How can I carry on working until I'm 67?

[hulmegirl1]

I work in the NHS and it's a physically and mentally demanding job that although vital is not well paid.
I am in my mid 50s and am definitely a lot more tired than I used to be.
Quite often I get home (my job means I'm standing most of my shift) and I'm exhausted physically and mentally.
I can't see that I can carry this on until I'm 67. My husband is five years older than me and self employed and doesn't earn much so we rely on my meagre salary to ensure the bills are paid.
Does anyone have any ideas how we are all going to cope with this new reality?
I know if I'd been advised a lot sooner I'd have made very different decisions.
I still have never had a letter advising me of my retirement date and really was not aware until well into my 40s.

The main problem with later retirements is that although we're living longer we're not necessarily living well

Spot on

The problem is that many people expect the state to provide for them.

People should start saving for their retirement much earlier. I know some people are low paid but even then could save a small amount regularly.
Everyone can save small amounts from an early age and it mounts up.

But often the trappings of a good life like large flat screen televisions and new cars take priority over saving for retirement for some people. I know people with several, expensive large flat screen TVs and no savings.
Tax payers are then expected to pick up the bill.
This country is no longer in a situation to fund everyone's retirement for 20 years or so. People must take responsibility for themselves.
I fully expect the state pension to become a means tested top up soon.

Free travel would be great elderflowerspritz but we don't get that in this city until retirement age so 7 years after London!

Coppersulphate, I've paid into the state for 40 years and my husband for 45 years and neither of us have ever claimed a penny. Many other people are also in this position. By the time I retire (hoping I stay fit enough to work that long) I'll have contributed for 51 years and my husband 50 years and three months. I don't expect the state to provide for me entirely and I've always paid my own way I just feel our generation are going to pay for the mistakes made with the baby boomer generation.

The baby boomer generation are not to blame personally though.
the 80 year olds are struggling

Dudsville I am one of the women who went part time after having DC late thirties. Always assumed I would increase my hours again as DS grew older but the time he started secondary school coincided with my parents needing additional, and increasing help so I never increased my hours. I couldn't have provided the level of care I was providing to my parents at one time if I had been working full time.

They moved into care home last year. I'm 55 but since turning 50 I've really noticed a drop in my energy levels. I am hoping that my current working pattern will mean that I can carry on working for another 12 years - although as I'm public service and cuts / changes are still happening that's probably unlikely.

It is a difficult one that part time working means it is sustainable to work for longer, but you have less money to save and build up pension pot.

I think I feel slightly cheated having seen many, many people in my previous service taking early retirement/ voluntary redundancy with enhanced pensions during the 1980's - 2000's) and assuming this would be me one day.

but you need money for hobbies surely?

Not necessarily. A library ticket costs nothing. And there’s voluntary work too.

if there are any libraries

I'm not blaming them personally at all, just saying all the changes should have been more gradual and not in one fell swoop.

No hobbies or passions other than work?

Plenty but that's what evenings, weekends and holidays are for.

Everyone's different and some people relish walking groups, allotments, museums and volunteering at the charity shop (my PILs) for example. I don't fancy that in my 50s or 60s - I'll carry on teaching (early years) for as long as I can. Sick of the ageism on MN that denigrates vibrant and committed women over 50.

People have always been poor and always have made pppr choices.

I k kw 35 uear plds who complain about baby boomers and prpperty and how good they had it, forgetting those same baby boomers faced the recessions of the 70s, 80s, 90s, double figure interest rates and a world of no tax credits, no equality, no nursery provision, less developed healthcare, etc. Some of those 35 year olds are not members of an excellent occupational pension scheme because tjey don't want to contribute.

Go figure what they will be complaining about in 20 years.

I am in my early fifties and working full time. After 30 + years of doing NHS Nursing shift work etc I have bene left with back problems and some level of depression and anxiety. I am also caught in the middle of having 3 teenagers still at home and an elderly dad to keep an eye on although he is reasonably independent at present. I'm not sure how long I'll be able to keep working full time but it is better now I've moved to a more sedentary job. I don't have a great pension, lots f part time NHS working when the kids were small and a number of years spent abroad working.

im nearly 50 and at the moments not bothered about working until 67. I worry that when i retire i will be bored and not have enough money.

I'm the same although not in NHS. I have a very stressful job. I could have retired when I was 55 but I have a mortgage until I'm 65 and my pension wouldn't cover that never mind bills. I've been working since I was 16 and I can't imagine still doing my job for another 10 years. It's depressing thinking about it.

My DH is two years younger than me. What would have been right about him having a retirement seven years shorter than mine under the old rules. Under them with compulsory retirement at 60 I'd have one year left at work and no choice about it.

Perhaps we need an NHS contract where nurses are redeployed when back problems etc take over to do other essential jobs in the NHS. Possibly admin, possibly phlebotomy, outpatient work, health visiting, GP nursing work, immunisations etc.

The thing is @OhTheRoses lots of older nurses have already moved to outpatient work and there aren't many phlebotomy roles. HV isn't a leas tiring job and GP nursing work (includes imms) is busy and demanding too, they are often providing quite specialised monitoring and treatment for long-term conditions at most GP practices.

You say you've 'paid into the state and never claimed a penny' what no education, no health care, no eye test, no cervical smear, never benefitted from our legal system, from defense, never used roads, been glad that police are on our streets....?

I too have 'never claimed a penny' but that's not how it works. I am fortunate to be healthy enough to continue working and paying tax. I am glad we have a system that pays out to those who are more vulnerable.

Thing is with NI contributions is most people’s are very low, so the whole “not taking out” thing doesn’t make sense. You can check how much you’ve made in NI contributions on the government gateway.

I have been paying in for 25 years (and need to pay in for another 28 ha ha!!) I’m quite a high earner and for the last few years have contributed circa £6k a year. This is still less than the current state pension would pay me out. However, since 16 there are many years where I have contributed very little-£300 a year say.

So how can most people ever contribute enough to cover themselves? The model works on the basis you contribute for far more years than you take out, and you are also heavily subsidised by employers NI contributions. Not sure how sustainable this model is anymore

I don't think you realise when younger how much harder physical jobs can be when you are older, and then add in peri menopause!
Also things can change quite quickly. At 50 DP had no signs of arthritis, at 56 there are physical things he can not do because of it.
Most of my friends have been sporty all their lives. Some still are fine, but the most common issues they have in their 50s are arthritis, and very bad backs. It is the slimmer taller women who seem to have the worst backs. Having a bad back or arthritis has no impact on your life expectancy, but it does affect your ability to do some jobs.

How is HV not less tiring than being on a ward with 30 patients or in A&E.

It isn't a 12 hour shift on your feet all day job.

It involves 2/3 home visits, an hour in your car, a cpl of hours on home visits filling out forms on a 1:1 basis, sharing basuc advice, handing out leaflets, making calls and referrals, none of it at all intellectually demanding. It's a job creation scheme in itself for nurses who dislike hard work.

Well that sound a lovely day compared to the HVs I worked with @OhTheRoses, they just loved handing out basic advice on domestic abuse, sexual abuse and attending meetings to support parents.

Indeed but that isn't physically gruelling is it and that's the point being made. Neither is it part of a twelve hour shift as they work 9-5 on the whole.

It would be marvellous if work cpuld be turned into a festival of glitter and unicorns with a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow but it isn't it's work. Work includes jobs tjat are both physically and mentally demanding and require self discipline.

This is an interesting read and basically thinking of keeping my current property as a buy to let and going to have that as my stopgap if I live long enough to enjoy it.

I don't understand why most people don't save for their retirement. Most people increase their standard of living, or lifestyle when they get a pay rise rather than saving for their retirement

Copper, I am happy to take advice.

I work in a part time role in a low pay due to being a carer for my severely disabled DD who will need lifelong 24/7 care. my chances of going back full time are zero. We just cover the basics financially. sometimes it's eat or heat. we are, disability induced, piss poor and I would not be able to save for retirement.

How would you suggest I go about it? Thank you