Press release

One in eight people would choose a trip to the dentist over an hour of retirement planning, Which? research reveals

New Which? research finds millions of people are failing to get to grips with planning for retirement.
3 min read
Press Team

In December 2025, Which? surveyed 2,039 UK adults about retirement planning. Those not yet retired were asked whether they feel on track and those already retired were asked to reflect on how they’d planned for retirement - whether they felt satisfied they’d saved enough for the standard of retirement they hoped for, and what they might have done differently.

Worryingly, the consumer champion’s research revealed that half of UK adults who are not yet retired (50%) do not feel confident that they are saving enough for retirement, and a similar number (48%) did not know how much money would be required to have a comfortable retirement. According to Pensions UK, a single-person household would need at least £13,400 a year for a minimum standard of living, which includes just over £100 a week on groceries and a week-long UK break each year. This rises to £31,700 for a moderate standard of living, and £43,900 for a ‘comfortable’ lifestyle which includes multiple holidays and a 3-year old car replaced every five years.Which? found that anxiety and stress around the issue is leading millions of people to defer planning for their retirement, with four in ten (44%) reporting that they put off thinking about their retirement provision as it was too stressful, and almost half (46%) saying that they found the financial jargon around retirement planning confusing. So daunting is the prospect of retirement planning that the majority of respondents (66%) said they’d prefer to attend to other tasks - even those commonly perceived as unpleasant or uncomfortable - over sitting down to sort out their pension. 

For example, one in eight (13%) respondents said they would rather go to the dentist than spend just an hour planning their retirement, while a quarter (27%) reported that they would prefer to do a deep clean of the bathroom. One in ten (10%) said they’d prefer to make or update their will, and seven percent would rather sit an exam.

Others simply felt retirement seemed out of reach. Some respondents described feeling ‘indifferent’ about retirement planning, with one saying, ‘I have no spare money so it is what it is.’ 

Others reported being ‘too young’ or it being ‘too early’ to think about planning for retirement - yet the earlier people start saving for retirement, the better outcomes they’re likely to have. Indeed, of those already retired, around four in ten respondents (44%) said they wished they had started planning for retirement earlier.

With confusion and worry about pensions and retirement rife, Which? is expanding its free advice, and has partnered with Just Group to offer consumers access to Destination Retirement, a retirement planning platform designed to help people make informed choices about their life after work. 

The platform combines digital planning tools with access to retirement specialists, giving people the guidance they need to plan, manage, and feel confident about their future.

Jenny Ross, Which? Money Editor, said:

“Our research has shown that millions of people across the country feel unprepared for retirement, and are often too stressed or overwhelmed to sit down and take stock of their pension savings

“Everyone deserves to feel confident about their retirement plans, and Destination Retirement should help consumers take control as they approach and navigate retirement.”

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

-  Which? surveyed 2,039 adults in the UK between 16th and 18th December 2025. Fieldwork was carried out online by Deltapoll and data has been weighted to be representative of the UK population (aged 18+). 

- Find free Which? advice on planning for retirement here.

About Which? 

Which? is the UK’s consumer champion, empowering people to make confident choices and demand better. Through our research, investigations and product testing, we provide trusted insight and expert recommendations on the issues that matter most to consumers.

Fiercely independent, we put people over profit - shining a light on unfair practices, influencing policy and holding businesses to account to make life simpler, fairer and safer for everyone.

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