I just turned 50 in October. I’m in very good shape physically, and at the top of my game career wise. My oldest will start college in a year and a half, followed by his brother two years later. My wife is still smoking hot. My parents just entered their eighties, which is a little disconcerting.
I don’t remember my 50s to be scary, but then, I don’t go out of my way to be scared. I had a steady job and a strong marriage the entire time and I did what I do best – enjoyed life.
The 50s are an age where things you were planning for don’t always turn out the way you intended.
I’m lucky, planned well over my lifetime for as many uncertainties as I could think of and things are all right overall. But in the year I turned 50, my husband died very unexpectedly. That was more than 7 years ago, and it changed a lot of my plans in a hurry.
We had intended to pay off our mortgage within 10 years. Instead, I pay it on my own (we planned for that) but won’t pay it off as quickly as we’d hoped. I’m self-employed and was on his health insurance. Now I’m grateful for Obamacare so I can afford a policy. I don’t have any health issues, but my husband’s death taught me that no one is sick or dead until they are.
Your life can change in an instant, and in your 50s you are more vulnerable to such changes. No time to start again if you lose a job (glad I’m self-employed!).
I have many good friends and they are wonderful, but it’s not the same as having a life partner. I miss that.
Still, my life is truly fabulous and I’m not complaining. I’m healthy, live in an enviable place and in an enviable way. Won’t spent a lot of time worrying about things that might happen but haven’t. 
I’m 47, so almost there.
So far things are good. But then again, I’ve tried my best to “invest” over the years. And just not monetarily… I exercise, eat right, stay out of legal trouble, etc.
But anything can happen, including bad things, obviously. I just try to minimize my risks.
Mid-50s here. I’m in fairly good health and have a stable and well paying job. My retirement portfolio is looking pretty good at the moment (after taking it in the shorts in 2008 it’s recovered mostly), so if we don’t have another major economic cluster fuck I should be ready to retire in a bit more than a decade, whether there is any Social Security or not (would be nice if there is though).
I think the scary part, for me, is that I’m starting to slow down and can definitely see the downward path and am feeling my mortality as I never did in my youth. There is still so much to see, do, read and experience, so it kind of sucks that my expiration date is starting to become visible. 
My parents are still alive, but they are definitely getting creaky at this point. And that is also scary as hell. Most of my dad’s siblings, which is the core of my own extended family are also getting VERY long in the tooth, those still alive. They are all in their 80’s and 90’s, those left, and they are all starting to really lose touch…kind of a view of things to come for myself, as well as just a sad thing to have to watch. I’m not sure what I’ll do when my folks finally pass…it is going to be extremely hard for me to deal with that. 
I honestly still enjoy my job, but I can definitely say that when I have all my ducks in a row wrt retirement I will be hanging them up without looking back. I think I’ve done a lot for the organization I work for, and hope they appreciate it, but when I can retire I’m out of there and they will have to find someone else to carry the water. Personally, I’m overall optimistic about my life and where I am and where I’m going. There are certainly some things to be pessimistic about personally, but overall…it’s been a good ride, and I look forward to seeing how it all plays out. I’m also really curious where the convergent technologies I’ve been watching and a part of are leading us, and I hope to stick around to see where things will be in 10 or 20 years. I also hope I live long enough to see a human expedition on Mars, one to an asteroid and maybe another longer one to the Moon. That would really be something, since I was a kid when we first landed on the Moon. Less likely, but hopefully I’ll also live long enough for the Game of Thrones to be finally finished…
I have to say this. One thing I hate about this board is that it does seem to skew towards people who have a pretty shitty outlook on life.
I mean you can say that for any period of your life:
20s - Sure you’re young, but you live with your parents and the economy sucks so you still can’t get your shit together.
30s - You’re not young anymore but you’re still single and your clock is ticking and your career is still in the shitter.
40s - Guess what? You’re not going to be Vice President of your department. Maybe you’re divorced and haven’t dated in 20 years. And by now you can’t even relate to those 20-somethings.
Maybe at 50 you get married to your second wife (who is 30) and you’re having your first kid which is scary but still wonderful and maybe you started that second (or third) career that you always wanted?
Try and lighten up people.
We should all live so long.
I was feeling pretty light and happy today, then someone crossly told me I had a shitty outlook. It ruined everything! 
In the dating scene, it’s not the same battle of the sexes it once was; though you still encounter those people who’ve come in afterward to shoot the wounded.
I’m going to go against what might be a popular bitchfest and say this is pessimistic. For a number of reasons, because you could re-write the above to fit any generation and make it pessimistic. The thing is, long before you get into your 50s you should be saving money and investing it long-term. You should have planned your retirement and planned what to do if you needed to coast until social security kicks in. As for employment, if you really fear after 50 you won’t be hired, then prepare to star your own business. I know a number of people who in their 50s were either fired or had a layoff, and then secured full-time employment and are still employed.
It all comes down to the individual. If you don’t keep up with trends in your line of work and aren’t personable, then you are going to be at a disadvantage.
The key to success at anything, is planning and going by the best information possible, and most importantly execute the plan. You are correct in being concerned, but I would say the same thing to someone who is finishing high school and doesn’t know what field they should get a job in or doesn’t know what degree to get in college.
For what it’s worth, I know of way too many personal success stories of people in their 50s and can only think of one who was forced into retirement. That guy, didn’t keep up with things and worst of all has a pretty shitty attitude and is very pessimistic when you talk to him about anything in life.
I hope I’m pessimistic. It seems like the 50s are a period where you have a lot of challenges and fewer resources to deal with them. You may be at the top of your game economically, but then again you may be highly talented and nobody wants to hire you due to ageism.
And yeah you should have money saved by your 50s, but if you are going to have to ride out years of unemployment and underemployment, that could deplete savings. Society has a lot of ways to help seniors (medicaid, medicare, social security, various senior discounts) but in your 50s you’ve got none of that plus you still may have kids who need help.
I do tend to lean negative in my outlook. I usually go to the worst case scenario when thinking of situations.
I doubt that many people can learn much from how my 50s went, given my atypical ride through life so far. After all, I finally became a dad right after turning 55. Still quite happy about that, thank you, at the age of 61.
So the family situation was good throughout my 50s, and continues to be good. Happy with my marriage, happy as a parent.
My 50s were a great time at work. Really hit my stride in my early 50s, and was kicking serious butt as my 50s ended. Was making good money throughout. (Got the house paid off two months ago!) Work’s become a bit more of a pain in the neck lately due to a reorg of my part of my agency that I regard as both ill-conceived and poorly executed, but either I’ll get used to it, or I’ll transfer to another division.
My parents (who divorced 40 years ago) are both living but very old and in poor health - Dad turns 90 this year, Mom next year. They both live locally, as do both my sisters, so my siblings and I are able to see them pretty regularly and keep an eye on them. I’d rather have them around and be worried about them, than lose them. but I know that’s coming before too long. So it goes.
But based on my parents’ health history and the shape I’m in, I probably have 30+ years ahead of me, and I’ll probably be in vigorous health for ~20 years before age catches up with me. And my observation from watching my parents’ generation is, no matter how well you’ve taken care of yourself physically, the 80s are a crapshoot. Maybe I’ll be lucky and will still be taking long walks with my son when I’m 90, or maybe I’ll be struggling to get around with a walker.
But that’s a long time off yet. My 50s were good, and at 61, I’m really pretty happy with my life.
I’m 60 so I made it through the 50s. I have not been unemployed since I was 14 YO. I plan on working another 7 or so years and am not worried about losing my job and could find another one quickly if I had to.
I’ve put away a good amount of money in IRAs, 401Ks, and 403Bs. I already receive 2 retirement checks now (military and a state pension from teaching college for 16 years).
My health is good. I can knock out a 100 mile bicycle ride or half marathon still. I do have various illnesses such as a heart condition, gout, asthma, arthritis, and a few other things.
I followed my father’s advice of “Keeping the eyes on the prize”. I made decisions based on the long term instead of instance gratification. For example I stayed in the military for 24 years even though I could have made more money at the time and wouldn’t have to go through all the silly crap. However now I get a nice retirement check plus nearly free medical care.
I went to night classes in college for about 9 years while working full time instead of sitting back and enjoying life. This allowed me to have a couple of different careers and make good money.
You say that like it’s a bad thing… Oops, did I say that aloud?
Oh. For mooching purposes only. Gotcha.
I’m 57 and have been enjoying my 50’s. I’m at the top of my profession, and am respected for the quality of the work I do. The kids are launched with the youngest turning 26 in a few days, with not too many disasters in their lives recently. The Mrs. and I are still compatible and attracted to each other (a nice bonus after over 40 years together), and our health allows us to travel some and do some fun hikes into the wilderness areas we enjoy visiting. My folks both died over 2 decades so I’ve already wrestled with those issues. Financially we’re strong and stable, and I’m even contemplating retiring circa age 62, with some thoughts of a second career where I work very part time. Or maybe not even that much.
Oh, and I’m still sober for nearly a quarter of a century.
I am slower and more creaky, to be sure. Getting over injuries and surgeries takes a LOT longer. And I use words like “consarn it” and “new-fangled” much less ironically than I used to.
But these are my good old days.
All this can turn on a dime. Ill health or economic upheaval or personal crises could upend all this stuff. All those things have caused me great grief in the past. I’ve been where you are at now, with horrible uncertainty and fear for the future. And survived it. So I won’t live in fear of those things in my future; I’ve discovered that life goes on and we get by. Somehow. Until we don’t. Pain and loss and sorrow will happen. But I’ll deal with it when it does. Just like last time.
Much truth posted so far. All I can say is a sort of pre-emptive planning suggestion: you want to avoid hitting 50 with any uncertainties in your life. You should work to make your life as stable and secure as you can, in finances, health and physical condition, emotional/family problems, and career.
I know that sounds kind of wishy-washy wishful thinking-ish, but I’ve known a lot of people who don’t think they’ll have any issues until the forms start coming from Social Security around 60 or so. They’re still financially shaky and overextended, have health problems that could be dealt with, making purchase and career decisions as if they’re 30, generally taking active and passive risks as if there’s endless time to recover from any wrong turns.
There is not. 55 or so is a bad, bad time to have your demons bite you. Too old to change tracks or start over, too young for much of any safety-net support.
You want your 50s to be a long, steady, pleasant jog. Those of you with time to prepare - especially mentally - do so. Now.
AB, low 50s and wishing I’d really understood this advice about ten years ago.
There is a difference between being pessimistic so that you internally continue to set yourself up for failure so you won’t be disappointed, and making plans to do your best to navigate through those situations. There is nothing noble in planning to play victim. If you are not in your 50s, then you have time to make serious changes in your life to better insulate you from things you fear. There is also a difference between doing “what if” and just being pessimistic, because the “what if” leans you to solutions, where being pessimistic just leans to being unprepared. I know people who continued to talk about how they would never be able to do X and would never have enough money, and that became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
It’s cheap to meet with a good accountant and/or a financial advisor and plan your future. Meanwhile, read books the Millionaire Next Door and the Automatic Millionaire.
I’m 48 and I’m looking forward to my 50s.
Our youngest will start college in three years. That could be scary, but since there is enough money set aside for both of them, it really isn’t.
My retirement accounts look pretty good. We’ve already “semi retired” - we’ve taken turns having a “real job” for the last three years. Currently, I have a real job and my husband dabbles. We don’t bother to fund retirement any longer and could live off savings if we had to - but since we’d rather let the retirement income grow, we live off the income we make, continuing to save towards and early retirement.
Health isn’t bad. I’m certainly not 20 any longer, but I’m not dead yet either.
So, kids leaving home, a few years left of real work, in decent health, most of the drama of life is done. I have my in laws and parents deaths to “look forward to” - but since they’ve all past the 70 marker, we are past the tragedy that comes when your parents die young and unexpectedly - and to the point where when it does come it will be sad, but not tragic.
Yeah, my parents are getting older and I don’t think my inlaws will last much longer, but that is the circle of life.
If you are young, take care of yourself. Don’t let yourself gain too much weight (it DOESN’T get easier to take off), continue to exercise. Save for the future. Spend time with your parents now. Continue to develop in your career. Always learn. Then there won’t be too much to fear.
Through my 50s, and they were pretty good. Didn’t have to look for a job during them, but I did get a job at 45 and then another at 46 with little trouble. The kids were old enough to be independent and went to college during this time, so we became empty nesters.
Stayed married throughout. And I don’t think I looked significantly worse at 60 than at 50. Not that this was a high standard.
I’m 56, have already been unemployed enough to cannibalize my retirement fund (though I’m back at work) and be foreclosed on (though I got out from under that).
I’m not worried at all. My current retirement plan starts with me having a stroke …
I’m hoping that in 13 years, 50 will be the new 30.
I remember thinking 50 was so old back when I was a kid. But now I’m surrounded by 50-somethings and it just doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. Some of them seem kind of “old”, but that’s because they are physically out of shape. I’m guessing that decades of bad habits really start catching up to a person by their late 40s. The ones who are committed to an exercise program and seem conscientious about their diets don’t seem any different from the 40-somethings I know. Except that they’ve got more gray hair and more attitude–I mean, self-confidence.
It does seem as if there is something currently “scary” about the 50s, though. According to this source, the suicide rate for people in their 50s has doubled between 1999 and 2010. The recession was really hard on this demographic, and Boomers–having been born and raised on American Dream Koolaide–are especially attached to the symbols of success (the “good” job, the “good” house, the 2.5 kids in “good” colleges, etc.)
But maybe times are a-changing. Perhaps we’ll see more people adapting to an unstable job market and eschewing the habits of previous generations. If the average retirement age gets pushed to 70, then someone who is in their 50s really doesn’t seem all that old.