Populus Poll

Volunteering

• Just over a third (36%) of Saga respondents currently volunteer their time to help others. Female respondents are, on average, more likely than male respondents to volunteer (41% of females vs. 32% of males respectively). Two thirds (64%) of respondents do not currently volunteer, but 7% of respondents would like to.
• Two thirds (64%) of respondents that volunteer do so once a week or more. 94% of Saga respondents that volunteer do so at least once a month.
• Saga respondents that do not currently volunteer but would like to are most interested in spending time with old people (23%) , helping children to read (17%) or working in a charity shop (11%).
• The most commonly cited reasons for respondents not volunteering are not having any time (31%), still being in work (22%) and not being interested in volunteering (14%).

Skills

• Seven in ten Saga respondents (70%) agree that they have gained skills throughout their working lives that they feel could benefit others. Over half of respondents (57%) agree that they would like to use the skills they have learnt to help others.
• 15% of respondents think they do not have skills that are valuable to younger generations. 31% of respondents believe they have valuable skills, but don't think younger generations would appreciate learning them.
• Younger respondents are more likely to agree that they have gained skills that could benefit younger generations (77% of 50-59 year olds vs. 61% of 80-89 year olds respectively).
• Older respondents are more likely to think they have valuable skills, but don’t think younger generations would appreciate learning them (39% of 80-89 year olds vs. 30% of 50-59 year olds respectively).

Financial gifts to grandchildren

• Two thirds (66%) of Saga respondents are considering, intending to or have already have given substantial financial gifts to their grandchildren. The largest proportion of which (31%) have already given their grandchildren financial gifts.
• Saga respondents who have loaned money to their grandchildren most often expect it to be repaid if and when their grandchildren can (29%) or have a schedule of payments worked out (19%). 27% have not discussed how the loan will be repaid.
• Respondents who have given their grandchildren money or a loan most often intended the money as a gift to spend on whatever they like (39%), for university education (23%) or for a holiday (13%). Very few say it was for when they started a family (2%) or got married (5%).
• When asked the reasons behind the gift or loan, respondents are most likely to agree that they wanted to see them enjoy the money (55%).
• Two in five (37%) say the money was an early inheritance. Those who say they have given the money as a gift are more likely to have given the money as an early inheritance than those that gave it as a loan (38% vs. 31% respectively).
• Respondents are least likely to say they gave the money because their grandchildren asked them for it. Those who say they gave the money as a loan are more likely to have given the money because their grandchild asked for it than those that gave it as a gift (36% vs. 5% respectively).
• Respondents are mostly likely to have funded the gift or loan through cash savings (74%). Respondents are less likely to have funded the gift or loan through investments (18%) or their pension (14%).
• On average, Saga respondents say they have given £9,360 to their grandchildren. Those that say they have given this money as a gift are likely to have given more than those that gave it as a loan (£9,865 and £8,867 respectively).

Cost of living

• More than three in four (76%) Saga respondents feel that their cost of living has increased over the past six months.
• Over half (55%) of those who feel the cost of living has increased have cut back something. Saga respondents are most likely to have cut back on eating out (33%), luxury food (24%) and buying new clothes (24%). Respondents are least likely to cut back on visiting family and friends (4%) and spending money on grandchildren (5%).
• When considering their household expenditure, respondents are most likely to agree that they regularly monitor their financial accounts (88%). They are much less likely to say that they do not have a grasp on household expenditure (7%).
• Respondents are most likely to say they are completely confident that they know cost of their rent or mortgage (79%). They also feel they have a good grasp on the cost of their health club or gym membership (72%), TV license (70%) and council tax (67%). The majority of respondents are confident that they would know their expenditure for all areas with the exception of food (22%) and vehicle fuel (33%).

Populus interviewed 9,105 Saga respondents, all aged 50+ online between 18^th and 24^th July 2017. Data was weighted to be nationally representative. Populus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules; for more information www.populus.co.uk