David Saunders
Once upon a time, women over 50 were expected to wind down, lean into knitting, and wait politely for the kettle to boil. Not anymore. According to new research commissioned by Ford Money, the modern mid-lifer is more Indiana Jones than Miss Marple.
Surveying 2,000 women over 50, the study reveals a seismic shift in attitude. Topping the bucket list? A front-row seat to the Northern Lights, with 54% longing to chase the auroras across Scandinavian skies. Right behind that celestial dream, 48% want to roll through Europe aboard the Orient Express, and 31% are itching to hear the roar of Niagara Falls up close.
But it’s not all stamps in the passport. Thirty percent of respondents are setting their sights on learning a new language, while others are dreaming closer to home — 19% are determined to grow the perfect garden, and 18% are ready to pack up and move to a whole new country.
Forget slippers and Sudoku. These women want more — and they’re planning for it. A confident 27% said their ultimate goal is financial independence, with ambitions also including penning novels (18%), launching businesses (10%), and volunteering (16%).
This isn’t a crisis. It’s a comeback.
As Monna Patel, Operations Manager at Ford Money, puts it: “The results clearly show that life in your 50s and 60s is not about winding down like previous stereotypes suggested. Today’s generation of women are embracing this chapter with real ambition, focussed on goals like travel, buying property and achieving financial freedom.”
| Aspiration | % of Over-Fifties Females |
|---|---|
| See the Northern Lights | 54% |
| Travel on the Orient Express | 48% |
| Have afternoon tea at The Ritz | 34% |
| Visit Niagara Falls | 31% |
| Eat pasta in Rome | 31% |
| Learn a new language | 30% |
| Go on safari | 28% |
| Buy a holiday home | 28% |
| See the sunrise over the Grand Canyon | 27% |
| Be financially independent | 27% |
| Drive Route 66 across America | 24% |
| Walk the Great Wall of China | 21% |
| Watch the solstice at Stonehenge | 21% |
| Create the perfect garden | 19% |
| Move to another country | 18% |
| Write a novel | 18% |
| Build a family tree | 17% |
| See the Sistine Chapel | 17% |
| Go to Wimbledon | 16% |
| Walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge | 16% |
| Volunteer for charity | 16% |
| Be an extra on TV | 14% |
| Take dance lessons | 14% |
| Win at bingo | 12% |
| Go to Glastonbury | 12% |
| Get a tattoo | 11% |
| Be a zookeeper for a day | 11% |
| Go to Edinburgh Fringe | 11% |
| Learn to paint | 11% |
| Start a business | 10% |
Indeed, 73% of those surveyed believe this time in life is not a period of crisis, but a ‘mid-life glow-up’ — a renaissance fuelled by confidence and clarity. Two-thirds (61%) say they’ve discovered a new outlook on life in their 50s, while nearly three-quarters (74%) report feeling more content now than in their younger years. Perhaps it’s the realisation that life’s too short for bad wine and unsolicited opinions.
Confidence is rising faster than a soufflé on Bake Off — and it’s no mystery why. Over half (56%) of women over 50 say they now care less about what others think. Add to that a shift in priorities (54%), an awakening to what really matters (also 54%), and more time to focus on themselves (36%).
Even their bank balances are getting in on the action. Nearly half (48%) are regularly setting money aside, proof that planning isn’t just for accountants — it’s for adventurers in lipstick and walking boots.
“For many,” says Patel, “having money set aside is the key to unlocking these exciting ambitions. It’s not just a safety net; it’s the essential fuel that gives us the freedom to live life exactly how we choose.
While it’s great that many feel confident and that they can fund their dreams, it’s also important to back that confidence with a plan. Actively thinking about those bigger goals and weaving them into our finances each month is how we turn them into a reality.”
And here’s the kicker: 61% of respondents believe women over 50 today are more active and adventurous than previous generations. And frankly, they’re right.
So, next time someone suggests a woman over 50 should slow down, hand them this article — and maybe a passport application. Because if this is mid-life, it’s looking remarkably like the prime of life.
