Whether it’s a sailing boat for two, a holiday home in the sun, or simply financial security, we all have burning ambitions that make it a little easier to get through the working day.

But nearly half of over-50′s have yet to fulfill even one of the lifelong dreams they have toiled towards, this has been suggested by a national poll carried out by Saga Financial Services. The survey found that the favourite ambition was to be financially self-sufficient [53 pe cent], followed by the ability to provide ‘significant financial assistance’ to children or grandchildren [47 per cent].

Twenty-four per cent yearned to be free of debt, while 22 per cent said their ultimate goal was a once-in-a-lifetime holiday and 19 per cent wanted to own a dream house. But of those questioned, 44 per cent said their hopes had been thwarted so far – compared with only 14 per cent or one in seven who had achieved all of them.

The most common cause of disappointment, shared by 56 per cent, was down to their financial situation – something that is unlikely to improve soon for many in the current climate of pay freezes and redundancies. Two in five said they were still paying off debts, including mortgages and credit cards, and, worryingly, one in eight admitted they survived on their overdraft facility. One in 12 were paying hire purchae or finance agreements.

Poor returns on investments were second on the list of factors that dashed dreams. The problem was cited by more than a third of over 50s. This was followed by pension shortfalls, which have caught out 30 per cent of people. Just one in ten blamed ill-health. The most elusive ambition was moving into a luxury home, something 93 per cent of those who wished for it had failed to achieve. It is assumed from the survey that most are caught between their dreams and their debt. In this modern day and age many of these people are supporting university aged children or helping other members of the the family to get their own home. In addition another major factor is they are probably responsible for the care of elderly parent’s which is not supplied by a local authority or government department.

Are you one of these dreamers and been successful, can you help others wishing to be successful, please let us have your comments and advice, suggestions or ways of making dreams come true.

Food prices are likely to continue to soar next year, the UN warned. Costs have been ‘rising alarmingly’ in the last 12 months and remain volatile, the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation said. And there is more pain to come as the supply of wheat, other cereals and sugar is likely to fall.

The British Retail Conbsortium said recently that food price inflation of 4.4 per cent is adding around £230 to annual bills. Stapies such as bread and meat have seen huge increases in price. Families are also being squeezed by rises in other must-pay bills, such as petrol, energy and clothes.

The FAO’s Food Outlook report said “With the pressure on world prices of most commodities not abating, the international community must remain vigilant against further supply shocks in 2011 and be prepared. “For major cereals, major production must expand substantially to meet utilisation and to reconstitute world reserves.

Extreme weather conditions, including droughts in major growing areas in Russia, have been blamed for fewer crops being produced. City speculators have alos played a part in pushing up prices. The FAO said global cereal production would shrink by 2 per cent next year.