And location such as nearest large city. Could you post an aerial view, something such as a screen capture from Google‘s satellite images or even a plot plan from the city with the pool, house, and trees located on it as well as something that shows north. We need to know the relationship of the pool to other spaces since you don’t want plants overhanging the pool and dropping leaves and flowers in to clog filters or creating shade in the pool area.

How is your yard cared for now? Do you want to devote additional time or money to maintenance? If not, grass is easiest and shrubs or trees next easiest. Do you want more evergreens or are you looking for flowers?

Without goals and more info from you, it is difficult to make suggestions.

I think growing fruit is a good idea. Most fruit is pretty easy to grow. Gardening advice is for a lot of fuss and pruning, but if you do nothing, you will get a crop of something most years.

Also, how do you want to use your yard? I love spending time in mine. I'd plant more trees around the perimeter for privacy.

One aspect that makes your yard appear "unfinished" in my opinion is how visible the neighboring houses are. Even if you don't want 100% privacy, which many people don't, it would look better if the long stretches of empty fence were interrupted by some plantings -- large trees or shrubs mainly ... possibly some large masses of perennials. How exactly, depends on your goals and expectations. I would keep plants in a deep band near the perimeter ... all within a border bed, separate from the lawn so as to eliminate some mowing and give the appearance of separation from the world beyond. I would also have the bed be filled with a single, durable, uniform groundcover so that I wouldn't need to be mulching every year or looking at brown. But you might be satisfied with just mulch.

Cheap? Start with small plants. Fertilize and water them and they will grow.

A small orchard would be nice. It looks like you have room for 12 fruit trees.