that's not the case, I can't easily justify the cost.

Also, when you put in a pool, there's upkeep to consider. Homeowners can expect to spend between $1,200 and $1,800 per year on basic pool maintenance costs, according to Bob Vila. And even that is a lot of money for something we'd only use three months out of the year.

2. It's a lot of time

Maintaining a pool doesn't just cost money. You also need to put in the time. Even if you're hiring a service to do an early season cleaning and check your chemical levels weekly, you still have to clean your pool in between. And I'm not sure I want to do the work.

I also, frankly, don't have much time to do the work. I'm a pretty busy person as it is between holding down a full-time job, taking care of kids, and making sure we have cooked meals and clean laundry. I can't really take on another task, even if it's only for a few months.

3. It's a lot of space

Putting in a pool would mean having to sacrifice a large chunk of our backyard. And that's not space I'm eager to give up for something we'd only use during the summer.

My kids and their friends like to run around and play different sports in our backyard all year long. And I think we'd all come to resent a pool taking up precious real estate in October, when everyone's itching to get a nice soccer game going.

Having a pool is definitely a nice thing, and I'm grateful for my friends and neighbors who generously allow me to use theirs. But all told, putting one in just doesn't make financial or logistical sense for my family. And also, living where I do means the beach is just a short drive away. And why limit yourself to a pool when you could instead enjoy an entire ocean with a view?