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.

I am terrified of not having enough money for retirement. I genuinely don't think there will be a state pension by the time I retire, so feel I need to prepare for it myself.

I worry about not having enough money

I always remember a comment from a colleague who had retired and returned to visit us several months later. When asked "What's retirement like?" the reply was "It's like being married 24/7"

If this government has their way there wont be any retirement, we'll work until we drop.

My biggest concern is getting to retirement age alive!

I'm lucky enough to have been paying into a public sector pension since I joined the work force at 22 (I'm now 30) because I wouldn't have been able to afford a private pension otherwise. However, I'm still worried because I'm not yet on the property ladder and, even with a good (or not-so-good-these-days) public sector pension, it's STILL not enough to live comfortably on if you are still paying a mortgage, which I will almost definitely be doing (unless I never get on the property ladder, and that does seem likely because how will I ever get a deposit together?!). I don't think it's even enough to live really comfortably without a mortgage either. Bleak times ahead, I think, for everyone.

The government should be doing more to help people. They should MAKE private companies pay more into people's pensions, the way the public sector employers do, and they should stop slashing public sector pensions as well. It won't help the country in the long run, with so many people living in poverty. How does THAT help the economy?

I worry that we will not have enough money to live on. I only work part time so dont pay into a pension.

Having insufficient funds/income to fund my required lifestyle and being in poor health which would interfere with the enjoyment of my golden years.

Only recently I have started thinking about how we will cope when we reach retirement age. Both in our late forties I suppose we should be seriously looking into it now. In a morbid way we have so many family members who have worked and saved hard, reached retirement age then not been about to enjoy their time and money that it makes you wonder why you scrimp and save. On the other hand though I hope we both have many years of being able to enjoy our retirement and the thought of not having the money to enjoy ourselves and hopefully travel is quite depressing. The mortgage should be paid off within the next few years so maybe we will put more away then.

It suddenly doesn't seem so far away - 20 years or so. I am frightened of being poor - though I have a decent pension - but I started it somewhat late, having been a perpetual student. Inevitably there will be a drop in living standards and I really wonder how independent the children will be then! My DP has not much of a pension - I will still be supporting him, as now.

I cant afford a private pension so hope there will still be a state pension available to me when the time comes. It is a concern!

As a SAHM I'm worried I won't hardly get any state pension

I have 20 years in a final salary pension from last employer, and now an NHS pension, but based on a not great salary.
DH is main earner but lost loads in the Equitable Life crash. We now have no confidence in starting to put lots in another company but have an endowment maturing in 2 years so need to decide. Maybe put it in property?
Can't see us retiring before age 70 at this rate.

I have a private pension, but no state pension as I contracted out years ago so hoping I will have enough to live on when I do retire.

I've paid into a pension from age 22, either NHS or private. Recently I'm realising that having had my kids later, I'll have a 16 yr old and a 20 yr old when I'm 60..Both bright so university is likely.DH is 7 yrs older than me so actual retirement and freedom seems unlikely. I'll have to live on memories of my years between 20 & 40.

I'm terrified we won't have enough money, as I'm disabled and have never been able to save much. My husband is the only person earning a decent salary, but he's 15 years older than I am and when he retires I'm not sure how we'll cope.

As divorce has taken all my savings I am concerned that I will not have enough money to survive and no security.

Not having enough pension is the main worry, we should be mortgage free by the time retirement comes around, but the end of the mortgage runs quite close to my planned retirement, so the money saved will not be for for long.

its money thats going to be a problem into retirement as l just dont think theres going to be enough savings to last me

Not having a decent pension, and not getting to retirement age due to smoking! I desperately want to get a job and finance a Master's degree so I can get a decent job. Unfortunately it's not that easy.

My biggest concern is that I won't see retirement age! I'm 30 now and paying into a pension but by the time I'll be able to retired I'll probably be around 70 if I'm lucky to get there!!

My concern is that the state won't pay out a decent pension to us after paying in to the system for many years.

As I come to full retirement ...My true concern is will it be enough money?

Health is my main concern. I don't want to be a burn on my children, money also comes into it as will i be able to afford the healthcare that i might need?

My worry is needing to go into a Nursing Home and not having enough money for my care