To not understand how pensions are calculated

[StyleO]

To be honest, I don't understand how to work out what my pension contributions mean.

Is there an idiots guide to it?

Right now in my 30s it's just something that went out of my salary when I was working. I'm currently not working (SAHM).

I don't have a clue what my pension contributions will actually equate to?

It depends on your scheme. If you are lucky enough to be in a defined benefit scheme, the rules will explain what you get - eg 1/40th of your final or average annual salary per year you have paid in.

If you are in a defined contribution scheme, all the money you put in goes into your pot. When you retire you have a pot of money you can take (some of it tax free) or use to buy an annuity that will pay you an income until you die. What that income is will depend on the size of the pot, how old you are (and therefore how long they are likely to be paying out for) and what the available rates are. A DC scheme should send you an annual statement saying what your pot is worth now, and what that could mean when you retire, but you can also find calculators online where you can put in how much your pot is worth now.

For an explanation of pensions generally, try www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/about-pensions

You should get a statement through once a year with information on what your contributions have been, any employer contributions and any tax relief. If you have these they usually come with an information sheet explaining what the various terms mean. They will also show a forecast of what the pension may be worth in the future. This is probably the best place to start so that you know what type of pension you have been contributing to.
I would then get on to a financial or pensions forum where you can ask questions about the basics and go from there.
To be honest AIBU on mumsnet is probably the worst place to ask for advice on this kind of thing, for every person that actually knows something about pensions you will get 50 replying with utter nonsense.
A good place to start to read about the basic ins and outs of pensions is here www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/pension-information-guide-to-the-basic-facts

In all likelihood you will have a defined contribution pension, as most defined benefit pensions no longer exist outside NHS, teacher etc.

That means, whatever you put in will be invested in stocks, shares, bonds and other commodities over the period you remain working. Hopefully, but not always, that means that the amount you contribute will have gone significantly up. When you are ready to retire you can either take 25% out of the pension tax free, and the remaining money you can take out, for example, yearly, just as if you were still receiving an income.

For example, if you put in £5,000 a year for 30 years that would be £150,000 in your pension pot. In all likelihood, due to the way it was invested you might actually end up with a pot of around £350,000+, but this very much depends on how it was invested, whether you retire in a recession etc

Generally, save as much as you possibly can i your pension as the tax breaks are fantastic, especially if you are a higher rate tax payer. Your employer will also top up to a certain amount, so that's free money you might not otherwise get.