It’s never too early to start your retirement planning. By taking small practical steps you can work out what position you’re in now and what you need to do next.

Here are a few things to think about if your retirement is a long way off:

1. Will the State pension be enough?
   The Basic State Pension and any earnings related additional State Pensions that you may be entitled to only add up to a few thousand pounds a year, which doesn’t provide much more than basic day-to-day living. And if your retirement is a long way off, there's no way to know what levels of State Pension will be available when you retire. Read about the State Pension to find out how much it is today.
2. Why is a pension such a good idea?A pension is a highly tax-efficient way to ensure you have an income in your retirement. It is designed for you to make payments all through your working life, keeping your money invested. Read ‘What are pensions?’ and ‘Why have a pension?’ In the pension information box on the right to find out more.
3. Where do I start?
   See how much you can afford to save for the retirement lifestyle you want, by trying out our budget calculator.
4. How much should I be saving?
   Try our pension calculator to see how much you might need to save to provide the income you need in retirement.
5. Where do I get a pension?You may be able to join an employer’s pension scheme or start your own individual stakeholder pension, an individual personal pension or a Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP). Use our information in ‘Your pension choices’ to help you decide
6. Can I use my pension savings for other things?
   You cannot treat your pension fund like a savings account. Once you put the money in a pension you won’t be able to get the benefits until you reach retirement age.

What next?If you’d like to find out more about what to do if retirement is a long way off, you can either follow the next link at the bottom of the page, or, if you prefer you can use the links to information and tools on the right.