4. How Much Is Enough?

Am I Too Late?

Have you ever looked at your bank balance, savings, or pension and wondered, “Is this actually enough?” You’re not alone – and in this episode, I share the moment I nearly fell off my chair after seeing the UK’s standard guideline pension figures.

We dive into what “enough” really means, not just as a number, but as a feeling shaped by your lifestyle, values, health, and goals. I’ll walk you through:

• Why “enough” is different for everyone.
• How lifestyle creep can move your financial goalposts.
• The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA)'s suggested figures for moderate and comfortable retirements.
• A simple rule-of-thumb formula for estimating your target pot.
• The reality of average and median UK pension savings – and why you’re probably not alone if you feel behind.
• My four-tier framework: minimum, moderate, comfortable, and dream lifestyles.

This isn’t about panic – it’s about clarity. You’ll get practical ways to break big targets into manageable steps and ideas for building your “enough” through multiple sources, from pensions to property to lifestyle changes.

🔢 Try the free calculator → https://subscribepage.io/dream-life-calculator (⏳Free for early listeners limited time only!)

📕Resources mentioned:

• The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel — one of my top recommendations for shifting how you think about wealth, choices, and what “enough” means.
  📖 Read it on Amazon → https://amzn.to/45xvBzR
  🎧 Listen on Audible (free 30-day trial) → https://amzn.to/3JxJ5UQ

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.)

📊 Figures Recap

• Full UK State Pension: ~£11,973/year (Aug 2025)
• Guideline Pot Targets (PLSA):
  • Single: Moderate £390K–£490K | Comfortable £650K–£820K
  • Couple: Moderate £400K–£500K | Comfortable £720K–£900K
• Rule of Thumb: 20–25× desired annual retirement income
• Current UK Pension Pot Data (ONS): Median ~£87K (ages 55–64)
• Four Tiers: Minimum £58K (single) / £0 (couple) | Moderate £390K / £400K | Comfortable £650K / £720K | Dream £1–1.5M+

These figures are here to help you visualise and plan your own version of "enough." Use them as a guide, not a rulebook.

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Disclaimer: This podcast is for information only and not financial advice. Please do your own research or speak to a licensed financial advisor.

Chapters

1. Intro & Welcome (00:00:00)

2. Recap of Episode 3 & defining "enough" (00:00:56)

3. Why most of us never define “enough” & the moving goalpost problem (00:02:38)

4. PLSA guideline pension pot figures & rule of thumb (00:03:45)

5. Median UK pension pots (00:06:18)

6. Four lifestyle tiers (Minimum, Moderate, Comfortable, Dream) (00:08:25)

7. Many paths to “enough” (00:12:09)

8. Homework (00:12:52)

9. Dream Life Calculator (00:13:49)

10. Next episode (00:15:36)