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Jobs in your 70s

47 replies

Bansheed · 20/05/2023 05:05

Due to years of overspending and hiding debt my mum and her DH are now down to their last 11k of savings. Mum is distraught, her husband is 72 and has basically has just lost another 20k. He is fit and healthy but obv a financial twat.

They have a very small house. And a small private pension, which my brother and I top up every month.

He wants to work now but I don't live in the UK and have no idea what to suggest. Part time would be enough to try and start building up a nest egg.

It is a shit show, but we are were we are.

Any ideas for work? Or how to get it?

He was in marketing and comms. I suggested the local supermarket. How does that work? Are there agencies?

Any online ideas?

OP posts:

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ThePlacesYouWillGo123 · 20/05/2023 06:40

Exam invigilator at a local secondary school or college. Paid hourly and usually with another group of like minded retirees

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GoodVibesHere · 20/05/2023 07:05

Why do they need a nest egg? Can't they live off their pension? How do they have debt and yet they have £11k in savings?

Why do you top up their private pension? Why are you involved in their finances. If he needs a job why can't he look for one himself?

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allthewoes · 20/05/2023 07:14

Supermarket
B&Q (loads of older people work in our local one)
Delivering prescriptions for a pharmacy
Maybe sign up to a temping agency

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WineIsMyCarb · 20/05/2023 07:18

Marketing and communication does have a thriving freelance market. He should join the various Facebook groups and put a pitch out there. He could also do very part time for a decent day rate (£350/day or thereabouts).

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TallerThanAverage · 20/05/2023 07:20

They’ve got £11k, state pension presumably along with their small pension, you tell us their savings but not their pension which might not be as insignificant as you imply. Do they have a mortgage still? If they don’t then it’s a case of tightening the purse strings and growing up.

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CountryCousin · 20/05/2023 07:24

You don’t mention the state pension, @Bansheed - is there some reason why they don’t qualify for or receive it? If they do - on top of their private pension, I don’t quite understand the panic.

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mynameiscalypso · 20/05/2023 07:26

I'm was going to suggest freelance marketing/comms work too. My dad is mid-70s and still does a lot of consultancy work related to the job he did before he retired.

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ssd · 20/05/2023 07:27

Weird thread

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Cuppaand2biscuits · 20/05/2023 07:33

He's lost 20k, is he gambling?
If he is your mum should take what she can and get out now because it will only get worse as he takes bigger and bigger risks in an attempt to win back that 20k

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Talapia · 20/05/2023 07:41

ThePlacesYouWillGo123 · 20/05/2023 06:40

Exam invigilator at a local secondary school or college. Paid hourly and usually with another group of like minded retirees

Yes exam invigilating. Local elections, counting votes, delivering letters.

Jobs like this are a better life fit than a contract job

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Bansheed · 21/05/2023 08:07

Hi, sorry, we went out for the day. Some excellent suggestions here, the exam invigilator, elections are great! Thank you!

He spent it shopping for his hobbies. Collecting random shit. The issue was they were wealthy until their mid 50s, made a series of disastrous financial decisions and are now running out of their next egg. Re cutting back they already have. I am happy to help, it is my mother.

OP posts:

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stbrandonsboat · 21/05/2023 08:12

They need to learn to live within their means. Most people don't have a nest egg, they have a monthly income and live on that.

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SlipSlidinAway · 21/05/2023 08:21

They have a private pension and presumably a state pension, plus £11k in savings and you're giving them money when your mum's DH has no control over his spending? 🤷‍♀️

Exam invigilation is poorly paid and very sporadic. If he's serious about earning some money then as previous posters have said, supermarkets and DIY stores often employ older people. My local branch of Marks and Spencer's had an assistant in her mid 80s.

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User1529865 · 21/05/2023 08:24

Supermarket checkout in somewhere like M&S or Waitrose where it isn't too fast paced

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Eomt · 21/05/2023 08:26

If they own their own small house outright, have a state pension, a private pension and some savings, surely that's not an unusual situation and they should be able to manage ? I don't see why you need to give them money?

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PuppyMonkey · 21/05/2023 08:34

Don’t you still have to do those horrendous online applications to get into a supermarket job? Where they give you loads of scenarios and it’s impossible to pick the correct answer?

Exam invigilator would need a DBS so that will take some time.

Has he not got some contacts from his career who might help with putting some freelance projects his way - maybe writing stuff?

Did your mum ever work?

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Crabwoman · 21/05/2023 08:39

Do they get full stare pensions, op?

Will he go back to work to build up savings again, or will it be frittered away? Going back to work at 72 is OK for the short term, but it may not be sustainable for long.

I know you are going to want to support your mother, but I'd be having strong words about topping up a pension only for it to be spaffed away by stepfather. I'd be putting conditions on it tbh, such as reviewing bank statements. It seems controlling, but this could easily go on for another 10-15 years.

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schnauzerbeard · 21/05/2023 08:39

I'm probably going to start my retirement with less than £11k nest egg. Not sure what the panic is. They must be getting £1600 a month between them with state pension, then whatever private pension as well as your contribution and still have savings. Why are their monthly outgoings so high in a small property?

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TallerThanAverage · 21/05/2023 08:39

I know if my parents were in this situation I wouldn’t be subsidising their lifestyle. You’re handing over your money that you could be creating your own nest egg with meanwhile they make bad decisions and their £11k is sitting in the bank untouched.

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SweetSakura · 21/05/2023 08:40

Can he sell the stuff he bought for his hobbies?

Am not sure why you are topping them up each month when it sounds like they are just bad with money?

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User1529865 · 21/05/2023 08:42

It sounds like they have enough money for a fairly basic lifestyle anyway which would include having some heating on in winter and a reasonable food shop, it's the extras they won't be able to have

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Parisj · 21/05/2023 08:43

I wouldn't prop them up so they can overspend, up to you. Can he sell his random shit on ebay.

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SweetSakura · 21/05/2023 08:45

They could contact their local council about working at polling stations?
It's only very occasional work of course but a lot of the people doing it are retired.

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SweetSakura · 21/05/2023 08:45

They could contact their local council about working at polling stations?
It's only very occasional work of course but a lot of the people doing it are retired.

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Mummy08m · 21/05/2023 08:47

Equity release on their house

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