Age Without Limits Day: how you can make the most of later life

What it means to get older has changed dramatically over the past few decades. 

Approaching retirement no longer feels like the end. Instead, you arguably have more choice and control than ever before over how you spend your time after you finish working.

That even includes how you stop working. Instead of stopping immediately, you could reduce your hours slowly or even consider semi-retiring.

At the same time, you can usually access your pensions from 55 (rising to 57 from 2028). So, you’re entering a really exciting period of your life. You'll have the time to achieve your goals, and the ability to access the savings you diligently set aside during your career.

However, there’s still a negative perception of older people throughout society. That may mean you’re not as excited for this new life stage as perhaps you could be.

This is the exact problem the Centre for Ageing Better aims to tackle by holding its Age Without Limits Day on 10 June.

The campaign’s all about questioning ageism - that’s discrimination against older citizens - and helping everyone enjoy the same respect and dignity in later life as we do during our working lives.

Find out why the campaign is important and how it can help you get the most out of retirement.

Many over-50s report experiences of ageism 

As a society, we have a problem with ageism. Data shows that since turning 50:

• 31% of people have been patronised;
• 22% have been ignored;
• 20% have been poorly treated by a healthcare professional;
• 19% stopped themselves from taking part in an activity; and
• 15% have been dismissed by people, excluded from a social event, or experienced poor service in a shop.

Women are also more likely to experience ageism than men. For example, 36% of women over 50 have been patronised and 27% have been ignored, compared to 24% and 17% respectively for men.

Yet, while these figures paint a bit of a depressing picture, they don’t define what your later life can look like.

Events like Age Without Limits Day are a reminder that getting older doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying your life or being who you are. 

You can make the most of later life

Reaching milestones like turning 50 or retiring are a new beginning.

Whether you want to retire or keep working, the options you have for spending your time when you’re older are almost endless.

For example, you might:

• move into a new job role, perhaps in an entirely different field or in a consultancy capacity;
• travel or go on multiple holidays a year;
• pursue a hobby you were always interested in, such as learning a language or playing a musical instrument; or
• spend time with family, perhaps caring for grandchildren.

Not only that, but we’re also living longer than ever before. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), from 2022 to 2024, life expectancy for a 65-year-old woman was 21.2 years, and 18.7 years for men.

On average, you’ll have more than 30 years after you turn 50 to enjoy - that’s almost as long as your career. 

With that in mind, why wouldn’t you see that as a new opportunity to do all the things you didn’t have time for during your working life?

Whatever you decide to do, the key is effective planning. By thinking ahead, you can make sure that your older years are as fun and fulfilling as the rest of your life has been.

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Save for the future you want with PensionBee

Your age isn’t a barrier to enjoying the lifestyle you want. So don’t let your pension savings be, either.

Research shows that a one-person household needs an annual income of £13,900 for a minimum standard of living in retirement. For a two-person household, it’s £22,500.

But if you want a comfortable lifestyle, that rises to £45,400 for an individual, or £62,700 for two people (2026/27).

Whatever standard of living you’re aiming for, it’s key to build savings that can support it. With a PensionBee pension, you can contribute from as little as £1. You can flexibly change how much you pay in, too, so your contributions can fit around your earnings from month to month.

You could also consider combining your pensions, bringing old pots together in one place. That way, you'll have a single balance that shows you how much you have for achieving your later-life goals.

Then, when it comes to accessing your pot (from 55, rising to 57 from 2028), choose a withdrawal method that suits you.

Find out more about the PensionBee pension and see our range of pension plans.

Risk warning

As always with investments, your capital is at risk. Past performance is not an indicator of future performance. The value of your investment can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest. This information should not be regarded as financial advice.