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Original poster

What do you have in savings if you’re in your forties?

145 replies

Wjjayso · 27/12/2025 20:12

Just that really. I have 32k. I have tried to overpay mortgage though so a lot of money goes into that rather than savings. I feel a bit behind and wonder what changes I should try and make coming into the new year!

OP posts:
CaptainSevenofNine · 27/12/2025 21:00

Late 40s. Not as much as you have in savings! Mortgage is 50% LTV but we still have 19 years to go.
Not nearly enough in our pensions either. We’re going to have frugal retirement. I hope libraries and local authority gyms still exist by the time I retire. 🤞🏻🤞🏻

DorotheaXYZ · 27/12/2025 21:00

rubyslippers · 27/12/2025 20:33

I miss the laugh emoji 🤣

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Me too!

Arlanymor · 27/12/2025 20:59

Seasaltchips · 27/12/2025 20:39

Impossible to say whether that’s good for your age without also knowing details of investments, equity in property, pensions etc

Also without knowing what people's life experiences are - whether they are single, whether they have children, whether they pay for care for parents... it's not all about the money you have to invest. It's how you use your money to live and to help others to live.

Cel77 · 27/12/2025 20:59

About £4000. Slowly dwindling away with the cost of everything at the moment. I can't replenish . I'm 48. I'm overdrawn and owe £1500 in personal debt and about £ 15000 on our car payments with my husband...Not a very glorious position to be in but it is what it is.

Evaka · 27/12/2025 20:57

Clytemnestra21 · 27/12/2025 20:44

47, no savings left, lost all including half my pension and have huge debts as a result of divorce from cheating (in every sense) ex-husband

So sorry to hear that. Hope life is better without him overall x

Evaka · 27/12/2025 20:56

Do you mean 32k in your pension OP? If so, yep pretty behind (as am I). If not, your post doesn't make any sense. What are you behind?

Mich1986 · 27/12/2025 20:55

40 and have about 3.5k, most of it saved during Covid as worked a lot of overtime during that time. I did have more but spent it during my maternity leave. Prior to that I never had savings and had an overdraft I was constantly in.

PennyLaneisinmyheartandmysoul · 27/12/2025 20:55

XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 20:40

And give up the avocado toast

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At least switch to non organic avocado!!! Just don’t tell anyone!!

BatchCookBabe · 27/12/2025 20:54

Owlmoonstar · 27/12/2025 20:38

36 + 36

10k

Thank fuck this is anonymous. I would never give this information out otherwise.

Why not?

BatchCookBabe · 27/12/2025 20:53

Whatever people say on here @Wjjayso you can bet many will be made up amounts.

The higher the pot of savings, the less likely it is that it's true.

And why do you need to know?

Makingpeace · 27/12/2025 20:51

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Or cutting down on the avocado and lattes!

Clytemnestra21 · 27/12/2025 20:44

47, no savings left, lost all including half my pension and have huge debts as a result of divorce from cheating (in every sense) ex-husband

TappyGilmore · 27/12/2025 20:43

Pretty much nothing. I do overpay my mortgage though. Age 46.

OSTMusTisNT · 27/12/2025 20:41

Mid to late 40's, consistently overpaid my mortgage in my late 20' and 30's clearing it by my 40th bday.

Now saving like mad to retire at 55. So yes, i have decent savings but they are already earmarked for a rainy day.

I'm not one for keeping up with the Jones' or the latest must have gadget/fast fashion etc but I have a good savings to fun spending ratio.

(Not a MN typical high earner either, DH are just average people.).

Allsizes8to14 · 27/12/2025 20:40

I worry about this a lot! 44 here and about £20k but this was saved in the pre kids working FT days, no capacity to save now as work PT and that bit of savings getting chipped away at 😬 so only decreasing! Only saving grace is will be mortgage free in 10yrs and have good chunk of equity in house so hoping we can save once that’s cleared. I have a not great private pension and DH is self employed and has no pension sigh

XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 20:40

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

And give up the avocado toast

TheToteBagLady · 27/12/2025 20:39

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Seasaltchips · 27/12/2025 20:39

Impossible to say whether that’s good for your age without also knowing details of investments, equity in property, pensions etc

Hallywally · 27/12/2025 20:38

No savings but I own my (modest) house outright.

Owlmoonstar · 27/12/2025 20:38

36 + 36

10k

Thank fuck this is anonymous. I would never give this information out otherwise.

AliasGrape · 27/12/2025 20:37

Nothing, we spent everything when we moved house this year, but we’ve done it without a mortgage.

We’re very average earners. Some inheritance, some luck in that DH bought the house I moved into at the right time with a low mortgage which we were then able to overpay once I moved in, so we paid it off before we moved. And some
DH just being very frugal and a very good saver which I never was before I met him. I know how lucky we are.

Winterburn · 27/12/2025 20:36

39yo, less than 10 years left on my mortgage (sole name) £50k savings, £6k in current account.

Not amazing, but secure at the moment.

No I don’t earn mega bucks, didn’t even earn over £20k per year til I was 29!! Higher rate tax payer now, have been for about 5 years. If that gives some context. I just don’t tend to fritter money.

haveaword · 27/12/2025 20:36

We have less than a third of the house value left on mortgage

Savings for retirement in a ISA which would also cover 10 months bills

Only recently started saving and increased pension contributions

Fbfbfvfvv · 27/12/2025 20:36

Mid 40s - zero.

The fact you think 32k means you are ‘behind’ means you are obviously either very privileged and have no real concept of money or you are trying to put fear into people like me so we feel extra crap.

namechangetheworld · 27/12/2025 20:34

Nothing, and I'm 40.

The only time I've ever had savings was when I was still at home, saving for a mortgage. And half of that was from a redundancy!

If there's a terrible emergency, we have credit cards and overdrafts, or worse case scenario, two sets of parents to help out.

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