Ready to start maintaining my pool

After purchasing a home this past April with a pool, I hired a pool service which has cost me about $141 per month to provide service every Wednesday. With the cost of living in Honolulu Hawaii being high, I have decided to take care of the in ground pool myself. The previous owner did his own servicing also, this there is still a test kit etc....June was my last service month and the pool guy maintained it every Wednesday plus this past week did a treatment which he said needs to be done once or twice a year which costs another $125. Starting this week, what should I do? Need your help!