{"id":645331,"date":"2026-06-18T13:18:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T13:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/645331\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T13:18:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T13:18:00","slug":"i-cashed-my-pension-at-55-to-pay-off-8000-debts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/645331\/","title":{"rendered":"I cashed my pension at 55 to pay off \u00a38,000 debts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tony Watts worked as a chef for most of his life, including as head chef at several restaurants, before later taking over as manager of a fish and chip shop. But while he was focused on getting through each month, he never properly planned for retirement.<\/p>\n

Tony, now 65, from Yorkshire, joined a workplace pension scheme early in his career, but later opted out when he was struggling with debt and needed as much take-home pay as possible. He then continued opting out of pension schemes throughout much of his working life.<\/p>\n

Although his original pension pot continued to grow, by the time he turned 55 it was worth just \u00a38,000 \u2013 nowhere near enough to fund a comfortable retirement. As soon as he was able to access it, Tony decided to cash in the whole pot and use the lump sum to clear his debt.<\/p>\n

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\"\" <\/p>\n

Quick and life-changing tricks for a calmer, tidier home<\/p>\n

\nEasy habits to declutter your home\n<\/p>\n

\"DeclutteringI need someone to tidy up my attitude towards tidying. Who does one hire for that?
(Photo: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n

The habits audit<\/p>\n

Subconscious habits can cause clutter so take regular pauses to stop and notice what you are doing during the day.<\/p>\n

The re-entry reset<\/p>\n

Establish a routine you follow every time you come home so the entrance stays clear.<\/p>\n

\"TwoTwo young children wearing school uniforms exit their front door \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"ALate toilet training has become more common, putting pressure on teachers and taking up learning time (Getty)<\/p>\n

The exit mindset<\/p>\n

Each time you leave the house, take a minute to think: \u2018What can I take out with me?\u2019\u00a0To the tip? To the charity shop? To recycle? <\/p>\n

\nEasy habits to declutter your home\n<\/p>\n

The drop zone<\/p>\n

Doing a clear-out for charity doesn\u2019t need to be a big task. Have a donate box in a practical location to drop any unwanted items as you come across them.<\/p>\n

\"Man(Photo: Westend61\/Getty).<\/p>\n

\"Woman(Photo: Getty).<\/p>\n

Dedicated home<\/p>\n

Create a logical home for everything so it\u2019s easier to find and keeps everything in place.<\/p>\n

\nEasy habits to declutter your home\n<\/p>\n

The quick scan<\/p>\n

Each time you open a drawer\u00a0identify a few items you can bin, donate or return to their rightful home.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"WomanWoman carrying box while moving and cleaning up at home happily \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"YoungFollow these rules to declutter your own home (Photo: Nadzeya_Kizilava\/Getty\/E+)<\/p>\n

One in, one out rule<\/p>\n

To manage wardrobe clutter follow the rule that a new item can only go in if you give something else away.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The daily check-in<\/p>\n

Give yourself a few minutes at the start or end of the day to acknowledge the progress you\u2019ve made.<\/p>\n

\"WomanWoman Refreshing the Bed with Clean Bed Sheets in a Bright Room \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

It can be far easier to seek an internal promotion rather than a new job elsewhere<\/p>\n

\nThe statistics\n<\/p>\n

A trend of \u2018job hugging\u2019<\/p>\n

12%<\/p>\n

In January, available vacancies were down 12 per cent compared to a year prior.<\/p>\n

According to the ONS it marked 39 consecutive quarters of decline.<\/p>\n

51%<\/p>\n

of UK employees plan to stay in their current roles, as\u00a0Employment Hero\u2019s first Annual Jobs Report\u00a0shows. Four in 10 say competition is too high to take the risk.<\/p>\n

So how can you improve your current situation without leaving?<\/p>\n

Learn to humble brag<\/p>\n

Your wins don\u2019t always speak for themselves. Share them. Jump into conversations beyond your usual remit. How people see you today shapes the opportunities that come your way tomorrow. Even small updates can have an outsized impact.<\/p>\n

VICTORIA MCLEAN, CEO OF CITY CV AND AN EXPERT IN CV AND PROFILE WRITING<\/p>\n

\"DriveDrive Talent Investments with Strategic Workforce Planning. A female job-seeker answering questions during a job interview with a human resource manager in a business office. \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\nMake your case \u2013 with data\n<\/p>\n

\"ACaption: Mid adult man with eyeglasses sitting on a comfortable sofa at home, thoughtfully writing notes in a small notebook while natural sunlight illuminates the room
Photographer: Milan Markovic
Provider: Getty Images
Source: E+<\/p>\n

Keep a log<\/p>\n

The chances of your boss remembering what you achieved in Q1 by December is low so keep a success log. <\/p>\n

Treat it as a proposal<\/p>\n

Show impact, link it to organisational goals,
and outline future
value, says McLean.<\/p>\n

\"MaleMale candidate handshake with the recruiter at job interview \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"Remember(Photo: Shutterstock).<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be shy<\/p>\n

Ask your boss directly what you need to do to\u00a0be promoted\u00a0in the next six to 12 months.<\/p>\n

\nOffer solutions to problems\n<\/p>\n

Ask yourself: what\u00a0keeps your organisation awake
at night?<\/p>\n

Solve those problems and you shift from just doing your job to being a strategic asset.<\/p>\n

Sharing your ideas and views with the people above you can really prove what you\u2019re capable of.<\/p>\n

Proactively\u00a0initiate new projects
or processes.<\/p>\n

\u00a0It \u2018s daunting but getting people to see you in a more elevated position before you get there is really effective.<\/p>\n

\"WorriedCaption: Worried businessman biting his nail while waiting for a job interview with other candidates in a hallway of an office building.
Photographer: skynesher
Provider: Getty Images
Source: E+<\/p>\n

Ask for training<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a fantastic signal to show how serious you are about your development.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As careers are no longer linear, a promotion may not be in your current role, but perhaps in the same company in a broader role. <\/p>\n

Do some digging to find out what else might be available in\u00a0other areas.<\/p>\n

How to resolve the biggest rows that can end marriages<\/p>\n

Private school, sex and housework\u00a0can be some of the biggest causes of tension between warring couples. <\/p>\n

Mike Talbot, a psychologist, and chief executive of UK Mediation [below], reveals how to fix them.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nWhat couples row over\n<\/p>\n

Parenting and schooling<\/p>\n

\"YoungYoung couple having an argument. Woman is angry with man. \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Psychologist Mike Talbot says parenting can expose ideological differences in a couple. He encourages people to listen to each other, and find a \u201cthird way\u201d, something that they come up with between themselves, rather than sticking to one person\u2019s opinion.<\/p>\n

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OPINION<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

Money (or a lifestyle)<\/p>\n

\"ACaption: A mature couple sitting in bed and looking at each other angrily after a disagreement
Photographer: kupicoo
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto<\/p>\n

It\u2019s common for couples to disagree on their property or finances.<\/p>\n

Couples might have different ideas about what the best plan of action is for the future.<\/p>\n

Dr Talbot says its important to find \u201ccommon ground\u201d on what both parties wish for, or worry about.<\/p>\n

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Agony Uncle<\/p>\n

5 min read<\/p>\n

\nIncompatibilities around sex\n<\/p>\n

Dr Talbot has seen this when one person loses their sex drive. \u201cIt can happen when the couples get older, and she\u00a0loses her sex drive during menopause, whereas the guy\u2019s still as randy as he was when he was 20.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"YoungCaption: Young couple having relationship difficulties at home. Both about 25 years old, Caucasian people.
Photographer: GoodLifeStudio
Provider: Getty Images
Source: E+
Copyright: DAMIR MIHAJLOVIC<\/p>\n

\"MillennialCaption: Millennial black lady vacuuming floor while her husband watching TV, not helping her with household duties, cropped view. Unrecognizable young couple having problem with domestic chores
Photographer: Prostock-Studio
Provider: Getty Images\/iStockphoto
Source: iStockphoto<\/p>\n

Domestic workload<\/p>\n

We get people disagreeing about how tidy the house should be, how neatly dressed the kids should be\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n

This goes back to the gender stereotypes.<\/p>\n

The solution is to focus on value and to get the couple to think about the conflict in a different way.<\/p>\n

Being a grandparent
is complicated<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Celia Dodd, who looks after her grandchildren two days a week, says
there\u2019s a fine line between being supportive and interfering. <\/p>\n

Here she shares the things she\u2019d never say or do with her own family.<\/p>\n

\nWhat grandparents should never do\n<\/p>\n

Ignore parents rules<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to know what\u2019s expected rather than second-guessing what the parents want, and possibly getting it wrong.<\/p>\n

\"Rear(Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"ParentsCaption: Parents and young child moving into a new house, unpacking belongings from cardboard boxes
Photographer: Vladimir Vladimirov
Provider: Getty Images
Source: E+<\/p>\n

Send endless snaps<\/p>\n

Friends understandably get irritated if you keep sending photos and long videos, especially if they\u2019re longing for grandchildren of their own.<\/p>\n

\"BurnoutI\u2019ve made it very clear to my own daughter that if she needs full time childcare, she\u2019s going to have to sort that out herself (Photo: PeopleImages\/ Getty)<\/p>\n

What not to say<\/p>\n

I wouldn\u2019t do it like that\u2026<\/p>\n

The golden rule for grandparents \u2013 don\u2019t offer advice unless it\u2019s asked for, and never interfere \u2013 is almost impossible to get right.<\/p>\n

You might feel like \u2013 how can you\u00a0not interfere when you\u2019re doing your best to support the family? It\u2019s a fine line, and there are times when you\u2019re bound to get it wrong.<\/p>\n

\nWhat grandparents should never do\n<\/p>\n

\"Grandchild,Grandchild, twilight parenting, grandparents, grandmother, baby, exhausted, tired \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Assume involvement<\/p>\n

Although it\u2019s a shock, it\u2019s simply not on to drop in whenever you feel like it.<\/p>\n

Beat yourself up<\/p>\n

Being a grandparent is never 100\u00a0per cent bliss, despite what people say. Childcare can be boring as well as fulfilling.<\/p>\n

\"\"(Photo: Paul Bradbury\/Getty).<\/p>\n

\"TiredNaps before 1pm can lead to better cognitive performance in the following hours (Photo: Lord Henri Voton\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Admit tiredness<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t want them to stop asking me to babysit, and I certainly don\u2019t want them suggesting I\u2019m doing too much.<\/p>\n

\nWhat grandparents should never do\n<\/p>\n

Forget the years fly<\/p>\n

Grandparents have to keep finding new ways to keep the connection close, by tapping into what your grandchild loves doing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"ConflictConflict of family two generations old mother and adult daughter \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"GrandparentsGrandparents and their young grandchildren relaxing at home \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Dismiss the parents<\/p>\n

Even if you don\u2019t agree with the way things are done \u2013 like using gentle parenting \u2013
it\u2019s a big help to understand why they are doing it rather than just dismiss them. <\/p>\n

The price, size and variety of eggs differ<\/p>\n

But which is the best value
for money and taste?<\/p>\n

Food Editor Sophie Morris
tested 15 supermarket packs, scrambled and fried.<\/p>\n

Her findings? The most expensive wasn\u2019t the best.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nSupermarket eggs taste test\n<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

M&S Golden Yolk Eggs<\/p>\n

These shells win the beauty contest and the yolk colour is amazing when scrambled. 4\/5<\/p>\n

Taste the Difference<\/p>\n

These Sainsbury\u2019s eggs taste as good as they look with gorgeous orange middles and a rich flavour. 4\/5<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

St Ewe Rich Yolk Eggs<\/p>\n

These are \u201chigher welfare\u201d free-range eggs but the yolks taste no better than other high-end eggs, says Morris. 4\/5<\/p>\n

\nSupermarket eggs taste test\n<\/p>\n

Aldi Golden Yolk Eggs<\/p>\n

Winner! The Specially Selected eggs are a great price with a delicious yolk. 4\/5 <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Savers Small Eggs<\/p>\n

Morrisons Savers eggs are great for the price (\u00a31.10) but not rich in flavour. 3\/5<\/p>\n

Burford Brown Eggs<\/p>\n

They taste great, but not noticeably better than the other high-end eggs. The spend is more to do with\u00a0branding. 4\/5<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nSupermarket eggs taste test\n<\/p>\n

7Tesco Finest Bluebell Aruacana
The pale blue shells won me over but the insides are just as rewarding with a rich flavour.
4\/5<\/p>\n

8Waitrose Duchy Organic Eggs
Their sunny yellow middle scrambles beautifully into light, fluffy folds.
4\/5<\/p>\n

9Lidl Deluxe Golden Yolk Eggs
They\u2019re a great deal and the yolk is a lovely bright orange and the taste is\u00a0rich and eggy.
3.5\/5\u00a0<\/p>\n

\nSupermarket eggs taste test\n<\/p>\n

M&S British Free Range Eggs<\/p>\n

Large eggs with brown shells and a light orange yolk and they\u2019re a great price for high-welfare large eggs. 4\/5<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Ocado Large Free Range Eggs<\/p>\n

These are the best value large eggs that I try. The yolks are a dark yellow and the eggs turn out a lovely rich and fluffy scramble. 4\/5<\/p>\n

\nSupermarket eggs taste test\n<\/p>\n

Packington British Free Range Eggs<\/p>\n

Pretty white eggs with a yellow yolk that taste fine but, given the price, I expected a little more. 3.5\/5<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nSupermarket eggs taste test\n<\/p>\n

Waitrose No.1 Longstock Gold Eggs<\/p>\n

They are delicious: meltingly rich, they scramble into fat folds. They have beautiful green shells, almost too pretty to eat. 4\/5<\/p>\n

\"EggsCaption: Eggs are seen in a carton on Monday, April 13, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo\/Jenny Kane)
Photographer: Jenny Kane
Provider: AP
Source: AP<\/p>\n

\"ACaption: A detail of cracked egg falling into the pan as woman holds egg shells in both hands.
Photographer: SimpleImages
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\n

Asda Organic Mixed Size Eggs<\/p>\n

The yolk is a pale yellow and when scrambled the result is an unappealing yellowish grey colour. These are the most bland-tasting of the lot. 2\/5<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Food inflation could reach as much as 10 per cent by the end of 2026<\/p>\n

Why you should stockpile<\/p>\n

The\u00a0modern food system is incredibly efficient \u2013 but that efficiency depends on a constant flow and just-in-time delivery. Stockpiling, at its best, isn\u2019t panic buying. It\u2019s creating a small buffer between us and a system that was never designed to pause.<\/p>\n

S\u00e9amus Higgins, author of\u00a0Food and Us: The incredible story of how food shapes humanity<\/p>\n

\"ShoppingSupermarkets will find ways of holding down the price of the basics, and try to make their money on the fancy lines (Photo: Roy James Shakespeare\/Getty)<\/p>\n

\nWhat you should consider buying\n<\/p>\n

\"SmilingTap water is generally safe to drink in Europe (Photo: Klaus Vedfelt\/Getty)<\/p>\n

Bottled water <\/p>\n

While we are accustomed to free-flowing water, in recent years, supply has failed for a number of days in many areas of the UK.<\/p>\n

Canned essentials<\/p>\n

Morris keeps tomatoes, beans, pulses, chickpeas, lentils and fish in her cupboard.<\/p>\n

\"ChickpeasChickpeas are a great source of protein (Photo: Christian Mouysset)<\/p>\n

\"YoungMany of us like to add milk to our tea, so you may be wondering whether that affects its benefits (Photo: Maca and Naca\/Getty)<\/p>\n

Tea and coffee<\/p>\n

As prices vary, and are increasing, it\u2019s good to bulk buy if you can. <\/p>\n

\nWhat you should stockpile\n<\/p>\n

Dried goods<\/p>\n

A base of dry goods, like rice, pasta, oats and flour, are the backbone of a reliable pantry. Make sure bags are stored correctly and replace them when they go out of date.<\/p>\n

\"AsianCaption: Asian girl grocery shopping in supermarket. She is choosing fresh fruit juice along the beverage aisle, reading the nutrition label and checking ingredients on the bottle. Making a healthier food choice and balanced diet. Healthy eating lifestyle
Photographer: d3sign
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\n

\"CloseCaption: Close up of a woman preparing a wholesome breakfast by pouring oats into a bowl from a plastic free jar with fresh berries.
Photographer: Dougal Waters
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Digital Vision
Copyright: Dougal Waters Photography Ltd<\/p>\n

UHT drinks<\/p>\n

UHT dairy, squash and long life milks and juices are worth keeping for emergencies.<\/p>\n

\nWhat you should stockpile\n<\/p>\n

A well-stocked freezer is also important, but it doesn\u2019t need to be a huge space. <\/p>\n

Focus on versatility and rotation in fruit, veg, fish and bread, and buy what you\u2019ll use.<\/p>\n

\"Close-upCaption: Close-up of peanut butter on toasted bread on light gray plate. Food background.
Photographer: Yuliia Zaitseva
Provider: Getty Images\/iStockphoto
Source: iStockphoto<\/p>\n

Peanut butter, or a jarred treat like jam or Nutella, is also a good idea. <\/p>\n

Nut butters are a great source of protein, fibre, has a long shelf life and can be used on savoury and sweet foods.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Want to slow down brain ageing? Try a hobby<\/p>\n

\nThe hobbies that slow brain ageing\n<\/p>\n

Practise a musical instrument<\/p>\n

A study of 108 amateur musicians in the journal\u00a0Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences\u00a0found those with more musical experience had better attention control.<\/p>\n

\"CaucasianCaucasian mid adult patient writing a diary while recovering in the hospital ward \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"IVANO-FRANKIVSK,Caption: IVANO-FRANKIVSK, UKRAINE \u2013 NOVEMBER 13, 2022 \u2013 Musicians of the NAONI Orchestra (National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments of Ukraine) hold a concert at the Ivan Franko Academic Regional Ukrainian Music and Drama Theatre in Ivano-Frankivsk, western Ukraine. (Photo credit should read Yurii Rylchuk \/ Ukrinform\/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Photographer: Future Publishing
Provider: Future Publishing via Getty Imag
Source: Future Publishing<\/p>\n

Journal in the evening before bed<\/p>\n

Reflecting on your day supports your memory as you\u2019re rehearsing the things you\u2019ve done, especially if you do it with pen and paper, says Prof Catherine Loveday, author of\u00a0The Secret World of the Brain. <\/p>\n

\nThe hobbies that slow brain ageing\n<\/p>\n

\"CawdorThe flowering gardens at Cawdor Castle (Photo: Dennis Barnes\/Getty\/Stockbyte Unreleased)<\/p>\n

Garden for 20 minutes<\/p>\n

Connecting with nature replenishes cognitive resources and boosts vitamin D levels, says Loveday. <\/p>\n

Join a knitting group<\/p>\n

Knitting improves coordination and working memory \u2013 your brain\u2019s ability to store and use information according to the British Journal of Occupational Therapy.<\/p>\n

\"SeniorSenior female friends spending leisure time knitting while sitting at table in retirement home \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"IncreasingAs society sees the largest ever intergenerational shift of assets, younger clients will need people they can relate to, instead of relying on AI and social media for financial advice (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Learn a language<\/p>\n

Learning a second language helps improve our ability to retrieve words.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The hobbies that slow
brain ageing<\/p>\n

Games, like Minecraft, helps improve spatial representation, speed and reaction times.<\/p>\n

Reading fiction twice a week stimulates the language parts
of the brain, says Loveday.<\/p>\n

One study also found that chess players had better cognitive reflection and greater focus. <\/p>\n

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LIFESTYLE<\/p>\n

5 min read<\/p>\n

Why crossing your legs could be bad your health\u2026<\/p>\n

It\u2019s one of those every day moves that we rarely think twice about \u2013 especially when sitting for longer periods \u2013 but it could be inadvertently contributing to your back pain, high blood pressure or even issues like infertility.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nWhy you shouldn\u2019t cross your legs\n<\/p>\n

The fact it\u2019s comfortable doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s good for us<\/p>\n

62%<\/p>\n

of people prefer to cross their right over their left leg.<\/p>\n

While 26 per cent cross their left over the right and 12 per cent have no preference.<\/p>\n

S shape<\/p>\n

The natural shape of the spine when stood up is an S-shaped curve.<\/p>\n

But when we sit in a chair with our feet flat on the ground our pelvis is rocked backwards creating a C shape.<\/p>\n

\"AIn some people, blood pressure stays high despite medication, and hormones may be the reason (Photo: Tatiana Maksimova\/Getty Images\/Moment RF)<\/p>\n

How does it impact blood pressure?<\/p>\n

We\u2019re restricting venous return of blood from peripheral tissues like the foot going back to the heart.<\/p>\n

Says Adam Taylor, Professor and Director of the Clinical Anatomy Learning Centre, at Lancaster University. <\/p>\n

Although your blood pressure should drop once you move from the position, it can have longer term impacts if you have pre-existing conditions like diabetes.<\/p>\n

\nHow it can impact the nervous system\n<\/p>\n

In extreme it can
lead to a phenomenon
called foot drop.<\/p>\n

\"SeniorSenior woman on sofa feeling and suffering from back pain. \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Over the short term crossing can give you pins and needles. If you leave it there for half an hour, an hour, or longer, you can actually interfere with the muscular function of the muscles, says Taylor. <\/p>\n

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LIFESTYLE<\/p>\n

5 min read<\/p>\n

How it impacts posture<\/p>\n

\"A(Photo: Justin Paget\/ Getty).<\/p>\n

Sam Bhide, advanced physiotherapy practitioner, believes the main impact of sitting cross-legged is gluteal tendonitis,\u00a0resulting in moderate to severe hip pain.<\/p>\n

One study<\/a>\u00a0found that sitting cross-legged leads to a bent and asymmetrical posture and other research shows it increasing the misalignment of the hips.<\/p>\n

How it impacts fertility<\/p>\n

We know that crossing your legs warms up the groin area by somewhere in the remit of three degrees. If you are a man who sits with your legs crossed for a prolonged period of time, that is not good for sperm production.<\/p>\n

ADAM TAYLOR, PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF THE CLINICAL ANATOMY LEARNING CENTRE<\/p>\n

\"Undated(Photo: Andrew Matthews\/PA).<\/p>\n

\nHow to fix it\n<\/p>\n

\"IncorrectCaption: Incorrect seated posture.
Photographer: Science Photo Library
Provider: Getty Images\/Science Photo Libra
Source: Science Photo Library RF<\/p>\n

Get out of the habit<\/p>\n

If crossing our legs is the cause, then the obvious solution is to do it less.<\/p>\n

Microbreaks<\/p>\n

Take time off from sitting, and put your musculoskeletal system through a normal range of motion.<\/p>\n

\"\"There are many ways to improve your finances this Easter (Amr Bo Shanab\/Getty Images\/fStop)<\/p>\n

\"A(Photo: Justin Paget\/Getty).<\/p>\n

Focus on symmetry<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a right over left leg crosser, try crossing the other way, so those forces are at least going\u00a0through the body equally.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Tony later began saving into a pension again from scratch, but three years ago he was made redundant.<\/p>\n

He now works as a cashier at B&M and has joined its workplace pension scheme. He is also due to receive the full state pension when he reaches state pension age in a year or two. <\/p>\n

But he fears this still will not be enough to allow him to retire unless he receives an inheritance or releases money from his home.<\/p>\n

Tony, who lives on his own, has paid off the mortgage on his three-bedroom house, which was recently valued at \u00a3260,000, and is considering downsizing to a smaller property to free up cash.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing honest, I can\u2019t see a way I\u2019ll ever be able to retire unless I inherit some money or sell my house. I have no savings whatsoever,\u201d Tony said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had racked up quite a lot of credit card debt that I needed to clear, and everyday living costs, plus staying on top of the debt, took priority over saving for retirement.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t really mind working, as it keeps me active and social, but it does mean I\u2019ve had to sacrifice other things I wanted to do in my later years, like travelling and spending more time on hobbies, which I obviously regret.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve just always lived in the here and now, and I chose to keep more money when I was younger rather than saving for later, so this is the consequence of that choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cI am expecting that one day I might inherit a bit of money, so I might be able to use that to achieve my other goals, like travelling, but I know I can\u2019t rely on that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Millions still facing pension poverty<\/p>\n

Scottish Widows\u2019 latest Retirement Report found that 31 per cent of people are on track for poverty in retirement, although this is an improvement on the 39 per cent recorded last year.<\/p>\n

However, it warned that a large proportion of the population is still not saving enough to achieve even a basic standard of living once they stop work.<\/p>\n

According to Pensions UK, a single person typically needs an annual income of around \u00a345,000 to enjoy a \u201ccomfortable\u201d retirement in the UK, while around \u00a332,700 is needed for a moderate retirement and \u00a313,900 is needed for a minimum standard of living.<\/p>\n

The full new state pension currently pays \u00a312,547.60 per year, meaning someone relying solely on this income would fall short even of the minimum retirement living standard.<\/p>\n

This leaves many older workers facing difficult choices as they approach retirement age, including continuing to work, relying heavily on the state pension, downsizing their homes, or hoping for an inheritance to help fund later life.<\/p>\n

Groups at particular risk of poverty in retirement include self-employed workers who do not save into a personal pension, women who take time off work or reduce their hours to care for children, and people on lower incomes where pension contributions feel unaffordable.<\/p>\n

How to boost your pension<\/p>\n

It is worth staying enrolled in your workplace pension scheme wherever possible. Your employer must contribute to your pension if you are eligible for automatic enrolment \u2013 usually a minimum of three per cent of your qualifying earnings. If you opt out, you lose this free money.<\/p>\n

If you can afford to, increasing your pension contributions even by a small amount can make a significant difference over the long term. This is because of compounding, where investment returns grow your pot and boost your returns further, helping your pension grow faster over time.<\/p>\n

Andrew Tully, technical services director at Nucleus Financial, said: \u201cContributing consistently to your pension throughout your working life is one of the most effective financial decisions you can make thanks to the power of compounding, which means that every pound saved today is worth significantly more in retirement.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven modest increases to your contributions can have a dramatic impact over a 30 or 40-year savings journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you are self-employed, it is worth opening and contributing to a personal pension if you can. You won\u2019t benefit from employer contributions, but you can still receive pensions tax relief, where the government effectively tops up your pension with the money you would have paid in income tax.<\/p>\n

Another way to boost your retirement savings is to track down any old workplace pensions you may have lost touch with after changing jobs.<\/p>\n

There is an estimated \u00a331.1bn sitting in lost pension pots in the UK, according to the latest research from the Pensions Policy Institute, so it is worth checking whether any of this money belongs to you.<\/p>\n

You can use the Government\u2019s Pension Tracing Service to find contact details for old workplace or personal pension schemes. It will not tell you whether you have a pension or how much it is worth, but it can help you contact the provider.<\/p>\n

It may also be worth considering whether to consolidate older pensions into one pot, particularly if they have high charges. This can make your savings easier to monitor and help you see whether you are on track for retirement.<\/p>\n

However, you should check carefully before transferring a pension, as some older schemes may have valuable benefits, guarantees or exit fees that could be lost if you move the money elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Steve Watson, director of policy & research, Cushon, said it\u2019s also worth getting a state pension forecast before retiring so you know how much you\u2019ll have coming in that way. You can check by visiting: https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/check-state-pension.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen check your workplace pension to see what that\u2019s likely to add up to. With these things figured out, it becomes much easier to make decisions,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can work out whether you can afford to retire fully, cut down hours at work further, or keep going longer than originally thought.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tony Watts worked as a chef for most of his life, including as head chef at several restaurants,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":645332,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[84,460,4176,4178,4174,4175,4204,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-645331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-personal-finance","tag-business","tag-debt","tag-finance","tag-pensions","tag-personal-finance","tag-personalfinance","tag-retirement","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/645331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=645331"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/645331\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/645332"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=645331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=645331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=645331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}