THE GRIMMEST OF (CASH) REAPERS SPAM ME AS I TURN 55

I’M 55 years old today. Not that I regard that as a significant number and have any plans to celebrate it as such.

I’ll be on radio this afternoon and television tonight as I spend each Wednesday doing my work.

However, others are more than happy to remind me of my advancing years… and are trying to make money out of it.

They’re not going the right way about it though, especially those companies who have written to me as a ‘senior’.

Some of the stuff I’ve been getting in recent weeks has really wound me up. One insurance company invited me to attend a virtual seminar at which I could consider options for new part-time career choices, as my existing career came to its concluding stages. Does it know something I don’t?

A pension provider urged me to top up my account quickly to provide for the time when I’ll need it in the absence of any other income. Have I not invested enough?

But worst of all, one funeral services provider sent me an email offering me a savings plan to cover the costs of my burial and accompanying services. Is the Grim Reaper that near?

At least nobody asked me if I wanted to purchase a ‘senior holiday’. I don’t think the children would like to come along on that.

A number of things came to mind as a result of all of this.

One is that when I sign up for websites or apps in future I’m not going to tick the box allowing for my information to be given to third parties.

The second is that none of these companies are getting any more of my money in the future.

And the third was that it made me aware that so-called ‘older’ people can be in danger of being written off by some a bit too prematurely.

For those who want to wind down a bit, or retire early, then good luck to them, if they can afford to do that.

But if people of my age are going to live until their late 80s or early 90s, a not unreasonable assumption given extended life expectancies, as long as good luck holds, then we want to remain doing the work we love for as long as we’re able to do so, physically and mentally.

Experience, memory and maturity (if it exists) can be of use. And 55 is far too young to be writing anyone off.