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Original poster

Should I pause my pension contributions while money is very tight?

127 replies

ThePoisedOpalBird · 22/09/2026 12:46

I am due to return to my 2 day week part time job in January. Money is super super tight with around £150 'spare' each month due to lots of debt.

I only earn about 12.5k a year so my pension contribution is about £30 per month. Am I better off not contibuting that £30 and putting it towards our living costs/debt?

Everyone says how important it is to contribute to a pension but at £30 it doesn't feel worth contibuting it and would be better used for living costs or debt?

Just want some opinions as I feel very stressed about money and I want to do the right thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThePoisedOpalBird · 22/09/2026 13:22

Doubleknow · 22/09/2026 13:16

Hmm. I suspect odd priorities are a reason you've got all tbis debt?

It's not easy to change entrenched attitudes but £30 pm is £360 a year. It does make a difference. The old look after the pennies and the pounds look after themselves really does work.

Show quote history

Moving out at 18 on my own and lots of mistakes caused the vast majority of my debt (plus some sick leave from my partner during my unpaid maternity leave)

OP posts:
Upsetbetty · 22/09/2026 13:21

What hours does your dh work? Could you do a full time evening job or something opposite his hours?

Feedingbirds · 22/09/2026 13:20

I stopped contributing at one point as money was tight - thinking I would start again next year . That didn’t happen and it was over 10 years until I did . I’m now playing catch up . Don’t be me . Even little contributions well invested build up and compound

Original poster
ThePoisedOpalBird · 22/09/2026 13:20

PinkFrogss · 22/09/2026 13:19

You say partner - so you’re not married?

Is he the father of your children?

No not married and yeah he is the dad of my boys.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThePoisedOpalBird · 22/09/2026 13:19

Logoplanter · 22/09/2026 13:15

Agree with the others. If you need to stop it to "live" that is one thing but stopping it to use to take your toddler to soft play or similar isn't sensible. You are just kicking the can down the road and storing up more problems for your future self.

What was the debt caused by if you don't mind me asking?

Years of mistakes from before I met my partner as well as my partner not working for 4 months due to a medical issues whilst I was on unpaid mat leave.

OP posts:
PinkFrogss · 22/09/2026 13:19

You say partner - so you’re not married?

Is he the father of your children?

OhHobnobs · 22/09/2026 13:18

Upsetbetty · 22/09/2026 12:59

Well i wouldn’t do it for soft play…the park is free. I thought you meant use it to pay debts etc.

Show quote history

£30 a month now, when compounded over time until retirement, will br worth more than £30 today.

Park is free.

Original poster
ThePoisedOpalBird · 22/09/2026 13:18

Fupoffyagrasshole · 22/09/2026 13:11

12500 a year is more like 83£ a month including employer contributions you’d miss out on and that’s earning interest!!

So that’s a thousand a year going in your pension pot - you’d be foolish to waste that on soft play tbh

if you worked more then you’d get money towards childcare with the 30hours of they nursery kids ?

change bank accounts and get switch bonus? I just got 225£ for switching this month

there’s heaps of free things to do with toddlers as well - nobody needs to go to soft play

is there any stay and plays near you (children’s centres etc?)

I have every Tuesday off and me and my 2 year old potter around and do jobs in the house - we sweep
the garden / water plants - walk to the park / bring a picnic then go on the school run - he doesn’t care and doesn’t know he’s missing out on soft play etc 🤷‍♀️

why would you need 2 cars

Edited

I get paid 4 weekly which ia why my contribution is less but yes I guess it is 1k a year.

I already get free childcare its only 22 hours a week so for 2 kids the added extra hours is a lot!

We have no free stay and plays they cost more than the soft play! Yeah I get soft play isnt important just good in the winter.

We would have to have 2 cars if I worked full time as I would have to leave before my partner gets home from work to get kids to nursery and then a job.

OP posts:
Doubleknow · 22/09/2026 13:16

ThePoisedOpalBird · 22/09/2026 13:10

No the quality of his childhood isn't measured on soft play of course. But as £30 doesn't have a big impact on the debt or pension it seems like a good use of a small bit of spare cash.

But I really appreciate the opinion its helpful.

Show quote history

Hmm. I suspect odd priorities are a reason you've got all tbis debt?

It's not easy to change entrenched attitudes but £30 pm is £360 a year. It does make a difference. The old look after the pennies and the pounds look after themselves really does work.

Nourishinghandcream · 22/09/2026 13:15

As a PP has said..... you can always find a reason to NOT pay into a pension and rarely do they stack up under scrutiny.
Hopefully you are a long time retired, don't risk making that retirement in poverty just because you wanted to take your child to soft play.☹️

Logoplanter · 22/09/2026 13:15

Agree with the others. If you need to stop it to "live" that is one thing but stopping it to use to take your toddler to soft play or similar isn't sensible. You are just kicking the can down the road and storing up more problems for your future self.

What was the debt caused by if you don't mind me asking?

Fupoffyagrasshole · 22/09/2026 13:11

12500 a year is more like 83£ a month including employer contributions you’d miss out on and that’s earning interest!!

So that’s a thousand a year going in your pension pot - you’d be foolish to waste that on soft play tbh

if you worked more then you’d get money towards childcare with the 30hours of they nursery kids ?

change bank accounts and get switch bonus? I just got 225£ for switching this month

there’s heaps of free things to do with toddlers as well - nobody needs to go to soft play

is there any stay and plays near you (children’s centres etc?)

I have every Tuesday off and me and my 2 year old potter around and do jobs in the house - we sweep
the garden / water plants - walk to the park / bring a picnic then go on the school run - he doesn’t care and doesn’t know he’s missing out on soft play etc 🤷‍♀️

why would you need 2 cars

Original poster
ThePoisedOpalBird · 22/09/2026 13:10

Doubleknow · 22/09/2026 13:06

I really don't think the quality of a toddler's childhood can be measured in trips to soft play.

If you did have an extra £30pm, there's no way I'd spend it on soft play.

Show quote history

No the quality of his childhood isn't measured on soft play of course. But as £30 doesn't have a big impact on the debt or pension it seems like a good use of a small bit of spare cash.

But I really appreciate the opinion its helpful.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThePoisedOpalBird · 22/09/2026 13:07

Spaceman101 · 22/09/2026 13:03

You also need to think about your employer contribution is to your pension, if there is one,
this will make it more than £30.

Edited

Yeah with employer conributions its £60 just doesn't seem worth it but the opinions on here seem to be to keep it going so thank you.

OP posts:
Doubleknow · 22/09/2026 13:06

ThePoisedOpalBird · 22/09/2026 13:05

I mean as you said £30 on debt isn't going to do a lot. Doing something different for my toddler makes him happy.

Show quote history

I really don't think the quality of a toddler's childhood can be measured in trips to soft play.

If you did have an extra £30pm, there's no way I'd spend it on soft play.

Original poster
ThePoisedOpalBird · 22/09/2026 13:06

Doubleknow · 22/09/2026 12:58

I think if £30 will make a material difference to family finances you need to work more than 2 days pw.

Is there any possibility of restructuring the debt?

Debt has been restructured as much as it can. Its a tad over 42k so can only do so much.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThePoisedOpalBird · 22/09/2026 13:05

Upsetbetty · 22/09/2026 12:59

Well i wouldn’t do it for soft play…the park is free. I thought you meant use it to pay debts etc.

Show quote history

I mean as you said £30 on debt isn't going to do a lot. Doing something different for my toddler makes him happy.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThePoisedOpalBird · 22/09/2026 13:03

Doubleknow · 22/09/2026 12:58

I think if £30 will make a material difference to family finances you need to work more than 2 days pw.

Is there any possibility of restructuring the debt?

I wish working more was an option but unfortunately I can't in my current role due to partners job and full time with cost of a car plus childcare for 2 kids I come out equal to or worse off than I am now.

OP posts:
Spaceman101 · 22/09/2026 13:03

You also need to think about your employer contribution is to your pension, if there is one,
this will make it more than £30.

Original poster
ThePoisedOpalBird · 22/09/2026 13:01

Upsetbetty · 22/09/2026 12:56

Can you not just work more? Unless there’s reasons obviously…

Unfortunately I can't do extra hours in my current job due to my partners hours.

I have looked at full time jobs but so far I have had no luck and to be honest after having to get a 2nd car plus childcare for 2 kids I either work out the same bring home as I get doing my 2 shifts or worse off so I don't think it is really an option as much as earning more would be great with all the debt.

OP posts:
BadSkiingMum · 22/09/2026 13:00

No, just keep on contributing to the pension. Your future self will thank you!

Upsetbetty · 22/09/2026 12:59

ThePoisedOpalBird · 22/09/2026 12:58

Its a salary sacrifice pension. Yes I guess £30 wont make any serious impact on my debt.

Part of me just thinks its £30 I could use to take the kids out to soft play and make them happy.

Show quote history

Well i wouldn’t do it for soft play…the park is free. I thought you meant use it to pay debts etc.

Doubleknow · 22/09/2026 12:58

I think if £30 will make a material difference to family finances you need to work more than 2 days pw.

Is there any possibility of restructuring the debt?

Original poster
ThePoisedOpalBird · 22/09/2026 12:58

SwedishEdith · 22/09/2026 12:54

What kind of pension scheme are you in? £30 doesn't seem enough to make serious inroads into debt so I'd leave it in your pension. You'll always find another reason to not pay into your pension otherwise.

Its a salary sacrifice pension. Yes I guess £30 wont make any serious impact on my debt.

Part of me just thinks its £30 I could use to take the kids out to soft play and make them happy.

OP posts:
Upsetbetty · 22/09/2026 12:56

Can you not just work more? Unless there’s reasons obviously…