7 Parnassah Zones
For the unprepared adventurer, a hike that starts as a journey of wonder can quickly become daunting, even dangerous. Similarly underestimating or misunderstanding the varied nature of parnassah challenges we face, makes our travels all the more difficult. Our parnassah paths wend through very different zones, each with their own circumstances, complexities and opportunities .
Recognizing these unique stages of our rich lives will help you plan, adapt, and seek appropriate help accordingly. So here’s a rough map of seven zones you’re likely to pass through. Everyone has their own vantage point on this hike, but there’s a good chance that a typical frum person touches on some version of these zones at some point.
The Green Zone: Sweet Naivete
Kids and “pre-adults” are in the Green Zone, with a largely passive relationship with money. “Greenhorns” have la-la-land attitudes towards finances, some perceiving money as easily attainable, and others being overly frugal with the few pennies and dollars they may have. Anyone not responsible for paying his own bills lacks understanding of monetary reality. Hiking through the Green Zone is usually a pretty carefree endeavor, but sets the stage for future habits and attitudes
The White Zone: Confused Confidence
The White Zone, typically hiked by those in their twenties, is a pivotal starting point. Young adults face multiple significant life choices and events, including selecting career paths and living locations, seeking their life partners, and becoming parents, BH. It’s a time of boundless opportunities, youthful optimism, and, often, extreme confusion and naivete. These keystone life elements underpin and establish initial patterns for a lifetime of household spending and saving. The pressure is on. By definition, the White Zone is navigated without the benefit of broad personal context and experience.
The Yellow Zone: Concerned Awareness
Next is the Yellow Zone where couples are likely to start asking, “How does everyone else do this?” and “Will we be OK?” As Totties and Mommies transition into their thirties, even drastically increased salaries or business earnings are often surpassed by ever growing expenses. Yellow Zone warning signals begin flashing, with recognition hitting that even with comparatively high incomes, a frum couple may well face crushing financial strains as bar mitzvos and then weddings roll around, BH. Saving and investing is a must. But how?
The Red Zone: Stressful Smiles
The Red Zone typically represents a period of intense financial pressure. At some point, the results of spending, saving, investing or the lack thereof come home to roost. At this hectic life stage, older children are hopefully getting married, while a houseful of younger kids still need to be fed, clothed, housed, and schooled. Household expenses peak, with occasional massive outlays required for simchas required. For many, the Red Zone stage leads to the depletion of savings and the accumulation of debt. For all, bitachon and personal resilience are tested to the max.
The Blue Zone: Cooling Down, Hopefully
At some point, the shock of the Red Zone eases into the Blue. There’s resignation and hopefully full acceptance of one’s financial lot in life. The hardest humps have been traversed as older kids gain financial independence and household expenses shrink, even as incomes remain robust. Some of that freed up money can be shunted toward paying off accumulated simcha debt and building up a modest nest egg for the future. Subdued optimism may kick in during the Blue Zone. “BH, we’re gonna make it!”
The Silver Zone: Pre-Retirement Pressures
Along with the ebbing of earning capabilities in the silver zone, key considerations arise regarding medicare, social security, generating retirement income from nest eggs, and estate planning. Most will consider downsizing housing and adjusting lifestyles to reflect changing personal preferences, physical capabilities, familial realities, and financial limitations. There is little time left for financial maneuvering, and some of the decisions made at this stage will be final. Professional advice is warranted in this phase to assist with these complex decisions, often made with the input of family and rabbinical guides.
Gold Zone: Enjoying the Fruits
Ideally, The Gold Zone is a period of stability, reflection, and satisfaction. Having hopefully established a sound financial structure, life’s focus shifts to chapping arein mitzvos, Torah, and legacy considerations, like supporting children or charitable causes. Ad meah vesrim mit gezunt, parnassah, and nachas.
Fahr Gezunte Hait
So there you have it. It’s important not to be lulled by the simplicities of the green zone into thinking you don’t need intensive planning when you’re in the white zone. And the coping mechanisms in the yellow zone maybe entirely different than the types of support you’ll require in the red zone and so on. And while everyone’s hike will be different, the need to plan, observe, research, and adapt is universal.
Life’s a Hike…
I’ve coined a phrase which I’m proud of. “Life’s a hike, not a cruise.” It can be demoralizing to consider a lifetime of challenges of which parnassah is typically a big one. But that’s Hashem’s plan. Adam le’umal yulad. If we expect to be pampered in this world, we will be continually disappointed because that is not our mission in life.
Everyone will experience the hike of life from a slightly different vantage point and perspective. But as with a vigorous journey through a beautiful but challenging hiking trail, with the proper training, gear, and attitude it can be something to be embraced and enjoyed.
Want to dig deeper?
Try these related articles
Frum Financial Planning: Why It’s Entirely Different