Scottish Widows would love to hear your concerns about retirement: share now and you could win a £250 voucher! NOW CLOSED

[KathrynMumsnet]

Claire Stracey, Head of Marketing Communications at Scottish Widows says:

"We know thinking about retirement is probably not front of mind, especially when you have more pressing tasks to take care of as a busy mum. Whether you’re in full-time employment or you’ve taken a career break, we’d love to hear any retirement planning questions that keep you awake at night. Have you had trouble finding clear information on your pension options? Are you confident that you’re setting yourself up for the best possible retirement?

We want to make retirement planning less daunting so we’ll be sharing stories and suggestions from our pensions specialists to help you get - or stay - on track.

So what are your biggest concerns when it comes to retirement? Let us know on the thread below and look out for pensions information for mums here; on Facebook and on ScottishWidows.co.uk."

By leaving your comment below, you’ll be entered into a prize draw where one lucky Mumsnetter will win a £250 John Lewis voucher*. Standard T&Cs apply and can be viewed here.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

*Scottish Widows and The Lloyds Banking Group are not affiliated to the prize draw and accept no liability in respect of the prize draw.

My main concern is that we won't have saved enough to be comfortable in our retirement. It's hard to save for 30+ years time when money is needed for a growing family.

Between having the children and working in between i havent been able to pay a regular amount into a pension. I am working again now but only part time and whilst i am making small payments each month, to justify childcare costs and working, i really cant put in that much and i worry that it just wont be enough when it comes time to retire.

My main concern about retirement? I am over 40 and still don't own any property so how on earth is that going to work when I'm not working and can't pay rent - I assume I will just work until I die.

I am concerned that we will have a good enough pension to live on. I don't want us still working at 70.

I'm worried I won't have enough money to eat and keep my home warm.

that i wont have enough money to live on

Not having enough money to live on or to do the things that I want to do. Poor health is also a concern.

I worry that there will not be enough money to meet the bills when I am a pensioner, its not so much the pension planning/provision but the alarming rate the cost of living has been increasing - the goalposts keep moving! Im not a big spender but I think I would get upset if I cant afford to get my pink rinse and own a snuggly pug when I am all alone and lonely while watching Bargain Hunt with pink fluffy slippers and a tartan blanket. And who wants to limit the hot tea and shortbread to just twice a day because of electric bills???? I am concerned about the charities being a bit aggressive - I mean its easy to avoid the chuggers in the street when you can walk fast enough, when my pins are a bit creaky it might be hard to get out of their way (b4 you ask I already do one charity and thats enough thank you), and also I have noticed since moving to our home (which looks like an old persons bungalow) we have been bombarded with sales reps/cold callers - I don't think being at home when being elderly will mean we get a peaceful life.... maybe I should opt for a teeth baring Doberman instead.... and a doorbell that says "P* Off" when you press it....

My husband and I are contributing to our NHS pensions through our monthly wages. With the current uncertainty of the NHS, we are worried about our NHS pensions going too. We are wondering whether to stop contributing to the NHS pension scheme and invest in property.

I'm worrried that inflation will eat into the real value of my pension; and I'm worried about the costs of care and support that I might need as I get older (I already have rheumatoid arthritis) as my husband is older than me by 13 years and may be already gone, or unfit himself to support me.

My husband and I are both self employed running a small building firm and the scary reality is that there is no money left at the end of each month to pay into pensions, My husband expects to work until he drops as there is no other choice. He recently injured his back and being off work meant he couldnt earn and I fear this will just become a more regular occurence as he gets older. But a private pension for us is out of the question

I worry about underestimating the cost of living in the future. Also I'd love to be able to help out DS in buying a home as property prices are crazy!

I worry that we won't have enough to live on in our retirement. I have a company pension and some savings and a small inheritance that I put towards the mortgage. I am pretty good with money and my main focus is trying desperately to pay off the mortgage as I think if that is out the way when we retire then we could maybe sell up and live in a smaller place and put the equity earned to good use somewhere else and live off that together with the pensions.

We won't have any money - that's the only reason we bought our own house instead of rent, at least we'll have a fully paid for house! Neither of us pay into a pension, with 3 kids and school uniform, trips, uni etc I can't see how we'll ever have the spare cash.

Like most on here, retirement is a scary proposition. After re-training as a teacher (taking 4 years out to go to uni and do teacher training) I now have two years of teacher pension contributions, plus some pension provision from previous employment. I know this is not going to provide much in the way of income once I finally retire, so have just started putting aside anything extra a month I can into an ISA in a bid to top my pension up at some stage. I still have 23 years left of mortgage to pay though (aged 42) so I'm secretly hoping to bump into a generous and attractive man who is keen to help me out financially!

i worry about not being able to afford to heat the house in winter.

I worry about not having enough money for retirement. Me and my husband both pay into pensions but my parents have just found out as they retired that savings don't buy a great annuity income anymore.

My main concern is WHEN I can retire - I love working but can't see myself being able to carry on until I'm 70 which is what will happen if they keep pushing the retirement age back :(

I've always had a pension. My dad is a financial advisor and told me it was essential. I began one as soon as I graduated, even when I was on a pittance. I've always paid into it. That pension pot, now I'm 40, is worth a measly £24,000 which won't do much to protect me in my old age. This horrifies and terrifies me.

We've now started our own business and there's little additional money to put aside into a pension, but we will. However, I don't know that I have much faith in 'pensions' as such and we're looking into alternatives to ensuring we have financial security in our retirement. Or keep working until we're 80. I don't feel optimistic.

I worry that I have only just stared paying in to a pension in my early thirties. Both myself and my partner have job-hopped and so we have lots of little company pensions where we have only been in one company for a couple of years before moving on.
Neither of our parents own their own houses or anything so we will be totally reliant on our pensions as we grow old.
It is a worry

my main concern is my pension not being good enough :)

Not having enough money for heating, bills etc.