How on earth do people work into their 60's and beyond.

[BG2015]

DP and I were talking earlier (he's now asleep at 7.15pm) and saying how do people work into their 60's and 70's.

My DP is 59, he works in demolition which can be quite an active job. He's out of the house at 6am as they travel all over the country and he often isn't back until 6pm.

I'm a teacher recently dropped to 4 days after ongoing health issues after having breast cancer in 2021. Im 55, 56 in February.

We're both knackered. Neither of us sleep very well at all. We eat healthily and used to go to the gym 2/3 times a week but now only manage walking as our form of exercise.

I'm desperate to change jobs, planing to retire at 58 and get a part time job in an office. I think once I retire DP will reduce his hours and slowly retire.

But how do people have the energy to keep working. A teaching assistant at my school has just retired at 71 and I really don't know how she's kept going.

I’ve hesitated posting on this thread because it all sounds a bit woe is me but I’ve got into my mid 50s having mainly been an office worker, some of the time part-time but generally speaking long hours.

I am now really struggling with MSK symptoms which make sitting in my chair all day really difficult. A standing desk is not much better. I saw the NHS physio and he said to me he sees loads of people like me who are fine in their 30s and 40s with their deskbound careers but once they get into their 50s the MSK chickens come home to roost and they just can’t work the hours anymore. It’s really annoying because I’m at my peak earning potential but will probably end up having to retire earlier than I’d like to

I can understand stand problems if you have a physical job.

I'm 56 work full time in an office and a lot of voluntary work mainly from home. I have absolutely no intention of retiring until very late 60s unless I become ill.

I think if you enjoy your job, that makes a huge difference.

Not anymore. And not everyone is ever able to buy so they're renting.

There's already something like nearly 1 million pensioner private renters. And although their situation is not as dire as private renters, there's also social renters, who obviously still have to pay rent in retirement.

It's a ticking time bomb too because there's even more renters in the next generations coming up to retirement (people in their 50s and 60s).

There's also quite a lot of people over 50, and even over 60, still paying off mortgages.

And no it's not a life choice. People experience unplanned life events that limit earning ability (illness, caring responsibilities, relationship breakdowns, bereavement). Also there's loads of lower paid jobs and someone has to do them.

Studies have found that single female pensioners are especially badly off. Some will be widowed but those who were single before retirement will likely have been struggling during their working life too, because being single is expensive especially housing costs.

Even if someone has mortgage paid off, being older has other costs. Statistically more likely to have health issues (that starts from over 50, so before state pension age), which incurr extra expenses, eg. older people are at more risk from the cold so have higher heating bills.

My Mum worked until she was about 65 but was ready to retire then. My Dad has only just retired at the age of 75 ( although he loved his job and was part time for the last 7 years). No health issues and I think that ( and the type of work) is probably key.

I'm 59. I'm not eligible to retire till I'm 67. I work because I have to and will continue having to. I can't afford to stop, my pension isn't worth much and my husband has already had to take lump sums out of his pension so we're just done for really.

I'm knackered. I'd love to stop.

I'm 51 and can't imagine retiring until well into my 60's. I am single with no children and don't own my own home so don't have that to fall back on. In all honesty I want to work as long as I can, I need that mental stimulation. I have no health issues so far thank goodness and I'm fitter now than I was in my 40's.

If you fell ill and couldn't work, what would you do, housing wise?

I hear you! I honestly think it depends on the job. I used to be an admin assistant and I loved my job and never thought about it when I went home. Through raising a family, I ended up working in education to fit round the kids, now they are older I can’t escape, it’s like my skills seem dumbed down on my CV & I feel stuck. I’m stressed, I don’t sleep and I have terrible anxiety all over a job. I’m planning my escape as we speak 🤣🤣 my husband has a job where he works long hours and it can be tiring but once he’s done, he’s home & he doesn’t have to think about it. I’m not going to last until retirement age. I have 2.5 years until I have to renew my mortgage - once that’s done, I’m out & will be happier working in a shop or a cafe or something just to help out. This isn’t how I want to live. Good luck to you ❤️

Goodness knows. I know an 86 year old (yes, 86 years old!) who works full time in an office and drives into a busy city every morning. I don't know why she's still working but I suppose it's either for financial reasons or because she just likes it.

My dad is 78 and still working five days a week and middle of nights at weekend. I think if he stopped now he would die quite soon afterwards. I think it gives him a purpose but my opinion is he is knackered and should stop

It's obvious to me, you both work high pressure/active jobs. Teaching is intense, stressful and relentless, your DH is out physically grafting. In our younger years it's easier! I think finding less demanding roles will help then you won't feel as exhausted. Trying to give myself the same advice lol 😆

My Mum is 83 and still works 4 days a week on supermarket customer service counter. It keeps her active and young. She hates taking annual leave as she gets bored. I on the other hand intend to retire as soon as possible and enjoy life with my (10 years older than me) husband.

I’m 63 and still working full time in a quite stressful IT role. Mainly working from home., but often 10 to 12 hour days. Not sure when I’ll be in a position to consider retiring following recent divorce wiping out a big chunk of personal pension, house move and still needed a mortgage.
Was cheered up recently going for a recent blood test and the lady that took my blood telling me she was 81! Apparently they’d tried to retire her at 65 and she fought against it.

This. Spot on. Especially when you live on your own and pay 100% of everything!

I retired from my social work manager job at at 65. I don't think I would have lasted that long if it were not for WFH, physically speaking, because losing the commute and the running round in the morning eased it so much.
However, the stress levels and increasing demands of senior management didn't change. It has impacted on my health. Going to 70 would have killed me, I think.

Yep. Me. Exactly.

Out of having to. I dont get my work pension untill I am 67. To get the full pension I must work FT untill that age.

My understanding was teacher pensions are linked to the state retirement age.

I think this coversation should be a precursor to talking about how we fund the deficit in the economy and answering the question should we be taxing wealth more etc. The luxury of retiring early is something only a very specific generation of people will have, along with defined benefit pension. Most of the current working population will have to work to at least 70, at the same time as funding private pensions.

I worked with an 84 year old who said all his life he’s looked to the next challenge. He worked part time because his sick wife needed him. My mum worked happily until
75 and would have continued if the business hadn’t changed hands.

I’m 55 with a 8 year old and just state pension to look forward to, so will be working for quite some time…. I’m a legal consultant and work for myself from home, so have some control over my time - except that if I’m not working enough I panic about no income. Every few years (including right now) I have a think about what else I can do for work
that will pay the bills as need a change after 30 years in the job. But I couldn’t bear to have to work in an office with other people or deal with the public (I jest - but only a little!). So I’ll stick with an unfulfilling job to fund my family and social life for so long as I can. And that’s my motivation for working ! I call
It life/work balance.

Will depend on job. Manual work less easy the older you get. Sitting at a desk is easier etc. Plus needs based..pensions don't kick in til later so need to keep earning:(

Like how does anyone do anything they have to for financial survival, they just get on with it as no other option.

Some people may be able to go pt if eg mortgage paid off. I think that will become rarer as terms get longer and age of ftbs increases.

Of course if their body gives out completely they'd have to go on Esa or medically retire.

But how do people have the energy to keep working

I don't have the energy to keep working, but I have no choice - I've got to grit my teeth and stick it out until I'm 67 when I get my pension.