If you are a mum in your 40s or early 50s, what's your plan for career before retirement?

[Rekka]

Just that. I'm curious what other people's situation is.

I started putting pension/saving in the pot so late (in my mid 30s), I think I will have to work full-time until mid 60s. But in my field, unlike in accounting or HR, I haven't seen and can't imagine any female working into their 60s. Also most mums around in DC school seem to be all working part-time or not working at all.

I hit a bit of a career brick wall at the moment, but can't just quit and lay back. So I'm wondering what other people's plans are in the next 10-20 years.

Have to say I’m surprised that civil servants still get their pension at 60 when nhs staff, teachers, etc have to go to 65 or state pension age.

im late 40s. I have an nhs pension which pays out I think at 65 but might be state pension age. Also currently paying into teachers pension which is state pension age.

Id love to take my pension early and go at 60 but my pensions won’t be enough for that. I might be able to go at 65yo. Not sure if I can keep going till then.

I like the idea of going at 60, not claiming pension but having a less stressful job to keep me ticking along for 5 years. Not sure getting a job at 60 would be easy though.

We are both mid 40s. I hate my job and work 3 days currently. Hoping to do a sideways move soon and build up to maybe 4 days but would be totally in the office no WFH so much extra stress. H doesn't think that would be worth it. We have a nice lifestyle at present with good holidays, home renovations etc.

Youngest child has ASD and requires a lot of extra care, H has really serious health problems and needs care to be able to function. Eldest is also clearly autistic but denies it and is going totally down the wrong path so although he's a teenager, he actually requires more help than the younger one at present.

All of this conspires to make it hard for me to switch to FT but I hope I can in the next few years.

If things stayed as they were at present, I could leave work at 56 with around 12k a year plus a 36k lump sum (thank God I worked hard before kids). H also has a pension which he could take at 56. Mortgage should be paid off by then and we could do all outgoings including food for less than 1k a month in todays money. H absolutely would not want to give up work mid 50s so plans to continue working 3 days a week at that point which would make our lives very comfortable. His job is one he could do from bed if he had to so not worried about him being able to do manual work thankfully with his health.

Between us we have 9 parents/step parents and a brother who has learning difficulties and is unable to live independently. All are fine af the moment but the oldest is mid 70s so I'm expecting a lot of care needs to be supported in the coming years. This could really impact things. I feel like I've spent my life caring for others and I'm not sure when I'll have my own life back.

Early 50s and now working full time rather than part time. Children don’t need me as much, the cost of living has soared, but mainly because I think it will be really important to stave off dementia.

I'm 47. Always worked full time. My career is doing well but the next step up is massive. Unlikely I'll go for it because it means losing my wfh. I also spend 20 hours a week building up the thing I want to do. May not work, but at least I can say I tried. My cousin died at my age, so really, its now or never.

Retirement, I'm not decided. 58 maybe. But then, DF is 79 and working part time in a professional job because he wants the challenge, so who knows. I'm flexible.

You seem to be under the impression, from your OP, that retirement age is 62. It's currently 67 for anyone who is in their 40s or early 50s and it could be higher than that by the time we get there.

I'm 51 and did a second degree in my 40s, while at home with the kids, so I could change career. I just got my first job in my new career, so I'm a graduate again, but I plan on working up until retirement atm. My job is hybrid and 4 days a week, so it's not too strenuous and I plan to reduce to three days a week once I get a bit of seniority. I started a pension in my 20s and have been paying into it, as much as I can, while being a SAHM. My DH is well paid and has a great pension so I'm not too worried. In terms of my state pension, I need to work for another seven years to get the full amount and currently I'm confident that I can do that. That part of our retirement savings is a drop in the bucket anyway, so again, I'm not worried even if I get the lower amount.

I’ve upped my pension contributions and max out my LISA. I’m lucky my job is highly in demand so my plan is to work for as long as I want to but maybe only a few days a month which would still bring in a good salary.

I was little miss sensible in my twenties and early thirties. I worked in a graduate career and paid into a pension from the age of 21, went back to work full time or almost full time after both kids. Married at 27 and we lived very frugally and saved like mad in our late twenties to buy a house.

Now late thirties, DC at primary school and I have quit my career and work part time in a local role for which I’m fairly overqualified! I’m much happier but obviously my earnings are so much lower now.

As things stand I think I could probably carry on in this job until 60 and financially I’d be ok (although not rich) because of my pension and savings from my first career. I don’t know if I may start to get a bit bored with my job though when my youngest DC reaches secondary age (she’s only 5 right now) so maybe I might try and ramp up my career again in my mid forties, but will see how I feel.

I'm hoping to keep working for as long as I'm able - just less than what I do. I'd hope to keep some non exec roles and do some consultancy. One of my colleagues is 82!

What kind of move was that, @CreteBound ? And how are you finding it?

I was a SAHM mum which sort of morphed into retirement (looking after elderly parents). No mortgage and a healthy income which enough, but I might do something part time when the last DC is off to university (they're mid to late teens now). Such a huge gap in the CV so I'm not sure. Maybe something entirely different.

I'm 47 with two teenagers.I assume I'll have to work to 70 if I can (sedentary job, so not necessarily an issue), maybe 68 at earliest. Pension won't be spectacular, but may be able to release a big lump sum of capital by downsizing home.

I've moved into quite a specialised role that's currently pretty in demand. It's not likely to be replaced by automation so I'm kind of hoping it'll still be fairly needed in 10-15 years because freelancing rates are very good and my plan might be to go freelance in 10+ years and I could earn good money working for half the year as a career 'off ramp'. I work with some freelancers on projects and a few of them are people who are at or towards retirement age.

This thread is an interesting comparison to the one about staying working 3 days per week for life so the OP can have time for herself and decompress. Doing that makes you so vulnerable re pensions

i worked part time for 5 years then full time since. I’m 43 now and have been paying into a good pension scheme (USS) since I was 27. Planning to retire at 65 which modelling says Will give me £30k per year and a lump sum of £200k, which I will split between the DC to get them a house deposit each (they will be 33 and 31 then)

i think this is a better deal for them than me working three days per week during their secondary school years, tbh

working full-time to pay for my dc's university x

I will work full time until I die at the rate I'm going.

I was very stupid and trusting of my long term ex partner.
Been a single parent 6 years.
No maintenance, no savings and no pension.

Will give me £30k per year and a lump sum of £200k

you must have earned a huge amount to get that pension?!

I was on track until I got long covid and had to leave a senior role in private consultancy after working in the NHS. I'm 50 and can't take NHS pension until 67, and it's small anyway.

I was hoping to work for another 17 years but can't find a part-time role that will take someone with long covid. For all the government and NHS talk about getting disabled people into work, almost ALL roles are advertised as full-time or office-based, and I don't have the energy to commute or work FT.

I really don't know what to do.

I earned £70k or more from age 40 and pay in a lot (5%) extra contributions. It’s half final salary half career average so a good scheme

Does anyone not just question the sheer amount they are putting into a pension their entire working lives? The vast majority of people I know over 70 have a mortgage that is paid off, and are too tired to want anything more than a quiet life. No huge travel plans, just pottering at home. How much money do you actually need?

I much prefer having all my savings where I can see them, and can access them should I be told I have a terminal illness.

Have always worked full time. Currently planning to retire on about a £50k/year pension by the time I am 57 in a couple of years time.

It’s been state pension age for civil service pension since 2015. Pension accrued before that date can still be taken at 60.

I earned £70k or more from age 40 and pay in a lot (5%) extra contributions. It’s half final salary half career average so a good scheme

When I joined my scheme had already closed the final salary bit.

Yeah it’s closed now too for us, but the part I paid in is protected

@thas personally I don't understand the deprive yourself now for a more comfortable retirement narrative. My main saving goal is to be able to retire early as my state age is 68.

At the moment, age 49, older DDs - one at university, me working full time in a well paid job, absolutely stacking it into my pension for a few years- more so after we've paid the mortgage off and DDs more independent (mid 50s) - to get a decent pot of £500,000+. Also with the flexibility to go part time/job share (how I started in current job when DDs were younger) if we have any health issues. Aiming to retire in about 12 to 15 years- earlier than state pension age. If it indeed exists by then.

I'm early 60s with DC on gap year. I basically felt I'd been there, done that careerwise before he arrived. I went back to my academic support staff career, taking maternity leave of a year and working 4 days. I've maintained that and the fairly senior position I have has evolved in a good way. I have a good pension and will continue part time for a little while longer. My current line manager is a similar age and if she retires, I probably will too.