Do you aspire to be in work in your 60s and even 70s?

Before the run up to being 60 I thought that I would just carry on all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed well into my 60s. It has not worked out like that and I was glad to retire at 60 - there is no way I could have carried on. This is what is so bad about the new pension arrangements - they take no account of people's fitness to work as they age. A bit of part time might fit the bill, but the idea that all should carry on in their usual role well into their 60s is unrealistic. I know people who are very fit and could happily do so, but so many of us are not that lucky.

There should be opportunities for people to work as long as they wish to and as long as they are fit; but it should not be assumed to be the norm.

We are not very flush money-wise, but neither of us could have gone on working - my OH retired very early because of health problems. I am glad to be able to get up in the morning (or sleep in, as I choose) and to know that the day is mine to do what I will.

I blame all these talent programmes, rich footballers and the National Lottery.
It all went downhill from there, many young people want to 'live the dream' and not the reality.

Young people need to get smart and train for jobs that are needed. Eg nurses and plumbers etc. they are sold the dream of doing what they want instead of what is needed.

I am lucky because I could retire. I have a friend 4 years younger and she is really upset because she has to carry on for some years yet when she is longing to retire.
Young people need the work.
I do several volunteering jobs and love them. The country would fall apart without volunteers! There will be no volunteers if people have to carry in paid employment.

Has anyone tried to live and have any fun on the state pension? There aren't many jobs out there for older people. I am still working. It's my own business. I struggle because of health problems but have no choice!

I am almost 58 and have worked non stop since leaving school at 17, doing various jobs which fitted in around the children and then going back full-time when my youngest child went to secondary school.
I am one of the unlucky ones who should have retired at 60 but won't now qualify for the State pension until I'm 66 something which I am incensed about.
Due to ill health I am starting to wind down and will work two days a week from January something that I am so looking forward to as I can help out with my DGD's in the holidays and try to get my garden up together.
I think I could have continued to 60 if retirement was within reach but to do another eight years is totally out of the question.
I'm also looking to supplement my income by doing some work from home and am looking forward to the next stage in my working life.
At present I have no intention of working beyond 66 and certainly not into my 70's.

I'm 56 and, after being made redundant at 50, worked part-time for the last few years. Then earlier this year I was offered my dream job, but it is full time. I've done it for 9 months now. Working 5 days a week doesn't bother me, travelling a lot doesn't bother me. I do miss socialising with friends, many of whom are retired - I don't do as much exercise as I used to as some of the groups are during the week and I find it difficult fitting everything into the weekends. My DH is retired and me working does restrict things like holidays, seeing grandchildren, visiting elderly parents...
As for the job itself, I really enjoy it, I've had the opportunity to take a new qualification and on good days I'm buzzing! I do find it difficult to keep up with the younger ones (mentally) - things like having an online meeting whilst texting and e-mailing at the same time! I find it difficult to remember names and faces in a big company and probably take longer than younger employees to learn new systems. There aren't many people working there who are older than me - I often look around a meeting room and realise I'm the oldest one there! I know I was really fortunate to be offered a good job at my age, but for reasons stated above I don't think I'll stay beyond the age of 60.

I taught from 20 into my early 70s and received feedback from heads that I was still effective. I was certainly still enjoying it! Marking SATs and giving private tuition are still options.

It is not just voluntary work in the form of helping to run local services or attached to existing charities; it is looking after elderly parents and GC.

I do in fact know one couple whose retirement does simply consist of golf and bridge and other activities that they enjoy. I will not say who! Their view is that they worked hard (well, one of them did!) for 40 odd years and now they are just going to have all the fun they can. Personally I could not do that - life is about contributing to the community. Oh dear - protestant ethic!

I have been ill for the best part of a year, and been informed by my employer that they " may not be able to keep my post open". I don't know when ( or if) I'll be able to return to my previous job, though it is a highly specialised one.

My skills are such that I can earn much more on a consultancy basis, but have decided that if I feel better, I should just enjoy what time of fitness I can. Money isn't everything, and we've got enough to get by.

I would like to trian for something not sure what, at the moment I am doing voluntry work in the local R.S.P.C.A shop..It's just a shame it is voluntary as It would just suit me working there and having a little wage as it's easy going. meeting people chatting and also learning till work.

AuntBett - I was widowed at 42 and had to return to work full time as my children were both over 18 and out of full time education so I didn't qualify for the Widowed Mother's Pension because of that but you should have been able to claim it I would have thought with having a young child to support. I also failed to meet the requirements for it to be paid because I was under the age for it to be paid without children. I too have worked since I was 16 (had a Saturday and holiday job at 15) but have never had enough 'spare' money to put aside. I was very lucky in that my late husband had a widow's pension built in to his pension plan and I also get a small pension from my 12 years as a Civil Servant. I have looked for part time work but not found anything yet and am looking at doing voluntary work until I do.

i feel incensed at this. I was unexpectedly made redundant in July at 61. I am well qualified with a degree and have worked all my life with a short gap when the children were small. I am unable to find another job because of ageism which is rife - all companies want to see passports at interview stage so know your age even if not on application. The only jobs available are low skill and low paid or zero hours. The Jobcentre insist on forcing applications to unsuitable jobs at min. wage within 90mins travelling time if you are claiming JSA. All the feedback I have had is "overqualified" or "overexperienced" so it is ridiculous and cruel to expect people to get loans for education expecting good jobs - it will not happen until businesses are educated too. If you have worked all your adult life and have the NI contributions you should be given some transitional allowance until pension age. Please anyone in this situation look at the WASPI campaign and sign the petition. We have been treated appallingly by the Government.

I am 68. Worked full time till 60, part time till 64. Worked hard at Uni, studied post grad, worked full time all my career. Raised two children. Did a job useful to society. Made financial provision for my old age. So I have been 'worthy' all my life.
Many of my family members died at 60, so I am enjoying my retirement on their behalf.
In my retirement I want to be frivolous and creative!

I retired earlier this year aged 64. I have worked my whole adult life but when the people I was caring for were getting younger than me I decided it was time to stop. I worked part time and cared for 2 grandchildren part time to allow my daughter to return to work. I still collect them from school four days a week as my daughter works full time now I think I have paid my dues to society and want to enjoy life before I get too old and tired.

I am 70 and still working. Retirement holds no attraction at all for me since I am lucky enough to be self-employed in a job I love. I have a large house, 3 grown up children, 3 grandchildren and 3 resident cats so life is always busy. But that way it doesn't occur to me that people will think I am old.

Both DH and I work(ed) in Higher Ed and are lucky enough to have occupational pensions which can be taken at 60. I retired this Autumn at 62, with the good fortune to come in for a voluntary severance deal as well. Teaching at any level, as Trisher says, is a surprisingly strenuous job, and that coupled with organisational frustrations meant my decision to go was very easy. DH is a bit younger but won't go on much past 60 for similar reasons. I haven't looked back, am picking up language learning again just for fun, and will be volunteering locally. (GC are too far away for me to be useful there.) A friend of similar age has an almost full-time volunteering role and regards that as her job and pension as her salary, which I think is a great attitude.

My husband has just agreed to reduce his working week to 3 days & he is 82!!
I'm 15 years younger & expect to work till I drop!!!

I can't wait to give up work and am ticked off that they've stuck an extra 6 years on me . If they want us earning, why don't they pay us for all the voluntary work we do!

It must be lovely to have the choice as to whether to carry on working or being able to retire. I will be 68 in January and have been working since the age of 16. I had 5 years off work for childcare (many years ago now!) and worked parttime whilst studying for a degree as a mature student. I was widowed at age 40 and still had a son aged 13, so obviously had to work and wanted to be able to give him a decent standard of living.
I currently work about 38 hours a week in an Orthopaedic practice but haven't ever had the opportunity to accrue a works pension and could never afford to buy a personal pension. Therefore, my income would be the basic state pension, which I feel is inadequate.

I am fortunate in that I am well-regarded in my job and it has never been considered that I might be too old - although sometimes I am asked by ex-colleagues when on earth I plan to retire. Ideally I think I would like to retire or at least reduce my working hours, but in reality that isn't possible.

I too use virtually all of my holiday entitlement looking after my 3 DGC DotMH1901. I also look after them 2 days a week every week including an overnight and have done since they were 6 weeks old. DS and DDiL both work full time. I can see the problems extra leave will cause in the workplace so think that things should stay exactly as they are.

Nellymoser and Gillybob - when I was still working (I took early retirement last year) I ended up using up most of my holiday leave to cover for my daughter in looking after my grandchildren when they were sick or their schools had a non-school day or even school holidays. My ex son in law would not deal with looking after his children at all and left everything up to my daughter to deal with. My daughter has worked full time since leaving school and has only been away from work when on maternity leave (she worked up to the latest time possible with each baby). Many grandparents help out with childcare and, if you are still at work, then having some form of additional leave would be very useful.

I understand your problem gillybob.
Does allowing grandparents to take some of the total parental leave make things more difficult for you (and similar businesses) than if it is all to be taken by parents, as at present?

I retired fully (having already retired once and returned on a part-time basis!!) in October. I was 68 yesterday. Much as I enjoyed it and miss the company of others and the 'routine' I realised I was slowing down, and nowhere near as 'sharp' as I used to be, so I decided it was time to go. Sometimes, we have to accept 'what is' on an individual basis!

Far North Shared parental leave can only work in large companies/organisations where there are plenty of people able to take over the role of the "missing" person. Assuming that this was a desk based role (perhaps a call centre or similar) I can see no problem, but in a business such as ours it would be impossible. Where on earth would I be expected to find a highly qualified and experienced Engineer who would be happy to pop in for a few weeks here and there, if and when someone decided they wanted time off to look after their grandchild? This is the real world !