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08 June 2016, 01:00
One in seven people get under their partners feet in retirement
• Most people think it’s important to have your own space in retirement
• Volunteering, learning opportunities and hobbies are key to getting ‘me’ time
• Retired people more likely to entertain house guests and spend on doing up their home when they retire
• Volunteering, learning opportunities and hobbies are key to getting ‘me’ time
• Retired people more likely to entertain house guests and spend on doing up their home when they retire
While people may dream of a retirement involving staying at home and putting their feet up, the reality is very different according to new research. Volunteering, learning new skills and taking up hobbies are all common pursuits undertaken by people once they hit retirement and the likely reason for this is to avoid getting under their partner’s feet according to new research from Saga.*
The poll of more than 7,000 retired over 50s shows that one in seven people feel they get in the way of their partner when they are at home, perhaps explaining why seven out of ten people think it is important to have your own space in retirement. Couples are adopting strategies to deal with this issue, both in and outside the home.
Around a third of retired over 50s take a course and almost half volunteer for a local group or charity, limiting the time they’re at home**. One in eight people turn a room in their house in to an office or workshop and 3% create a games or hobby room in order to create some space for themselves***.
The good news is that people say they receive a lot more visitors when they retire, with friends and family popping round more often and around two thirds of people say that they enjoy spending more time in their home more now that they don’t have to go to work. Being around the home more often also seems to make people value their home more, one in five say that they are more house proud now that they have stopped working.
As well as spending more time in the home during retirement, people also spend more money on their house (24%) when they stop working. While some people give their house a new lease of life by decorating it (55%), others replace tired looking bathroom suites (38%) and fit dream kitchens (36%).
Paul Green, director of communications at Saga, commented: “The majority of working people look forward to the day they can hang up their work boots, but when retirement hits, many feel lost without a daily routine and it seems they can also end up at loggerheads with their partner. The key to a happy and satisfying retirement for many people is to find other activities to fill your time with that you can do together or by yourself. While many look forward to spending more time with their partner it’s clear from our research that people still like their own space and somewhere to escape to; whether that’s inside the home or outside of it.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
*Populus interviewed 8,854 people aged 50 over, online between 21st and 28th March 2016. 7,502 respondents are retired or partially retired. Populus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
**Populus interviewed 10,991 people aged 50 over, online between 19th and 25th May 2015.
*** Populus interviewed 8,854 people aged 50 over, online between 21st and 28th March 2016. 7,502 respondents are retired or partially retired.
The poll of more than 7,000 retired over 50s shows that one in seven people feel they get in the way of their partner when they are at home, perhaps explaining why seven out of ten people think it is important to have your own space in retirement. Couples are adopting strategies to deal with this issue, both in and outside the home.
Around a third of retired over 50s take a course and almost half volunteer for a local group or charity, limiting the time they’re at home**. One in eight people turn a room in their house in to an office or workshop and 3% create a games or hobby room in order to create some space for themselves***.
The good news is that people say they receive a lot more visitors when they retire, with friends and family popping round more often and around two thirds of people say that they enjoy spending more time in their home more now that they don’t have to go to work. Being around the home more often also seems to make people value their home more, one in five say that they are more house proud now that they have stopped working.
As well as spending more time in the home during retirement, people also spend more money on their house (24%) when they stop working. While some people give their house a new lease of life by decorating it (55%), others replace tired looking bathroom suites (38%) and fit dream kitchens (36%).
Paul Green, director of communications at Saga, commented: “The majority of working people look forward to the day they can hang up their work boots, but when retirement hits, many feel lost without a daily routine and it seems they can also end up at loggerheads with their partner. The key to a happy and satisfying retirement for many people is to find other activities to fill your time with that you can do together or by yourself. While many look forward to spending more time with their partner it’s clear from our research that people still like their own space and somewhere to escape to; whether that’s inside the home or outside of it.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors*Populus interviewed 8,854 people aged 50 over, online between 21st and 28th March 2016. 7,502 respondents are retired or partially retired. Populus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
**Populus interviewed 10,991 people aged 50 over, online between 19th and 25th May 2015.
*** Populus interviewed 8,854 people aged 50 over, online between 21st and 28th March 2016. 7,502 respondents are retired or partially retired.