45% of working age people not saving toward a pension at all

What do you mean by ‘reversing the triple lock’?

You do realise the state pension will still exist if we get rid of the triple lock?

You do realise that those politicians stating they want to get rid of it are still proposing that the pensions rise at the same rate as inflation or wages?

How much more than average wages and prices do you think pensions need to rise by?

Rather dramatic reply! I would hope you would share with friends before taking such drastic steps. I hope you are getting support for your mental health.

I think it is likely a mix of the two. The wealthy are not spending £170bn on bolly, bhajis and business class.

I know the narrative on here likes to suggest the entire country, except for those who live in mansions are on the bones of their arse, but the reality just doesn’t bear that out. Over 50% of those employed full time earn over £30k. Conversely fewer than 7% are on minimum wage. Yes there are people who are struggling but that number isn’t 45% of people who aren’t putting money into their pensions.

I am entirely on board with making sure those who are really struggling are able to add to a pension. I’d be in favour of a specific benefit those on low incomes could get to pay into a pension. But the reality is, there are a large number of people who make up that 45% who could have paid more into their pension but chose not to.

I don’t have a pension of any real sorts because my husband died when we were in our thirties. So I had to stop it because that few hundred quid was the difference between surviving and living and after what my kids had been through we were going to live!

There’s not enough incentive. People just expect the state to pick up the tab. It’s a result of British benefits culture.

OK, I naively thought this thread was about pensions... but it is yet another thread attacking the disabled.

If you can’t afford £100s at the moment, start a SIPP with £20 a month. Increase your contributions when you can. I started a private pension (am self employed) when I was 30, amidst much laughter from friends who couldn’t understand why I was bothering. I started contributing £25 a month and just increased it as and when I could, and was eventually able to make bigger and better contributions, occasionally even adding a bigger lump sum when I was earning lots. Life changes over time. Better times will come. I am in my sixties now. It’s not riches, but I’m glad I did it.

It can rise to 90 but that doesn’t mean the majority of people can work until that point. My parents are 72 and 73.

My dad has just had serious back surgery. It’ll take him at least 3 months to recover. He’s incredibly deaf even with his hearing aids in. And while he’s not a stupid man (he was an accountant), his cognitive ability has very much declined over the past couple of years. He gets confused over some things (but some of this may just be his hearing).

My mother has now had 2 knee replacements, she has arthritis, needs regular injections in her back, she’s pretty much in constant pain. She was a childminder in her working life. She can hardly use her smart phone and can’t hold anything heavy at all. She drops things a lot. She’s stopped driving voluntarily as she doesn’t feel she’s safe enough.

Who is employing my parents?? They’d be off sick more than they’d be at work. They definitely couldn’t manage any new technology stuff. They can’t work far away from the house as (my mother at least) cannot drive anymore. What jobs would you like them doing until their state pension kicks in at 80?

Yes, caretakers used to as well. My old school (just a normal one) had a house onsite for the caretaker. I doubt that really happens anymore.
It all depends on the job. DSis applied for a job at a holiday camp once. Accommodation was offered too... sharing a caravan. You could not have a partner there, and kids would have been out the question.

My best friend has a mate who house sits as her job. She can take her kids too. But the down side is you can't settle at all.

No, there are 45% of people without pensions because they cant afford one.
Single parents for a start!
I never said start saving at 18, what im saying is that there are other constraints on peoples incomes and saving for things children need, let alone the parents pensions and their child's pensions!

If there is no incentive to work, then explain why 95% of working age people do work.

I imagine it increases as you go up the age brackets. Many young people don’t see the point in a pension as they’ll never get that old (I thought this!). Then they hit 25-30 and decide they better start paying into one.

DM employed some Polish people as cleaners. They were sleeping on floors in shared accommodation. One of her cleaners was sharing a small house with 12 other people. They would come here to work, live as cheaply as possible, but send all spare money to family back home.

It's quite a popular choice for families in some jobs. E.g. in boarding schools. Even matrons get family housing. NMW job but free housing is actually a pretty sweet deal.

If it's a career choice, not just a temp job, so can provide stability, it can be a very good choice for a family.

I think the posters ideal is that everyone has the worst life available to them and there are no standards as to what a good life should look like in the uk. Like, south African slum town- yeah fine, if you can’t afford better you should live in a tin hut with no sanitation. You deserve no better

I know the person you are quoting has a disabled child. On what planet is shared housing suitable for them?

I know of 2 men in their 70s who live in HMOs. It is grim for them.

How long until people are just expected to put up with something like the 'coffin houses' they have in Japan? You can't even stand up in them... but it is a roof, right?

If I was forced to move away from an area I felt comfortable, share a house with strangers it would probably push my mental health over the edge and I’d probably die by suicide - would that be “just tough” ?

Want or can't?

You can't magic the money required to move out of thin air if you don't have it
You can't force someone to rent you a roomshare if you aren't who they are looking for