No kids, single, health issues - my options?

[EMGEMG]

Please be kind
I'm 51 (far off women's retirement age) but I realise that without a private pension, no kids who could support me later in life, limited savings and a chronic health condition (managable but I'm often utterly exhausted), I really need to start looking at my options for retirement.

I'm actually frightened of what awaits me as life is so economically turbulent, unless you're buffered by a good private pension or expensive property to sell. Or by saving more as a result of living with a partner.

I'm looking for ideas and inspiration from other people who've managed to find their own way of dealing with retirement so they have a support network around them, access to good healthcare and are able to live a good quality of life without much money.

I've lived abroad a few times already and loved it, but I appreciate as an older woman it will be massively different. Plus, I'm now living with an autoimmune condition which can be life limiting.

Any personal stories out there? Ideas?

Not really what you asked, but have you checked whether you're on track for a full state pension?

To be honest I don't think it is possible to set up a plan living abroad where there is access to good healthcare, and a good quality of life, but without much money. I would assume healthcare costs would have to be paid by you if you were living abroad ? and I'd also assume you wouldn't get state benefits if you were living in a different country to your own ?

So my suggestions would be : (assuming you are a UK national): What are you on track to receive from the UK - check your situation with gov.uk. What do you already have in terms of pensions / savings - check it out and then have a (free) appointment with PensionWise . This will give you some certainty about what money would be coming in.
https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/pensions-and-retirement/pension-wise?source=pw

I'd then suggest you need to consider what money is going out and how much you actually need to live on - Money Saving Expert forum is very useful with comments from people, many living quite a frugal life financially, but where their quality of life is ok for them.

Apologies if all this seems obvious and you've done it all already - wasn't clear from your post.

Yes, you absolutely need to check you’ve contributed enough years towards your national insurance, particularly if you’ve had stints abroad.

Do you own your home/mortgaged?

I'll be on my own when ds heads off to university in 2 years. I'm 60 and work in IT which isn't the most forgiving of old age so I won't be surprised to find myself 'retired' fairly soon.

There's no point me trying to live near ds for at least the next 10 years because he'll be moving around as he gets himself established and anyway, he needs to develop proper independence.

If I move further from London, housing costs will be less and I'll get myself a part time job. Maybe Wales or somewhere north so I can afford somewhere I can host friends and for DS if he needs it. I've got my full 35 years NI and some (not huge) savings. I've started travelling to those areas for long weekends to work out where I like and what might work.

It's a real balance of money & timing. I understand your dilemma.

Thanks everyone - helpful and interesting to read about others' plans.
I should have almost 100% contributions (I lived and worked overseas for a while so that income doesn't count) but in the broader scheme of things, it shouldn't affect my level of contributions that much. But I'll certainly be checking that out.
I'm a UK national.
Brexit limited my options - I had been thinking of moving to Portugal or Germany (I used to live in the latter), although I'm sure it's still do-able I'm yet to scope out that out fully.
I moved out of London a decade ago so I've been at least able to buy a small house. But quality of life isn't great (although it's a lot better than London life) so I'm keen to find a good so there's something to eventually look forward to! 😊
A friend of mine who also has no kids is hoping to retire to Thailand - affordable (for British people), gorgeous temperature, easy going.