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??

I'm 54, I'm targeting retiring at 58. My mortgage term is til I'm 70 but I'm paying it off in overdrive, living very frugally and ill clear it within 3 years, at aged 57.

One word. MENOPAUSE. Some of you I hope sail through it, I'm not, and work is unbearable. I'm office based, but need to get timezones, logistics etc spot on. I have brain fog, can't concentrate and am consumed by stress, anxiety and rage. I need to earn the money it brings in, but hence I'm living frugally to get out ASAP.

I'll probably reduce my hours but I have no intention of retiring.

I am 61 and work as the Director of an administrative department. I have 4 more years to get to 30 years on the job. DH is in law enforcement and will also have a pension. I could make it to 68 but probably won’t decide to.

I don't think so. my job is known for being a stressful one, although sadly not with decent financial rewards for that stress. There's also lots of driving. A few colleagues who could have retired at 60 (old workplace pension terms) have stayed on for a couple of years past that, but to a man/woman they've all retired by 65.

I have just begun cultivating a couple of related streams of work. Both are sessional, with no guarantees of work, but far more paperwork/procedural, and 50% more pro rata than my current wage. So hopefully if I can average between 2-3 days of those workstreams weekly I can give up the day job when it gets too much and be ok until I get my pension.

Absolutely no way. It's beyond exhausting physically, I have nothing to give at the end of shift. Care worker in care home.

I'm a financial adviser (46) DH Chef (49). We are extending the mortgage next year to do an extension but then the plan is overpay the mortgage to end it in 10 years and go down to 3 or 4 days dependent on pension then.

Forgot to add retirement at 60 is the aim.

I'll hopefully have enough cash to retire at 60. I think I'll still be physically able working in IT so mainly office based but not sure if my brain will still keep up with new things as I've already noticed it's getting harder to retain things nowadays.

My current job - yes. I have a number of colleagues in their sixties who are doing just fine. I used to be a teacher - no way I could have done that into my 60s

I couldn’t, travel every week and very stressful, high stakes environment. I’m 44 with 17 years left on the mortgage but have a plan to pay it off in 12. One DD who if she wants to go to uni I will have to work to afford to support with costs for that. So about 15 more years where I’ll have to work and earn decent money. I’d then like to look for something where I can take a pay cut but my pensions can’t be claimed until 68 so I’ll have to work until then but I’m hoping that with no mortgage that I can cut back hours or do something much less stressful. I’m on my own as well so no partner’s salary or pensions. No big inheritance due and down sizing isn’t an option as I’m in a flat anyway! Been in my career since I was 24 and I’m not even 50% through my working life! It’s depressing as I’m exhausted but no choice to keep going.

I've given up and taken early retirement. Doing so has meant I've sacrificed a lump of NHS pension. I went at 59 as I was being bullied. I'm hurt and feel badly done to after 38 years of NHS work. My mental health is worth more though.

No, it's really heavy and physical I can't imagine still doing it in 25-30 years time. I also can't do it full time as it's only a 5 hour shift, in the next couple of years I want to be working full time again.

Yes but no intention of doing do, looking to quit working mid 50's though might take temp work from time to time. The advantage of having kids younger. Mine are grown up so it's a case of stuffing pensions until we are ready to retire

Me - probably fine.
DH will probably be medically unfit for his current role before retirement - his boss has just failed his annual medical.
But my Dad is still doing a physically demanding (self employed) job at 74. No routine medicals to pass, and he probably should have retired 5 years ago.

I didn’t make it. I had never intended to retire early but working my backside off during covid changed that.

In theory yes, I work for the Local Authority mainly work from home apart from supporting during meetings. My only threat is a change in government having a potential impact on funding.
My husband had his mind made up on returning to green keeping when he hit 50 and staying on until he could. He was approached by a local golf club to come on as one of the head green keepers. Definitely feel very lucky as he's only 39.

Yes, I'm early 40s now and a psychotherapist. Just embarking on further training and absolutely plan to work well into my 70s as long as my health allows. I'll be able to work very part time (self-employed), for example 10 clients per week, and by then I'll be very experienced so can charge higher fees and offer supervision for other therapists too.

No
I taught infants for 40 years and had to stop at 61 despite no state pension til 66. It’s exhausting at a stage in life when you might be supporting elderly parents, wanting to help out with grandchild care etc.
I’m 66 now and the thought of going to work tomorrow at 7.45, quick lunch break, after school staff meeting, getting stuff ready for Tuesday before I go home - and probably wet playtimes all day - I couldn’t do it.
I did some very part time supply to keep me going until state pension, plus at 60 I inherited a small amount when my dad died.

Ps my dad worked til 70 manual job, all depends on your health.

We've paid off mortgage by not buying bigger than we needed

I absolutely won't be working in horticulture for another 27 years, at least not at the 'coal face' full time. No idea what the plan will be mind you. And not quite sure what DH is thinking just now either

I am doing everything possible to try and be in a position to retire at 60. I'm in my 50's and knackered. I won't have much to live on at 60, but think retirement on a low income will be better than struggling on in a stressful role that I have to commute for.

Yes, but I deliberately changed my job 5 years ago as I knew I wouldn't be able to carry on in that industry much beyond 55

I don’t know but I suspect you’ll be knackered with teenagers as well. Many people take a lower paid job/ go part time nearer retirement is that an option?

Pshyically I could but not sure I could mentally.

Like someone else said, I’m used to a very modest standard of living so have not felt the need to carry on regardless. Downsized when all children left home, so no mortgage. I couldn’t have finished before 66 if I still had a mortgage.