I have two absolutely favorite things that I’m using to help make this a fantastic summer for my kids.  I’ll share the first one today and the second one later this week.

Last Summer I bought an aboveground pool for the kids.  It cost me $25 from Walmart. Before you get too excited about that, let me give you the low down.  It was a 10′ x 5′ blow up pool.  We had to empty it pretty much after every use as it got gross quickly.  By August the bottom chamber of three rows of air was busted.  But we soldiered on and used it until it was too cold out.  This pool went into the garbage.

This Summer I wanted something bigger and better and I found it.  I had to increase my budget by quite a bit, but I think my solution is still reasonable.  I bought an Intex 12′ x 30″ pool. In addition to the pool, I purchased a pool ladder, a cover, a huge ground cloth, an outdoor heavy duty electric cord, cleaning tools and chemicals.  All told I spent just shy of $300 for our pool and I would do it again in a heart beat.

I had family and friends who supported the idea of a back yard pool and I had others who told me I had no idea what a pain in my rear side I was taking on.  Well, I’m more than two months into having a pool to maintain and for me, it’s not been so bad.  I check the water ever night and add the correct chemicals as directed.  I vacuum the pool maybe once a week (it takes 20 minutes top) and we skim the pool as needed.  That’s it.

At the start of summer, I headed to a trusted local pool supply company and spent 30 minutes talking to the staff and shopping for supplies.  They told me everything I needed to know about pool maintenance in a quick crash course. The supplies may or may not have cost me more than shopping at a discount store, but what I got in information was well worth my time, effort and perhaps money.

And what have I gotten in return?  I got to give my kids a super special treat this Summer.  Hours and hours and hours of dunking, diving, splashing and staying cool during a particularly hot spell. They love this pool so much that most nights when we could go to our huge community pool, my kids choose to play in their own backyard.  We have their friends over, they swim, eat ice cream, chase fireflies and soak up the memories.

The pool should last for more than one summer, but if it doesn’t, quite honestly, I don’t care – I’ll just buy another.  I did make sure I got a more expensive ladder, the best outdoors electrical cable and pool cleaning items so we’d be able to use them for years to come.

If your’re feeling jealous, get out there and get your own pool. Right now is the perfect time to take the plunge. There’s at least one more month left of Summer and as this is your own pool, you won’t have to close it on Labor Day. Right now, sales on pools and pool supplies is rampant.  I saw my exact pool that I got on sale for $99.99 in May now going for $74.99.  Most places like Kmart and Target now have all of their summer swim things on sale for 50% off – you could easily get everything I got for  close to half of what I paid.

I’m so glad I talked myself into taking the plunge.  It’s been worth beyond a doubt.

Please, please, please remember basic pool safety if you purchase a pool – when not in use, take the ladder out the pool. Remove toys from the pool when you’re not using it. Never swim alone and never let your children swim without an adult present.  Your pool should be in a fenced in backyard. And be sure to wear sun screen.