When most people think of joining a country club, they imagine luxury, not financial savviness. But for me, joining a country club was a money-smart and emotionally aligned decision that saved me $84,871.
Let me explain.
The Dream That Sparked It
My husband, Nick, and I have wanted a pool for years. The dream? Swim whenever we want, without relying on public pools or waiting for retirement in Florida. We even explored buying a new home here in Kentucky with a pool. But the ones we loved were $300,000 more than our current (paid-off) house. Financially, that didn’t make sense, especially with Florida on the horizon in four and a half years.
Then it hit me.
What if I could get the experience we wanted… without the massive price tag?
The Numbers: New House vs. Country Club Membership
Let’s break it down. If we were to buy a $600,000 home with a pool in Kentucky, we would incur the following costs. First of all, we’d be back into a mortgage, and would finance $300,000 on a 15-year mortgage. This would result in $90,088 in payments over 5 years, with most of the payments being interest, not principal. We would pay closing costs and realtor fees of $19,320 for the sale of our current home. Even though we’d be moving locally, our backs are no longer young, and therefore, we’d hire a moving company for a minimum price tag of $6,000. And let’s not forget pool maintenance! A quick Google search shows that the average annual pool maintenance cost for a home in the Midwest is $1,400, which comes to $7,000 for five years
Total cost of a new house with a pool over 5 years: $122,408
What are the costs of joining the country club instead? There is a one-time joining fee of $7,500. Yes, I know that’s a tough one to swallow. My first year’s dues were prorated, as I joined a few months after their fiscal year began on April 1, totaling $4,900. The annual dues for years two through five add up to $24,512 ($6,128 per year). I decided to splurge and get my own locker in the ladies’ dressing area – with my name engraved on a bronze plate – for $125 per year, a five-year total of $625.
Total cost of joining the country club over 5 years: $37,537
Total Savings: $122,408 – $37,537 = $84,871
That’s not a rounding error! That’s a serious return on intentional living.
What That $37,537 Buys Me
Let’s be clear: Nick and I didn’t “settle” by not buying the house. We gained:
- Unlimited pool access (without cleaning it ourselves)
- Tennis, pickleball, and gym access (Now that Nick and I are in the 50+ club, I hear that pickleball is a mandatory activity!)
- A beautiful, welcoming space to gather with friends, have meetings with referral partners, and go on impromptu date nights
- A new private restaurant with delicious and healthy cuisine
- Time together that feels like a vacation, without the packing and travel
- A community that aligns with the woman I am now
When I signed that membership agreement, I wasn’t just buying access to a pool. I was investing in my wellness, joy, identity, and freedom, and saved nearly $85,000 in the process.
Sometimes the wisest financial decision isn’t the one that looks “practical” on the surface. It’s the one that aligns with your desires, supports your future, and honors who you’re becoming.
And in my case? That looks a lot like sunshine, community, and a swim in my pool at my country club.
P.S. I assist my clients with these types of nuanced financial decisions on a regular basis. Curious about Financial Dignity® Coaching? Let’s talk!