pensions Archives - Pounds and Sense https://www.poundsandsense.com/tag/pensions/ A UK blog covering personal finance and much more from an over-60 perspective Mon, 25 May 2026 13:52:55 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.poundsandsense.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/coffeespecs-150x150.png pensions Archives - Pounds and Sense https://www.poundsandsense.com/tag/pensions/ 32 32 Money-Saving Perks and Discounts for Retired People in the UK https://www.poundsandsense.com/money-saving-perks-and-discounts-for-retired-people-in-the-uk/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=money-saving-perks-and-discounts-for-retired-people-in-the-uk https://www.poundsandsense.com/money-saving-perks-and-discounts-for-retired-people-in-the-uk/#respond Mon, 25 May 2026 13:51:40 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=14581 Retirement can be a wonderful stage of life, bringing more freedom and time to enjoy yourself. But for many people, it can also mean adjusting to a lower income and watching the pennies more carefully than before. The good news is that there are plenty of money-saving perks and discounts available specifically for retired and […]

The post Money-Saving Perks and Discounts for Retired People in the UK appeared first on Pounds and Sense.

]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/money-saving-perks-and-discounts-for-retired-people-in-the-uk/feed/ 0 What Is an Annuity – and Who Should Consider Buying One? https://www.poundsandsense.com/what-is-an-annuity-and-who-should-consider-buying-one/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-is-an-annuity-and-who-should-consider-buying-one https://www.poundsandsense.com/what-is-an-annuity-and-who-should-consider-buying-one/#comments Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:00:55 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=14410 If you’re approaching retirement (or have retired already), you’ve probably come across the term annuity. For some people it represents security and peace of mind. For others it feels restrictive and poor value. So what exactly is an annuity – and who should consider buying one? Let’s take a closer look. What Is an Annuity? […]

The post What Is an Annuity – and Who Should Consider Buying One? appeared first on Pounds and Sense.

]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/what-is-an-annuity-and-who-should-consider-buying-one/feed/ 2 Should You Take a Tax-Free Lump Sum from Your Pension Now? https://www.poundsandsense.com/should-you-take-a-tax-free-lump-sum-from-your-pension-now/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=should-you-take-a-tax-free-lump-sum-from-your-pension-now https://www.poundsandsense.com/should-you-take-a-tax-free-lump-sum-from-your-pension-now/#respond Tue, 11 Nov 2025 10:41:37 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=12654 As speculation mounts ahead of Rachel Reeves’ upcoming budget on 26 November 2025, many UK retirees and those approaching retirement are wondering if now is the right time to take a tax-free lump sum from their pension. Already it appears growing numbers have been doing just that in anticipation of a possible tightening of the […]

The post Should You Take a Tax-Free Lump Sum from Your Pension Now? appeared first on Pounds and Sense.

]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/should-you-take-a-tax-free-lump-sum-from-your-pension-now/feed/ 0 Winter Fuel Payment 2025/26 – What Pensioners Need to Know https://www.poundsandsense.com/winter-fuel-payment-2025-26-what-pensioners-need-to-know/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=winter-fuel-payment-2025-26-what-pensioners-need-to-know https://www.poundsandsense.com/winter-fuel-payment-2025-26-what-pensioners-need-to-know/#respond Sat, 25 Oct 2025 10:17:59 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=13905 As you doubtless know, one of the first acts of the new Labour government last year was to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) for all but the very poorest pensioners (those eligible for pension credit). Such was the outcry they had to backtrack and most pensioners will now receive WFP this winter – but […]

The post Winter Fuel Payment 2025/26 – What Pensioners Need to Know appeared first on Pounds and Sense.

]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/winter-fuel-payment-2025-26-what-pensioners-need-to-know/feed/ 0 Annuity or Drawdown? Weighing Up Your Pension Income Options After 50 https://www.poundsandsense.com/annuity-or-drawdown-weighing-up-your-pension-income-options-after-50/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=annuity-or-drawdown-weighing-up-your-pension-income-options-after-50 https://www.poundsandsense.com/annuity-or-drawdown-weighing-up-your-pension-income-options-after-50/#respond Thu, 09 Oct 2025 10:18:25 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=13874 As you approach retirement, one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll face is how to turn your pension savings into a reliable income. Two of the main options are buying an annuity or using a pension drawdown strategy. Both approaches have pros and cons, and which is right for you will depend on your circumstances, […]

The post Annuity or Drawdown? Weighing Up Your Pension Income Options After 50 appeared first on Pounds and Sense.

]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/annuity-or-drawdown-weighing-up-your-pension-income-options-after-50/feed/ 0 Dividend Investing vs Total Return: Which Works Best for Income Investors? https://www.poundsandsense.com/dividend-investing-vs-total-return-which-works-best-for-income-investors/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dividend-investing-vs-total-return-which-works-best-for-income-investors https://www.poundsandsense.com/dividend-investing-vs-total-return-which-works-best-for-income-investors/#respond Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:00:06 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=13749 As we move into our 50s and beyond, many of us start to shift focus from building wealth to drawing income from our investments. But when it comes to generating that income, there are two main approaches investors tend to consider: dividend investing and a total return strategy. Both can work, but they operate on […]

The post Dividend Investing vs Total Return: Which Works Best for Income Investors? appeared first on Pounds and Sense.

]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/dividend-investing-vs-total-return-which-works-best-for-income-investors/feed/ 0 Where to Get Pension Advice https://www.poundsandsense.com/where-to-get-pension-advice/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=where-to-get-pension-advice https://www.poundsandsense.com/where-to-get-pension-advice/#respond Fri, 16 May 2025 11:25:06 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=13365 Whether you’re just starting, mid-career, or approaching retirement age, getting the right pension advice is crucial to ensure a secure and comfortable future. Fortunately, there are many places in the UK (both free and paid) that offer pension guidance and tailored advice. In this blog post, we’ll explore reasons why you need pension advice, the […]

The post Where to Get Pension Advice appeared first on Pounds and Sense.

]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/where-to-get-pension-advice/feed/ 0 Why UK Retirees Shouldn’t Panic Over Trump’s Tariffs and Market Wobbles https://www.poundsandsense.com/why-uk-retirees-shouldnt-panic-over-trumps-tariffs-and-market-wobbles/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-uk-retirees-shouldnt-panic-over-trumps-tariffs-and-market-wobbles https://www.poundsandsense.com/why-uk-retirees-shouldnt-panic-over-trumps-tariffs-and-market-wobbles/#respond Sat, 19 Apr 2025 09:29:54 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=13263 If you’ve been watching the news lately, you’ll probably have seen headlines about stock markets taking a tumble thanks to a wave of tariffs announced by Donald Trump. It’s enough to make any retiree feel uneasy – especially if your pension is tied to the markets. But before you start panicking or making any big […]

The post Why UK Retirees Shouldn’t Panic Over Trump’s Tariffs and Market Wobbles appeared first on Pounds and Sense.

]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/why-uk-retirees-shouldnt-panic-over-trumps-tariffs-and-market-wobbles/feed/ 0 Will You Get the Warm Home Discount? https://www.poundsandsense.com/can-you-get-the-warm-home-discount/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=can-you-get-the-warm-home-discount https://www.poundsandsense.com/can-you-get-the-warm-home-discount/#comments Wed, 16 Oct 2024 10:33:09 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=2383 Today I am looking at the Warm Home Discount scheme. The 2024/25 version of this has just launched. The WHD scheme provides people on low incomes and/or certain means-tested benefits with a discount of £150 on their electricity bill. This is a one-off payment that will be credited to your electricity account by March 2025. […]

The post Will You Get the Warm Home Discount? appeared first on Pounds and Sense.

]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/can-you-get-the-warm-home-discount/feed/ 12 How to Reduce the Impact of Tax Rises in Rachel Reeves’ First Budget https://www.poundsandsense.com/how-to-reduce-the-impact-of-tax-rises-in-rachel-reeves-first-budget/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-reduce-the-impact-of-tax-rises-in-rachel-reeves-first-budget https://www.poundsandsense.com/how-to-reduce-the-impact-of-tax-rises-in-rachel-reeves-first-budget/#respond Thu, 22 Aug 2024 11:06:19 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=12453 Updated and expanded 13 October 2024 The first budget under new Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves is scheduled for Wednesday 30 October 2024. Speculation is rife about potential tax rises aimed at addressing the country’s economic challenges. But while tax increases appear inevitable, there is still time to take proactive steps to minimize their impact on […]

The post How to Reduce the Impact of Tax Rises in Rachel Reeves’ First Budget appeared first on Pounds and Sense.

]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/how-to-reduce-the-impact-of-tax-rises-in-rachel-reeves-first-budget/feed/ 0