The Adventure Gap: The Rise of the Boomerang Adventurer
The UK's over-50s are embracing adventure like never before, with new research revealing a quarter (25 per cent) consider themselves more adventurous in their 50s than they were in their 20s.
The rise of golden years adventure has prompted new offerings within Post Office life insurance cover to ensure people have their future planned as well as their present.
According to the new research from Post Office, 40 per cent regret not being more daring when they were younger. Now, they're making up for lost time. Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of over-50s describe themselves as risk-takers, with men being 10 per cent more likely than women to hold this view (29 per cent v 19 per cent). Bristol tops the list with the highest proportion of over-50s risk-takers (30 per cent), followed by Southampton (28 per cent) and London (27 per cent).
The enthusiasm for new experiences is clear, one in five (17 per cent) of over 50s dream of travelling to North America, with Asia (14 per cent), Africa (9 per cent) and South America (9 per cent) next on the list. Seeing the Northern Lights (32 per cent) is first on the bucket list, followed by going on safari (16 per cent) and learning a new language (16 per cent).
However, the spirit of adventure hasn't always been easy to prioritise. Over half (56 per cent) of those polled have felt unable to be adventurous at certain points in their lives. The most common barriers stopping over-50s from pursuing adventure earlier in life included becoming a parent (27 per cent), suffering a health concern (20 per cent), and buying a house (17 per cent).
Women have been disproportionately affected, with almost a third (32 per cent) saying parenthood put adventure on hold, almost 10 per cent more than men (22 per cent). The caregiving burden was also heavier on women, with nearly one in five women (19 per cent) feeling that their adventure was delayed due to caring for a family member, compared to just over one in 10 men (11 per cent).
50 marks a major milestone when people reclaim adventure. More than one in five (21 per cent) felt turning 50 allowed them to prioritise adventure again if they felt unable to focus on this at a previous point in their life.
However, while many focus on their immediate desires, like adventure, they often overlook the importance of long-term planning. Nearly eight in ten (79 per cent) have invested in home insurance, but fewer take steps to safeguard their future through life insurance, with just 39 per cent having life insurance in place.
This lack of preparation may be linked to the tendency of many over-50s to avoid thinking about negative events in the future. Under half (49 percent) admit to steering clear of such thoughts, with a quarter of them (26 percent) taking it so far as to avoid the topic altogether with no financial plan in place for the future.
Post Office's Paul Paddock said: 'It's fantastic to see the over-50s embracing new experiences and re-seeking adventure. As with any new chapter preparation is key, and we urge everyone to research the different types of life insurance products that are available to them to ensure you have the right life and critical illness cover for you. Having the right life insurance in place means you can enjoy adventurous experiences, without unnecessary worry.'
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North Wales Live
a day ago
- North Wales Live
The Adventure Gap: The Rise of the Boomerang Adventurer
The UK's over-50s are embracing adventure like never before, with new research revealing a quarter (25 per cent) consider themselves more adventurous in their 50s than they were in their 20s. The rise of golden years adventure has prompted new offerings within Post Office life insurance cover to ensure people have their future planned as well as their present. According to the new research from Post Office, 40 per cent regret not being more daring when they were younger. Now, they're making up for lost time. Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of over-50s describe themselves as risk-takers, with men being 10 per cent more likely than women to hold this view (29 per cent v 19 per cent). Bristol tops the list with the highest proportion of over-50s risk-takers (30 per cent), followed by Southampton (28 per cent) and London (27 per cent). The enthusiasm for new experiences is clear, one in five (17 per cent) of over 50s dream of travelling to North America, with Asia (14 per cent), Africa (9 per cent) and South America (9 per cent) next on the list. Seeing the Northern Lights (32 per cent) is first on the bucket list, followed by going on safari (16 per cent) and learning a new language (16 per cent). However, the spirit of adventure hasn't always been easy to prioritise. Over half (56 per cent) of those polled have felt unable to be adventurous at certain points in their lives. The most common barriers stopping over-50s from pursuing adventure earlier in life included becoming a parent (27 per cent), suffering a health concern (20 per cent), and buying a house (17 per cent). Women have been disproportionately affected, with almost a third (32 per cent) saying parenthood put adventure on hold, almost 10 per cent more than men (22 per cent). The caregiving burden was also heavier on women, with nearly one in five women (19 per cent) feeling that their adventure was delayed due to caring for a family member, compared to just over one in 10 men (11 per cent). 50 marks a major milestone when people reclaim adventure. More than one in five (21 per cent) felt turning 50 allowed them to prioritise adventure again if they felt unable to focus on this at a previous point in their life. However, while many focus on their immediate desires, like adventure, they often overlook the importance of long-term planning. Nearly eight in ten (79 per cent) have invested in home insurance, but fewer take steps to safeguard their future through life insurance, with just 39 per cent having life insurance in place. This lack of preparation may be linked to the tendency of many over-50s to avoid thinking about negative events in the future. Under half (49 percent) admit to steering clear of such thoughts, with a quarter of them (26 percent) taking it so far as to avoid the topic altogether with no financial plan in place for the future. Post Office's Paul Paddock said: 'It's fantastic to see the over-50s embracing new experiences and re-seeking adventure. As with any new chapter preparation is key, and we urge everyone to research the different types of life insurance products that are available to them to ensure you have the right life and critical illness cover for you. Having the right life insurance in place means you can enjoy adventurous experiences, without unnecessary worry.'
Wales Online
a day ago
- Wales Online
The Adventure Gap: The Rise of the Boomerang Adventurer
The Adventure Gap: The Rise of the Boomerang Adventurer The rise of golden years adventure has prompted new offerings within Post Office life insurance cover to ensure people have their future planned as well as their present Over 50s are embracing travel (Image: Getty Images ) The UK's over-50s are embracing adventure like never before, with new research revealing a quarter (25 per cent) consider themselves more adventurous in their 50s than they were in their 20s. The rise of golden years adventure has prompted new offerings within Post Office life insurance cover to ensure people have their future planned as well as their present. According to the new research from Post Office, 40 per cent regret not being more daring when they were younger. Now, they're making up for lost time. Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of over-50s describe themselves as risk-takers, with men being 10 per cent more likely than women to hold this view (29 per cent v 19 per cent). Bristol tops the list with the highest proportion of over-50s risk-takers (30 per cent), followed by Southampton (28 per cent) and London (27 per cent). The enthusiasm for new experiences is clear, one in five (17 per cent) of over 50s dream of travelling to North America, with Asia (14 per cent), Africa (9 per cent) and South America (9 per cent) next on the list. Seeing the Northern Lights (32 per cent) is first on the bucket list, followed by going on safari (16 per cent) and learning a new language (16 per cent). However, the spirit of adventure hasn't always been easy to prioritise. Over half (56 per cent) of those polled have felt unable to be adventurous at certain points in their lives. The most common barriers stopping over-50s from pursuing adventure earlier in life included becoming a parent (27 per cent), suffering a health concern (20 per cent), and buying a house (17 per cent). Article continues below Women have been disproportionately affected, with almost a third (32 per cent) saying parenthood put adventure on hold, almost 10 per cent more than men (22 per cent). The caregiving burden was also heavier on women, with nearly one in five women (19 per cent) feeling that their adventure was delayed due to caring for a family member, compared to just over one in 10 men (11 per cent). 50 marks a major milestone when people reclaim adventure. More than one in five (21 per cent) felt turning 50 allowed them to prioritise adventure again if they felt unable to focus on this at a previous point in their life. However, while many focus on their immediate desires, like adventure, they often overlook the importance of long-term planning. Nearly eight in ten (79 per cent) have invested in home insurance, but fewer take steps to safeguard their future through life insurance, with just 39 per cent having life insurance in place. Article continues below This lack of preparation may be linked to the tendency of many over-50s to avoid thinking about negative events in the future. Under half (49 percent) admit to steering clear of such thoughts, with a quarter of them (26 percent) taking it so far as to avoid the topic altogether with no financial plan in place for the future. Post Office's Paul Paddock said: 'It's fantastic to see the over-50s embracing new experiences and re-seeking adventure. As with any new chapter preparation is key, and we urge everyone to research the different types of life insurance products that are available to them to ensure you have the right life and critical illness cover for you. Having the right life insurance in place means you can enjoy adventurous experiences, without unnecessary worry.' For further guidance on the importance of life insurance, please visit Post Office life cover guides.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Europe's 'best value city' is stag and hen do hotspot with £22 Ryanair flights
Europe's best value cities have been revealed for 2025 and there's one that you'll definitely want on your radar for a city break packed with culture, great food and bargain prices Brits looking for a bargain break are in luck, as Europe's best value city breaks for 2025 have just been revealed. Topping the list is stag do and hen do favourite Riga, which had the cheapest overall cost for food, accommodation and sightseeing at 12 attractions, with a weekend break coming in at £252.63 according to research from Post Office Travel Money. The Latvian capital beat out 38 cities, with prices down 15 per cent year on year. In fact that means you could snap up a two-night weekend break at 3* accommodation for £123, and enjoy a three-course evening meal for £65.95. Although the research doesn't take into account the cost of flights, there are ways to add in your travel without having to make a big dent in your budget - in fact, you can find direct flights from the UK with Ryanair from £21.99 each way (although take note that this won't include an extra cabin bag, you'll need to pay extra). Riga has already long been a firm favourite with Brits after a fun city break where you can get plenty of bang for your buck. Throw in the countless bars, restaurants and clubs that make up its brilliant nightlife, and it's not difficult to see why this is such a hit with stag and hen parties. For those who want a dose of culture, the city delivers. Spend your days sightseeing at landmarks such as the iconic House of the Blackheads, wander through St Peter's Church, and while away a few hours on the cobbled streets that make up the picture-perfect Old Town. According to the Post Office research, a sightseeing bus tour will set you back £21.90, or you can opt for a 48-hour travel card for £7.01 to use public transport and do your own exploring. Foodies won't be disappointed in the city either; Riga Central Market is full of local vendors serving up classic Latvian cuisine, not to mention it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site if you're looking to tick some off the bucket list. For those who want a tipple after a day of exploring, a bottle of beer comes in at an average of £3.50, while a 175ml glass of wine will set you back £4.38. Europe's top 10 best value cities Riga, Latvia Vilnius, Lithuania Warsaw, Poland Podgorica, Montenegro Lisbon, Portugal Lille, France Gdansk, Poland Krakow, Poland Porto, Portugal Zagreb, Croatia Laura Plunkett, Head of Travel Money at Post Office, said: "Although city break holidaymakers need to keep a watchful eye on exchange rates, the real challenge will be the cost of accommodation in the cities Britons are considering. Successive City Costs Barometers have found big swings in hotel costs depending on how many rooms are available in peak months. "This year is no different and rising – or falling – hotel prices can have a big impact on city break costs. For example, Vilnius lost its top spot in the latest chart because the cost of accommodation has risen by over nine per cent since last year, while it has fallen over 20 per cent in Riga in the same period. When the cost of two nights' accommodation is excluded, Vilnius remains cheaper for British visitors at around £111 compared with nearly £130 in Riga."
