Stories

Mon, 21 Sep 2026

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 I'd rather pay thousands on a holiday: Meet the pensioners spending the kids' inheritance

The phenomenon sees retirees spend all their money on enjoying life to the full.

* They have two adult daughters who don't expect an inheritance and are happy for their parents to enjoy themselves.
* The couple is part of a trend known as "skiing", where retirees prioritize spending their money in retirement over leaving an inheritance.
* According to a report by Standard Life, one in seven UK parents plan to spend their retirement enjoying life rather than building up an inheritance.
* In the US, 20% of people expect to receive an inheritance from their parents, down from 25% in 2014.
* Experts say that the shift towards "skiing" is driven by the fact that many retirees now have defined contribution pension pots which can run out, rather than guaranteed final salary pensions.
* Some experts believe that retirees need to be upfront with their adult children about their plans for their inheritance.
* A survey found that 69% of UK retirees have a private pension in addition to their state pension.
* Two women, Sarah and Karen Green, are interviewed as examples of this trend. They both enjoy traveling extensively in retirement and don't plan to leave an inheritance for their children.