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Are you mid-50s? Do you still work full time?

252 replies

elsaandanna · 10/12/2023 21:23

I'm the only woman I know of my age who works full time.

Admittedly I have a small circle of people I know and none of them have glamorous or high flying careers.

I'm a childminder so I'm busy long days, 5 days a week. Can't drop a day as I'd lose income. The parents that need childcare 5 days a week because they work full time are much younger than me.

OP posts:
Jaxhog · 10/12/2023 22:31

I worked full-time until I was 67. Not by choice as I couldn't afford to retire earlier. I still work part-time as I get bored easily.

jojom10 · 10/12/2023 22:34

57 and working full time. I work days, weekends and evenings. I'm self employed and if I don't work I don't get paid. I'm fine with it and don't feel old enough to stop work. I don't know many people of my age who don't work - only those with civil service/police/nurses pensions. 50s isn't old.

Evasmissingletter · 10/12/2023 22:38

Yes 59 working full time.

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Mrsmch123 · 10/12/2023 22:38

I'm 33 and work part time. I have no intention of every going back full time😅🙈

elsaandanna · 10/12/2023 22:40

My female friends 50 somethings...probably need to name change after this.
Librarian - part time, was full time when kids were younger.
Driving Instructor- 4 days a week )
Teacher ( 55, just retired, burned out though.
NHS Admin -full time ( single mum to teen)
Care Worker - officially part time but almost full time due to shifts
2 not working due to ill health. Former civil servant and former nurse.
2 neighbours who don't work. Presumably kept by partners
Youngest friend ( mid 40s) - lab technician works full time.

OP posts:
RedheadRedBed · 10/12/2023 22:42

I feel we were cheated out of our state pension . We were all meant to stop at 65 now it's 67 .

wentarun · 10/12/2023 22:42

I'm 56 and I have worked 1-2 days a week since I had DC 18 years ago. No plans to work ft, I will probably stop work altogether in a few years once the youngest is off to uni (then we can go travelling).

Mitsouko67 · 10/12/2023 22:43

Late fifties working FT and will keep going, if I can, till retirement at 60.🤞

WashItTomorrow · 10/12/2023 22:43

Mrsmch123 · 10/12/2023 22:38

I'm 33 and work part time. I have no intention of every going back full time😅🙈

Do you earn enough to be able to afford that? It genuinely baffles me.

WellWellSaidTheRockingChair · 10/12/2023 22:43

Yes. I am 56 and couldn’t afford not to.

ChanelNo19EDT · 10/12/2023 22:46

53 and yes. I am single and saving so if I retire before 67 then I'd use up my savings, which I'll need as my pension is going to be merely adequate I hope

I'd like to go 3 days a week from about 63 though.

Ragged · 10/12/2023 22:48

Off and on yes, depends on contracts. And hope to forever.
I think technically my contracts are 7 days/ week right now.
It can be demanding. There's so much else to do. Home things & offspring things, volunteering, fun.

Ibizafun · 10/12/2023 22:50

I'm mid 50's and only done voluntary work for years. Problem is dh (same age) has no plans to retire. I would absolutely love to work part time but if I retrain I'll have to start over at nearly 60 when I'll probably have grandkids and will want to spend time with them.

A few of my friends have started lengthy degree courses but I'm not sure my memory's fit for purpose anymore. I guess I'm in a rut but yes i absolutely would love to find something I enjoy.

vodkaredbullgirl · 10/12/2023 22:51

Mid 50s and still working full time night shifts, can't afford not to either.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 10/12/2023 22:51

Almost 57 and have always worked full time, apart from 10 months off for maternity leave. I'm a single parent and have been for over a decade. Would love to retire when I'm 60 but can't afford to.

JobMatch3000 · 10/12/2023 22:51

OneRingToRuleThemAll · 10/12/2023 22:18

Sorry, I mis worded that. I'll still pay into the pension, just will be paying less as its a percentage of my wage.

And you won't be getting the 20% of salary the LGPS puts into your pension pot either. I really hope you've done your sums.

PermanentTemporary · 10/12/2023 22:53

54, yes. Planning to work ft until 60 and then hoping to go to 4 days max until 67. I did 3 years pt when ds was small and another 3 years pt after dh died, but otherwise ft.

I do know quite a lot of women who work pt I have to say. Usually due to caring responsibilities of varying sorts.

Peacheroo · 10/12/2023 22:56

@JobMatch3000 what's this 20%? I've not heard of this.

FoxtrotOscarFoxtrotOscar · 10/12/2023 22:59

Yes, F/T, 56, 40hr week, 0830 starts but can WFH 2 days, which is a blessing.
Would dearly love to take early retirement at 58 but leaving before 60 would have a massive impact on my pension, so will stick it out. Sigh.

MintJulia · 10/12/2023 22:59

I'm 60, still working full time. I have a 15yo ds.

Best friend is still working full time, she's 61. Little sis, also full time - she's 58.

I plan to ease back a bit in 2.5 years when ds goes to university and my mortgage is paid off.

Sonolanona · 10/12/2023 23:02

56 next month and now part time (TA in Special School with VERY challenging children) But I look after my toddler Grandchild the other days so I'm definitely not retired Grin ..just unpaid!! I'm also carer for my youngest son who has autism so life is busy!

LunaTheCat · 10/12/2023 23:04

I am 59. GP and officially work 3 days… my 3 days is about 36 hours per week.
if I worked full time…well I couldn’t… I would end up very unwell!
I love my job and am actually thinking working past 65 (official age where I live where I can get state pension) … I love my job… I am thinking getting campervan and travelling doing locums for a week every 3-4 weeks…. My husband is unaware of my plans 😉
I know I am extremely privileged to have some choices and am very grateful.

justjuggling · 10/12/2023 23:07

I’m early 50s and work full time hours but compressed over 4 days instead of 5. Works really well for me.

Newstaronthehorizon · 10/12/2023 23:07

Yes, l do not want to retire ever as love my job too much..I do work from home and have Flexi hours so I have a very good work life balance and plenty of variety with a lovely boss.

The people I know who have retired and don't volunteer or go off traveling just look and sound old. I think it comes from hanging out with other old people who move slowly, and moan a lot and have lost their vibrancy, interest in others and learning new things.

Retirement can be bad for your physical and mental health especially if you become sedentary and /or where you lose your purpose in life especially if you don't do anything worthwhile instead.

Working in a job that you absolutely loathe with a toxic boss can also wreck your physical and mental health and can knock years off your life.

I don't think people realise that becoming more sedentary is actually a ticking time bomb as there is a close correlation between extended hours of sitting with the weakening of core muscles, which leads to increasing number of falls, frailty and immobility.

Also, reduced opportunities for social interaction is extremely bad for your emotional health as you age.

Residential care homes are frightening reminders of what happens to the human body after people retire.

Lifestyle, social class, social environment and mindset, not just genetics and luck often determine whether you will be a sprightly 90 year old or in failing health by aged 60.

It's well worth reading up the steps to take to help avoid getting dementia.

Retirement, a sedentary life, lack of exercise, poor sleep pattern, not challenging the brain, having a narrow view of the world and eating junk food all increases the chances of getting dementia. It is not a worldwide natural human stage of growing old as some people think, as there are countries with populations who have very low rates of it.

JobMatch3000 · 10/12/2023 23:08

Peacheroo · 10/12/2023 22:56

@JobMatch3000 what's this 20%? I've not heard of this.

If you are in the LGPS, or in an NHS or civil service role, you contribute usually between 5 - 10% of your salary towards your pension, and your employer contribution is something around 20%. Public sector pensions were historically generous to make up for the lower salaries compared to the private sector and are now considered "gold plated" as they are also defined benefit.