Parents retired early…

[WeepingAngelInTheTardis]

I dont know where this fits, my parents are in their early 60s so kind of fits? So sorry if this is the wrong board!

Both my parents took early retirement in their early 50s, they were warned by many family members not to do this but they had savings & assets and future proofed their home by moving to a bungalow. Fair enough.
However, since the COL I get constant weekly phone calls from them moaning about the prices of everything, politics and the state of the country & how they are struggling. (Will not touch their savings. Both will get large inheritances)
I am struggling to have any sympathy for them, Ive told them they could go back to work even part time but they wont consider it.
Other than ignoring the phone I have no idea what to do, Ive tried steering the conversation away but it always go back to that.
On paper they are quite well off but I feel like they want some kind of magic solution from me & its stressing me out.

Have you tried telling them how their moaning makes you feel, when they took the luxury option of retiring early and have substantial savings plus incoming inheritances? It probably hasn’t occurred to them. I would turn it around and make this about how you feel by very directly walking them through the impact on your morale when they are much better off.

I’m also aware of a few people from that generation who retired in their late 50s and early 60s, yet now complain about being poor. It is ridiculous.

Next time they mention it casually mention the £850 ish per month they get in interest must help with their living costs.

I think for some people complaining becomes a bit of a hobby 😂 They almost enjoy whinging and in some weird way get a kick out of it. The way I have dealt with it is to assume it’s actually related to “fear of death”, the complaining is tied to a wish for things to be different - don’t know if it’s true or not, but helps me be more understanding when I hear for the upteenth time about the “awful state of the world” and all the “doom and gloom”.

I don’t think this is typical in old age as some people have suggested. My annual income with my state and work pension is c £20,000. My savings are a tenth of your parents. I don’t feel short of money or worried about money at all. I own my house outright so no mortgage to pay. I run a car and have one holiday per year and the occasional weekend away. I don’t understand why your Mum is anxious and worrying. I would just put her on speaker phone and make the occasional sympathetic noise. If you try to tell her she doesn’t have anything to worry about I think she will only argue with you and it’s not worth it. She’s either over anxious or enjoys moaning.