Retirement savings by age
It’s hard to predict how much you’ll need in your pension to enjoy a comfortable retirement because everyone’s circumstances are different. But one rule is broadly true: the earlier you start paying into a pension, the more likely you’ll be able to afford a comfortable lifestyle.
This is because:
- The earlier you start your pension, the longer your pension has to grow.
- The longer you pay into a pension, the less you need to pay in each month.
The following examples are calculated using PensionBee’s pension calculator. We’ve assumed your employer will contribute £100 per month and you’ll retire at 70.
Excluding the State Pension, how much do you need to save for £20,000 per year during retirement?
| Your starting age | Your monthly contribution |
|---|---|
| 20 | £210 |
| 30 | £320 |
| 40 | £520 |
| 50 | £910 |
Including the State Pension, how much do you need to save for £20,000 per year during retirement?
| Your starting age | Your monthly contribution |
|---|---|
| 20 | £80 |
| 30 | £140 |
| 40 | £250 |
| 50 | £460 |
Fortunately, most people earn more as they get older. So if you’ve started to pay into your pension a little later in life, you may be more able to afford to make larger contributions.
Use our pension calculator to see how much you might need to save to afford your desired retirement lifestyle.
Please note that our pension calculator assumes several important factors such as:
- Investment growth
- A % increase in your contribution each month
- You buy an annuity when you retire.
To read more about the calculator assumptions, please visit the pension calculator and scroll down to ‘What are the assumptions’.
Pension Auto-Enrolment
As of October 2012, the UK government has required employers to enrol their employees into a workplace pension scheme. As part of the deal, employers are also required to make contributions. Auto-Enrolment has increased the number of people paying into their pension from a younger age.
How much do people spend in retirement?
A lot of things change when you retire, including your financial outgoings. Depending on your circumstances, you may stop paying for some things and start paying for others.
| Costs that could fall | Costs that could increase |
|---|---|
| Mortgage payments | Healthcare costs |
| Pension contributions | Insurance premiums |
| Commuting costs | Lifestyle costs (holidays, hobbies, etc) |
In February 2024, the Pensions & Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) released an update to their Retirement Living Standards which help picture what kind of lifestyle we can expect at retirement at three different income levels; minimum, moderate and comfortable.
The report shows that single retirees would need:
£14,400 a year for a minimum lifestyle
£31,300 a year for a moderate lifestyle
£43,100 a year for a comfortable lifestyle.
And those in a couple would need:
£22,400 a year for a minimum lifestyle
£43,100 a year for a moderate lifestyle
£59,000 a year for a comfortable lifestyle.
At the minimum standard, retirees could expect to cover all of their needs, such as food (£75 per week), clothing (£630 per year) and housing. They’d also be able to enjoy a week and a long weekend in the UK every year, £20 on each friend or family member’s birthday present, and some DIY maintenance and redecorating one room a year. However, the budget leaves no room to run your own car.
At the moderate standard, retirees would see their food budget increase to £195 per week and their clothing budget increase to £1,500 per year. On top of this, they’d be able to enjoy two weeks in Europe as well as a long weekend in the UK every year. The budget for a moderate lifestyle would also allow for some help with maintenance and decorating each year, £30 on each birthday present plus the money to run a car and replace it every 7 years.
At the comfortable standard, the budget for food increases to £230 a week and the budget for clothing is to £1,500 each year. At this level, retirees could enjoy a fortnight 4* holiday in the Med with spending money, the budget to replace their kitchen and bathroom every 10/15 years, £50 on each birthday present and they’d be able to replace their car every 3 years.
Listen, watch or read the transcript of episode 11 of the Pension Confident Podcast and hear from Financial Journalist; Faith Archer, Head of Media Relations at the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association; Mark Smith and Senior Engagement Manager; Priyal Kanabar as they discuss how to prepare for a happy retirement.
How long will you need your pension?
When you’re thinking about the kind of retirement lifestyle you’d like to lead, you’ll need to make sure your pension pot is large enough to carry you through to your twilight years.
The average 65-year old can expect to live for another 20 years, according to the latest government data. However, many people live much longer.
Fortunately, there’s no limit to the number of years you can claim a State Pension. But at just over £10,600 a year, you’ll need to top this up with your personal pension if you want to cover more than essential costs.
How much do you need to retire?
No matter the type of lifestyle you want to lead when you retire, your options will be limited by the size of your pension pot. The larger the pot, the more it can pay out.
For example:
- a £285,000 pot could pay out up to £20,000 per year for 20 years.
- a £425,000 pot could pay out up to £30,000 per year for 20 years.
- a £575,000 pot could pay out up to £40,000 per year for 20 years.
It’s up to you how long you want to stretch out your pension to last; you could take out a larger amount for fewer years, a smaller amount over more years, or you could buy an annuity that pays out for the rest of your life.
Income drawdown
Taking out (drawing down) money from your pension in instalments is a common way to receive retirement income.
The first 25% of withdrawals are fax-free. And any further pension withdrawals will be considered taxable income.
Pension annuity
You can use some or all of your pension pot to buy an insurance product called an annuity. In return, the insurance company pays out a regular income for the rest of your life.
There are many different types of annuities, but they all share some common traits:
- You’ll receive regular payments.
- They’re not linked to the stock market (unlike pensions).
- Income is taxable.
An annuity may be suitable for those who prefer the safety of a guaranteed income, and expect to live to (or beyond) the average life expectancy.
Other sources of income
A pension isn’t the only source of income you could rely on in retirement.
You may also receive money from:
- Property rental
- Savings
- Royalties
- Other investments
- Taking on part-time work.
You could also raise money by releasing equity in your home, though you’ll want to speak with a financial adviser before doing so.
Whichever approach you take, deciding what to do with your pension is an important and personal decision. Sometimes circumstances can decide for you, but it’s generally a good idea to try and make your pension last as long as possible.
How much can you save for retirement?
There’s no limit to the amount you can pay into your pension, however there is a limit on the amount you can pay tax-free. You’ll pay tax on any payments over this limit.
The annual pension contribution limit
For most people, the total amount that can be paid into your pension is £60,000 per year or 100% of your income (whichever comes first). This includes payments from yourself, your employer, and the government’s tax top up.
If you continue to contribute to your pension after you’ve started to take money out of it, your annual tax-free allowance will be reduced to £10,000 a year.
Things are slightly different if you earn less than £3,600 or more than £150,000 (see How much can I pay into a pension each year?).
The pensions lifetime allowance
The pension lifetime allowance (LTA) was the total value that you could save across all of your pension pots without having to pay an extra tax charge.
The LTA was fully abolished on 6 April 2024 and was replaced with three different allowances:
- the lump sum allowance (LSA);
- the lump sum and death benefits allowance (LSDBA); and
- the overseas transfer allowance (OTA). Find out more.
Playing catch-up
If you’ve started paying into your pension a little later in life, or your pension pot isn’t as large as you’d like it to be, it may be worth making savings elsewhere in order to increase your contributions.
Our own previous research has shown that you could top up your pension by:
- £250 a month cooking at home rather than going to restaurants.
- £108 a month packing your own lunch instead of eating out.
- £100 a month buying own-brand products.
- £47 a month brewing your own coffee instead of buying out.
- £26 a month by switching utility suppliers and your bank.
Combine your pensions with PensionBee
Knowing how much to save for retirement is simpler when all your old pensions are combined into one easy-to-manage plan.
After combining your pensions with PensionBee, you’ll be able to:
- Use our retirement planner to see if you’re on track to meet your savings goal.
- Adjust your contribution amount up or down to meet your goal.
- Withdraw from the tax-free portion of your pension from the age of 55 (rising to 57 from 2028).
Risk warning
As always with investments, your capital is at risk. The value of your investment can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest. This information should not be regarded as financial advice.
Last edited: 25-07-2024
