Set up your first pension

"What if your 20s quietly paid for your 60s?"

Why this is so fun

There is something quietly powerful about knowing that the few euro you set aside this month are still working for you in 2065. Pensions in Ireland come with serious tax relief, meaning the government is essentially topping up your savings before you even notice them leaving your pay slip. You learn that wealth is not always about earning more but about letting time do the heavy lifting. Future you, sitting somewhere sunny in Connemara, will be very glad you bothered.

Someone who did this

Emer (23), Navan — admin assistant at a solicitor's office, collects vintage Penguin paperbacks

My mam laughed when I told her I'd set up a pension at twenty-three, said I was an awful old woman.

Become a member to read the full story

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First 3 steps

1Visit pensionsauthority.ie this week to understand your state pension entitlement.
2Ask your employer's HR team if they offer a matched contribution pension scheme.
3Open a personal pension through a provider like Irish Life or Zurich if self-employed.