‘To try to make up the difference, there are a few options. The first and most obvious is to try to maximize and increase contributions wherever possible. This doesn’t have to happen every month; “even sporadic and irregular increases in contributions – as early as possible – can make a huge difference in bridging the gap to comfort,” Sweeney said.
He added: ‘If you decide to stay here for a weekend and save some money, why not put £20 into a pension (which will get an immediate boost of at least 20 per cent through tax relief, turning it into at least £24) and just do this whenever you get the chance.’
Sweeney suggests that any monthly payments you have that are stopped or reduced, such as mortgage payments, can then be redirected as pension contributions. This way you won’t notice the difference in your budget and you will make a noticeable difference in your pension pot.
According to him, another option is to add the amount you save on national insurance contributions if these are reduced on April 6 to your pension every month.
Again, you won’t notice the difference in your pay package compared to months before the cuts came into effect, but this could equate to hundreds of pounds per year below the average salary.
Higher taxpayers, meanwhile, can get an additional 20 percent tax credit by completing a tax return themselves each year.
Employers can also offer higher premiums if you increase your own contribution. While this means you’ll have to put more of your own money into the pot, it’s worth asking your employer so you can make the most of the benefits on offer.