All this talk of over 50s returning to work has made me so down

[OneFrenchEgg]

I'm just over 50. I've had kids who are still at home, and I've never got to a well paid career yet but I'm trying. I don't have a pension to speak of. I want to save up and get some treatment as I'm so embarrassed (my whole life) by one part of my face.
But all today the radio had a phone in about people being encouraged to leave the financial and emotional comfort of their 50s and go back to work, and how they are enjoying having no mortgage etc or looking after grandchildren and maybe they could do a little pocket money job now they are too old to chase a proper job again.

I feel like I'm suddenly too old and I didn't realise. Like I've been dealing with life and it's run out. I still have a huge amount left on the mortgage. I feel like I've done life wrong. I'm so surprised at how much this has knocked me - is anyone else feeling the same?

I’m 56, we paid off our mortgage in 2019. After a good career of 30 years, I work very part time of 2 days a week and plan on stopping at the end of 2024. Husband is 59 and works full time, but will retire next year as well. We didn’t have children which is the reason for the mortgage being paid off, savings and pensions I suspect, otherwise it never would have worked out this way. Also, a decent financial advisor, and a lifetime of saving, DIY, and budgeting.

Also 3 of our 4 parents are deceased. The onle parent still alive doesn’t need care and is fairly well off, so if she needs to be in a care home, she can afford it. YMMV.

I think it's matter if mentality and the fact that over 50 covers a wide age range.

I'm 50 and just started a new business. I took some time off to be a SAHM when the children were young. I see this as the start of a career after part time jobs fitting around the DCs and have no intention of slowing down.

I don't know anyone who stopped work in their 50s. Even people who sold business for millions went back to work, albeit in different roles. I know plenty of people who started to retire in their 60s, although often kept some kind of paid work going. If you stop work in your 50s, you will be just surrounded by older people and feel depressed, whereas a workplace is full of people in every generation.

If you stop work in your 50s, you will be just surrounded by older people and feel depressed, whereas a workplace is full of people in every generation.

What utter rubbish! How weird that you felt the need to revive an old thread just to write this ridiculous statement.

I work in the public sector in a profession, my fifty year old colleagues have even better pensions than I do available from 55. It is still vanishingly rare anyone retires before 60

If you stop work in your 50s, you will be just surrounded by older people and feel depressed, whereas a workplace is full of people in every generation.

😂This is just total rubbish. I stopped at 57. I was anxious and depressed at work. Thank Christ I’m out. I feel great!

’Every generation’ yeah if you like 30 year olds telling you how to do your job that you’ve been doing since before they were born. Most workplaces are systemically ageist, why would l want to stay in one where older people are managed out. No thanks!

DM was made redundant during Covid just before she was 60. She decided to retire. She now has a part time job. She got bored and wanted the extra money, her mortgage is paid off because she and DF bought their house in 1986 for less than 50k and haven't moved since. DF retired at 64 when he was also made redundant. He hasn't gone back to work but has all kinds of voluntary 'work' , committees and projects he is involved in. Most people who've worked full time most of their lives enjoy the structure/routine of having something to go to. I do understand not everyone is in that position.

I'll be working until I qualify for state pension. I'm 33, so there might not even be one by the time I get there, in which case I'll be working for the rest of my life unless I miraculously come into some money.