Dad Says His $80,000 Pool Was a Better Investment Than Stocks, Not Everyone Agrees
With the holidays just around the corner, many families are thinking about what matters most. For one dad, the answer is simple. It is not how much money he has saved, but how much time he gets to spend with the people he loves.
On November 5, Good Financial Cents shared a heartfelt Facebook post about an $80,000 swimming pool that he got a lot of negative comments about. While some people might see the purchase as a waste of money, the writer sees years of laughter, family gatherings, and childhood memories that cannot be bought back later.
He and his wife have built two custom homes over the years, and both included swimming pools. Each time, they were warned that the pools would never pay for themselves when it came time to sell the house.
He knew the advice made sense from a financial point of view. Still, looking back at all the afternoons spent watching his children grow up, he would not change a thing. The pools gave his family something that a growing bank account never could.
Memories Worth Making
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In his Facebook post, the dad recalled summer afternoons filled with swimming, birthday parties, and time spent together in the backyard.
As his children have gotten older, those afternoons have changed. Now, he loves looking outside and seeing his teenagers enjoying time with their friends. Their home has become a place where the kids want to gather, and that means a great deal to him.
He also finds comfort in knowing where his children are and who they are spending time with. Rather than hoping they will come home soon, he gets to hear the laughter coming from his own backyard.
Someday, he hopes his grown children will return with families of their own. He can already picture grandchildren splashing around in the same pool while everyone enjoys another afternoon together.
“My kids aren’t going to be young forever,” he wrote.
It’s More Than Just Money
The writer understands the value of saving. He has spent much of his career helping people build wealth and knows that investing $80,000 over several decades could lead to a much larger sum.
But he also knows that money cannot turn back the clock. His children will only be young once, and no amount of savings can bring those years back.
That does not mean he encourages families to spend money they cannot afford. He made a clear distinction between enjoying money that has been carefully saved and taking on debt that could put a family’s future at risk.
For those who can comfortably afford it, however, he believes there should be room to enjoy the life they have worked so hard to build.
Families Understand
Many readers connected with the message and shared their own family experiences.
One grandparent recalled how neighborhood children who once spent afternoons swimming at the family home still come back to visit as adults. Another reader shared how family vacations from years ago remain favorite topics of conversation now that the children are grown.
Others pointed out that not everyone can afford such an expensive purchase. Some believed the money would be better saved, while several argued that the right choice depends on each family’s finances.
With Thanksgiving approaching, the discussion offers a reminder that gratitude does not have to be about what a family owns. Sometimes, it is simply about having people to share ordinary days with, whether that means gathering around a holiday table or spending a summer afternoon in the backyard.
What Lasts Forever
For the dad behind Good Financial Cents, the swimming pools have never been about showing off an expensive home. They have been places where his family could grow closer and make memories together.
“Some returns are measured in dollars. Others are measured in memories,” he wrote.
After years of birthday parties, summer afternoons, and watching his children grow, he said he has never wished that money had gone into an index fund instead.
And as another holiday season approaches, his story is a reminder that the most meaningful parts of family life are often the moments people spend together, long after the money has been spent.
