Thanks...you made me smile this morning. We have all been there. And somehow the kids actually do get to go to college.

Thank you, Thank you - I read your column every month and truly get a good laugh out of them. Yes the old dilemma of pay now or pay through the nose later? you make a great point now have decided to move forward with my own do now project.

Pictures! We want pictures -- I want to see a "dark" pool that looks like a swimming hole!

We had a pool at my house growing up. My Dad, sister and I loved it. My mom hated the thing b/c she had to be out in the blazing sun every day dealing with chlorine and pool vacuums.

I know what you're saying about home remedel expenses. My husband and I bought our first house two months ago. I thought the morgage pament was going to be painful enough, but now that we've moved in and see how much work the house needs our entire life savings seems to be draining away! I'm not sure we're going to be able to afford to have any children at all. :)

Kristen,
I got a good laugh out of your post today. You said you only swim if the temperature is above 85. I live in Texas where it is always above 85. We chose not to swim a few days ago because the temperature was climbing over 102. Maybe you should move to Texas where you could really get your moneys worth out of a pool!!

I have always called our pool the money pit. It costs more to maintain than anything else in our home. However, my husband has severe arthritis and the pool has been great for rehabs, so it has been totally worth the expense. We have managed to send our kids to college as well.

My husband and I purchased a home a year and a half ago with a pool. When looking for a home we were unable to find a home without one, we live in SW Kansas. My husband dragged his feet not wanting the expense and work involved. But we finally took the plunge, and we both love it. We have high stress jobs and taking a dip after a stressful day, well there is nothing like it. We are in our 50's and enjoy having our grandchildren (even tho they are babies) and children over to swiml! It has turned out to be one of the best features of our new home.

My husband and I purchased a home a year and a half ago with a pool. When looking for a home we were unable to find a home without one, we live in SW Kansas. My husband dragged his feet not wanting the expense and work involved. But we finally took the plunge, and we both love it. We have high stress jobs and taking a dip after a stressful day, well there is nothing like it. We are in our 50's and enjoy having our grandchildren (even tho they are babies) and children over to swiml! It has turned out to be one of the best features of our new home.

I agree, a pool is a money pit. And once the kids get older and have other interests, jobs,and can drive then nobody uses the pool. You still have to clorinate and clean unless you like the color green!

We had a pool growing up and it was awesome, however my Mom was amazing and kept it clean and the chemicals right. She and my Dad still use it (it has been replaced a few times since it is above ground) and she loves having the grandkids over for a swim. They both use it pretty regularly and they use a solar cover and my dad built a solar panel for the heater so the water is always nice even if it is cold.

I have been house searching with my DH and some places have a pool, above ground, and I have made it clear if we put an offer on one of those I will require that the sellers remove and dispose of the pool prior to purchase. I know how much time and energy they take and in New England it just isn't worth the trouble. He didn't grow up with a pool but is going to trust me on this one.

We had a pool growing up and it was awesome, however my Mom was amazing and kept it clean and the chemicals right. She and my Dad still use it (it has been replaced a few times since it is above ground) and she loves having the grandkids over for a swim. They both use it pretty regularly and they use a solar cover and my dad built a solar panel for the heater so the water is always nice even if it is cold.

I have been house searching with my DH and some places have a pool, above ground, and I have made it clear if we put an offer on one of those I will require that the sellers remove and dispose of the pool prior to purchase. I know how much time and energy they take and in New England it just isn't worth the trouble. He didn't grow up with a pool but is going to trust me on this one.

RM Adams, if I get my act together, I'll try to take a photo of the surface of the pool. The reason I have virtually no photos on my blog is because if I posted pictures of our house or children or even his big toe for that matter, my husband would ask me to stop blogging! He is fairly private, especially considering his TMI wife. As to the rest of you, thanks for the reassuring words. I'll tell my kids they don't have to give up on school work yet!

Maybe you could pull a photo off the pool company's website that would show us how your pool looks, without showing YOUR actual pool, children, or husband.

Believe it or not, I actually want a pool ... someday ...

This should serve as a warning to potential homebuyers: pools (inground or above-ground) are a real estate liability more often than they are an asset. If you really, really, REALLY love having a pool and you plan to be in your home for a really, really, REALLY long time, go for it.

Otherwise they're nothing but a red flag when you go to sell your home. Families with small children worry about safety and older home owners worry about maintenance. And of course they're a huge legal liability while you still own your home.

Oh my goodness ... your stories (which are sooooo relatable!) never cease to bring smiles and laughter to my day! LOVE the SpendNow Law theory!

We compromised. DH bought a 6-person spa with his bonus years ago, on the condition that he maintain it. It requires lots of chemical adjustments, but less than our neighbors who have a full-size pool. Next house? A big tub, with no water jets.

I am helping my oldest child pack for college now. It kind of creeps up on you and next thing you know - they are going away. I am thinking of taking down the swing set out back and putting in a pool. No body here swings anymore! A friend warned about pool upkeep. I like the $20.00 bill analogy! Have fun!

Hey if the kids want to go to college then they can give swim lessons to earn money. I agree the pool needed fixed now.

Oh!!!! I think all the money is sooo worth it! Kids coming over, parties....maybe your kids will get scholarships! Here's to hoping anyway :)

One of my good friends has been a pool/spa salesperson for years now, and has told me this truth about owning a pool. It is a money pit. I agree with you, not worth swimming in the times you actually can - for the money you spend on it. Glad you fixed it, but if it becomes a giant expense again, I suggest getting family pool memberships to the local pool. :)