So it is our fault that we did not prepare for our retirement when we were younger.
Everybody' s story is different, but perhaps mine can be an example as to how this was an impossibility.
When our children were quite young, my husband's MS became worse. No disability working laws back in the 70's and 80's and, despite an excellent professional qualification, he was unable to find anybody willing to employ him even on a desk job he was more than capable with MS of doing.
Benefits were not generous.
I could not go to get a job, as he needed someone at home with him much of the time, and he was unable to care for the children.
We fostered small children, at that time, no pay for this, just expenses for them, and although that meant I was working full-time as a Mother and carer, no pay and no NI stamp.
As time went on, his mental health also got worse and he became quite violent.
Eventually, he left - I was left with a house falling down, and still over ten grand of mortgage outstanding (only interest had been paid for years).
I became seriously ill myself, needing a complicated surgery and a long recovery period.
Eventually, I became well enough to go back to paid employment (at the age of 61 yrs), paid off that mortgage and with help got the house repairs carried out.
Sold that large house and bought a small terraced one - no mortgage. Husband got half of this house as well as half of the extra money from the sale of the large one. WHY? Because he was refusing to sign papers permitted me to sell!!
When I sold that house, in which he never lived, never paid a single penny towards its upkeep and improvements, he again got 50% of that sale price. I managed to buy a flat with the remaining 50%.
I worked until I was nearly 70 yrs old, but this still meant that the many years I was not in paid employment meant I am only entitled to a percentage of the state pension and the need to the top up of Pension Credit.
I do not smoke, drink alcohol, rarely eat out, have not had a holiday for years, do keep a car, all paid for. I manage reasonably well on this money. Have no complaints, but do get annoyed when people tell me how I should have made better arrangements when I was younger.