To feel pissed off with advertising to the 50+

My second child was born when I was 49. I spent my 50th birthday changing nappies.

I registered with the Preference Services and put adblockers in my browser and I don't think I have seen a funeral advert for a few years now.

Now I'm 60, yes, I am slowing down a bit, yes, I can now see fairies with my fairy-focal glasses, but I'm still the best IT guy in the office (better than some of the techs), I drive an electric car to save the planet and I can still answer nearly all the questions on University Challenge.

Mind you, I am getting to the point of not giving a damn, so I've taken the excuse of the hot weather to start serious work on my first ever all-over tan

Amongst the birthday cards on my 50th was a test for bowel cancer - poo on this stick- and a call for breast screening. Yay.

Rosstac, I really don't give a fuck, I don't expect to be immortal, so what's the point of worrying? Carpe Diem and all that.

My mum loves Hotter shoes, and they have different styles. I think if I was on my feet all day I'd wear them.
I've seen younger women in them and they're ok.

I've had sidebar ads for 'discreet lipstick style' catheters for self cathing ! I'm not sure who decided that I needed those, but actually my 50 yr old bladder works fine, thanks

Sometimes those hotter shoes look comfy tho...

AStatelyPleasureDome If you face the fact you are getting older you might be able to grow old gracefully, instead of trying to defy the inevitable and look like the old person late is looking sad trying to hold onto her nonexistent youth

Its the British Seniors ad that pisses me off. I've no idea how old the woman is supposed to be but I've not seen anyone wear their hair like that since I was in school. And the bloody daughter has the same hair style.
Redcrayons The Love Boat is currently airing on daytime TV

Exactly zap

Can I add the Smiths to the retirement home playlist?

I wouldn’t mind a cruise tbh, i was a big fan of The Love Boat when I was young. I’d be expecting a whirlwind romance with the ships doctor though.

I'm looking forward to my retirement home playing 'Pretty Vacant' on loop...

And I despise all those remortgage your home ads where the people remortgaging are doing so so they can 'help their grandchildren.' Surely, that's what their parents are for, and they should be remortgaging to go cliff-climing in Peru, not so a bunch of overprivileged youngsters can buy a new car!

I work in financial services so I see a lot of these type of adverts being prepared or being directed at people.

One of the reasons you see them from age 50 is:

1. Pensions - you can take your 25% tax free cash from age 55 advisers want to engage you sooner rather than later. Plus this is about the time that people realise their pension pot is not going to keep them going for as long as they hope.
2. Equity Release - people realise their pension isn't going to sustain them and the earliest you can do equity release is 55. It is a long thinking process from doing an initial enquiry into equity release to actually doing it - 2-7 years.
3. Funeral Plans and Wills - because we are all going to die at some point and the earlier you sort it the cheaper it is because you secure the funeral at todays price and because you are still working you can afford the premiums (see point 1 about pensions)
4. tenalady etc no idea assume brand awareness the more you see it the more likely you are to buy it when you need it

Tena on a zip wire is completely feasible. Apparently one in four adults in the UK have continence issues.

Also, is Tena on a zip wire the new Tampax in white shorts roller blading?

I’m 50 this year. I can now deadlift the same weight as my personal trainer and intend to spend this decade on increasing my back strength. I simply haven’t the time for half the shite these companies pedal, but I’ve always wanted to know how a bath with a door works? Do you have to sit shivers no until the water reaches a certain level?

I'm 50 soon, DH is early 50's. We are off to see a punk band this weekend and a festival in a couple of weeks. I'm also going to Alton towers next week with DD.
My teeth are perfect, I go swimming and to the gym and I wear nice clothes.
Advertising is way off if they're thinking that most of our generation are going to be old before we're ready.
We do love cruises though, but then so does DD17.

At 47 all my children are at primary school (my youngest in reception, he'll be 8 when I turn 50). At their very naice state primary school I'm surrounded by other parents in their 40s who like me didn't have childrn until their late 30s and early 40s. The average age to have a first child is 29 so lots of 50 year olds will still have dependant children. I have no contemporaries with grandchildren.

Rosstac, aren't you a ray of sunshine and thank you for stating the obvious? You may not have a choice about when you die, but you do have a choice about how to spend your money with panache and style before then (ie no beige elasticated trousers and tea at the garden centre). The realisation that time may be running out is all the more reason to enjoy yourself whilst you still can and grow old disgracefully.

In my experience, the older people get, the more they are in denial about being old, let alone possibly one day dying.

I remember mil got expensive new kitchen flooring. She was grumbling about the 25-year guarantee and wondering whether she should extend it. She was 80 at the time.

It's a dated way of viewing people. Decades ago people in their fifties seemed a lot older than they do now, plus people didn't live as long. All the people I know in their fifties dress the same and have the same hobbies and interests as people in their thirties. Nowadays I think people don't look or behave in a stereotypical elderly way until their eighties.

There are books in my local library called things like 'The Internet for the Over 50s'.
My mum is in her 70s and loves Boden, White Stuff and Joules.

You do realise you have a higher percentage chance of dying when you get older, hence the funeral plans, they cost a bit, better start planning,
I am mid fifties and very sadly two of my friends recently past away with cancer, it brings it home to you, your health does start to take a downward path as you turn fifty, The advertisers know who to target

was talking about being 50 and being a gran. Which is the inference some of the adverts give
A lot of my friends are early 40s to 50s with grandchildren.
My close friend is 54 with a 10 year old gc
My colleague is 49 with 3 grandkids under 6
An other friend is 51 with a gc starting school in September.
It's perfectly normal to be a grandparent in your 40s and early 50s.
i suppose it's down to local demographics but where I live having a child in your mid 30s is pushing it. I do realise this is down to many reasons including cultural backgrounds and social expectations.

Well, the advertisers are certainly missing a trick, as the Baby Boomers are the generation with the most disposable income, and we want to spend it! Just not on funeral plans, and stairlifts, and coach trips round Scotland!

@Huskylover1 - exactly! We are young enough to have adventures in front of us, the money to enjoy them and health on our side. My dh and I are both going 4/5s very soon so that our 50s can be our time!
@pennycarbonara - absolutely no surprise there then!