Chapter One: Newly Married Stage

Bob and Liz met in the cantina at HyVee, were they both worked as seniors in high school. They dated through college and married at age 23. Having gone together for four years, they had gotten to know each other pretty well.

Bob and Liz both work at a computer software company in Ohio. Bob is the more initiative taking of the two, with Liz being more timid. Bob handles the money and mows and laundry, and Liz does the cooking and grocery shopping. They have a budget.

Both of them are concerned about their finances concerning their house. They are not able to see each other often, as they work in different areas of the company for 8 hours a day. This also limits their communication so they make sure they spend time together doing things they like. This requires being flexible and offering each other forgiveness whenever disagreements arise. They are also able to enjoy each other without the worry of having to take care of children. This is a highlight of this stage.

Food, clothing, housing costs, car expenses gas, etc are all areas of financial importance. Entertainment is also controlled.

They decide that at age 25 they will have children.

Chapter Two: Early Parenthood.

Bob and Liz have one child, Josiah. When he is 3 years of age, the primary concerns they have for him is his physical, emotional and mental development. Day care is also an issue.

Major worries include Josiah's emotional and cognitive growth, as well as his physical development and daycare.

Rewards and highlights may include establishing a loving connection with Josiah and getting him into activities and fun hobbies at school. Another addition would be for Josiah to establish some friendships a t school.

Concerning the cost of this stage, things to be taken into account include the following:

-Josiah's activity costs

-School supply costs.

Josiah is now a young adolescent and as such, he is beginning to experience emotional and physical changes. Bob and Liz decide to spend more time discussing the ups and downs of their childhoods with him over the dinner table, seeing it as their duty and life to guide their son through his experiences and emotions.

Chapter 3: Adolesence

Bob and Liz have come concerns about Josiah's state. Depression, social anxiety, drug usage and peer pressure are all factors that are very prevalent at this age for youth. Josiah is no exception.

However, there are also a plethora, albeit a smaller one, of rewards and highlights for Liz and Bob. Many times, they see Josiah's accomplishments and cannot help but feel a hint of pride.

Money spending, at this point, revolves around purchasing the necessary medications for Josiah, who has been diagnosed with ADHD. Josiah also receives an allowance for doing chores around the house, though this comes with monetary limits.

At age 19, Josiah shall attend college.

Chapter Four: The Empty Nest

The responsibilities of this stage shift drastically. Instead of taking care of Josiah, Bob and Liz must now focus their attention elsewhere, letting go of Josiah and therefore allowing him to pursue his destiny. The pair are able to do this by focusing on more fun activities, such as going for walks in the park and going to the library together.

Major worries that they might have are normal for parents who are very attached emotionally to their child, though this is more common in women.

Such worries can include the following:

-Is Josiah sleeping well?

-Is Josiah eating?

Liz and Bob are finding the rewards of their empty nest. They can plan their weekends around their interest. They have found time to volunteer at a soup kitchen on two Saturdays of each month. They enjoy seeing their young man succeed and follow his vocation.

A major financial concern at this point, is supporting Josiah in his college tuition payments. They are also conscious of saving for retirement.

Chapter Five: Retirement Stage

Responsibilities around this time for Liz and Bob include exploring new roles in the family, now that 14 years have passed since Josiah graduated college. Now, they can consider themselves grandparents. However, they must be sure to keep themselves physically and mentally sharp, as old age can be quite taxing on both these natural facilities.

Major worries include the following:

-What if Josiah gets divorced by his wife?

-What if Liz dies?

-What if Bob dies?

-Do we have enough money to last us until we die?