Can you do your current job until 68?

[CrystalVision]

Me and DH are trying to work out plans for the future. I'm 44, he's 48. I'm high up in an office based professional role (think Head of HR) and he's a builder. I'm trying to get to a Director position as I think I'll be better protected against younger (cheaper) whippersnappers doing my job but I feel like this will be completely exhausting in even 15 years time, never mind 25. It's even worse for DH as building is a young persons game (his words). The reason we're worrying is that we've recently moved and to afford it, the term is currently running til we're 73. Obviously we're trying to overpay and will reduce the term when the five year rate ends, but it's got us worried that we won't be able to work at the same rate we do now when we start to approach retirement. Two kids (4&6) so at the point we might be looking to drop hours, we'll be part funding university! Are we the only ones in this position??

Probably. I don't especially want to though! I am a mid level type manager in a public sector organisation.

My partner works in recruitment for further education colleges and they are crying out for construction experienced workers to become lecturers, apprenticeship assessors and teachers for the next generation of builders, plumbers etc

Yes. I'm just admin. As long as someone will have me I think I'll be OK.

In theory yes, in practice no (teacher).

I live in London and I’ve noticed that you don’t see many older commuters in rush hour.

I’m a performer (musician) and many people are still very capable at a later age. However,the unsocial hours/travel/touring make it quite arduous.

I'm not sure. Possibly not in my current post, but I think I could with a sideways or upwards change in post.

I actually have 2 colleagues who are very close to 70, show no signs of retiring fully (one of part time, the other full time) and seem more than happy.

(I'm 36 and work in heritage)

I've gone freelance partly for this reason. I'll have to keep working until I'm at least 68, as that is when I'm entitled to my state pension. I'm 58 now.

Could your DH become a part time College Tutor for now, then go full time when he doesn't want to be directly in construction any more?

No , I knew I couldn’t
We were self employed , owned ( mortgaged ) a BnB and holiday cottage complex , did practically everything ourselves ( though had contractors in for the heavy gardening )
we could have craved on a bit longer , but knew if one of us had a bad injury or illness the other one would not have managed to do everything on their own
luckily we managed to sell up and retired at 63
So grateful

My coworkers seem to never retire and it doesn’t seem to be because of money.

I work in a trimmings factory, up and down ladders all day changing cones, small family run buisness 5 staff. Definitely couldn't do that in my 60s! Would need a career change at some point

Unfortunately, yes. But I don't want to. I'm fed up with it now and can hardly be bothered to give the tiniest of shits about it. I can't see how I can stand it for 13 more years. And menopause is rendering me so brain-dead, fked off, forgetful, clumsy, that I can't see that I'm much good at it anymore anyway.

Mine is a knowledge based job so no problem carrying on to 68. One of our directors is retiring this year and he is 69.

My mother worked an office job until nearly 70 - she was offered retirement but refused and kept going - she did drop the odd day though

My dad is a builder and he is working at nearly 70. Not full time but he says it keeps him young and keeps his brain active

The thing is life is much cheaper when you don't have kids at home so outgoings aside from the mortgage should facilitate working part time at 68+ if you have 2 of you doing it so you could feasibly work a much less stressed job at that age - I know lots who work in retail at Marks and Sparks and B&Q or local cafes etc

I only started my career properly in my late 30s, so I hope I have it in me to last til retirement, whenever that is. At the moment it's 68. I plan on moving into consultancy type work by my mid-60s, but we'll see.

It's very depressing. Long gone are the days when you retired and had a good few years to enjoy yourself before you sassed away. I honestly reckon the pension age will continue to go up and I'll be elected to work unti I'm 75 - it's very depressing

I do a manual job and hope and expect to work past retirement age.

I am 60+ and work as a TA. I have no choice but to work until 67 - local government pension isn't payable until I reach state retirement age. If I retired ' early', I would lose so much that I couldn't afford to live.
I am tired and really wish I could retire now. If I win the lottery, first thing I will do is hand in my notice.

I'm 55

I think I maybe can. Would like to anyway.

Prison service

In theory yes,but I'm already nearly 60 and find it increasingly hard to get up early,commute,motivate my team etc. DH is 60 and in a physical job which he cant cope with any more. Our mortgage will be paid off in 3 years, but doubt we will be able to retire before state pension as we have little in savings or personsl pensions. Its very worrying.

I probably could. (computer based, 50:50 WFH and office). I don’t want to though! So doing what we can to get the house paid off and decent retirement savings in place earlier.

Theoretically yes in that it’s an office job but I think the stress/pressure would have a detrimental effect on my health so I am not planning on it

Also the strategy my parents drummed into me was you take the biggest mortgage out that you can afford when you are young and top of your career and then by 60 (or whenever the kids have left home) when you don't need the big family house you sell it 🤔 you are all talking about mortgages on I presume big family homes which you won't need at age 60 plus so you sell and release the equity and that frees up capital to either retire younger or drop days to part time or take a much lower paid job - not rocket science

Late thirties. Mortgage will be paid off in 8 years. WFH 3 days, office 2 days. Feel like I could carry on until retirement in my current role as there's no stress and workload is manageable to put it mildly.

Mine is office based and I recon I could go on until then even though I still have about 35 years to go 😂, DH has a very physical job so probably not.