£500 a month into a pension sounds like a solid plan. But the real question is what that actually buys you once inflation is taken into account. Same contribution. Same investment return. Very different outcomes depending on when you start. ⏳Time does the heavy lifting — not clever investing, not last-minute catch-ups. 📈If you’ve never stress-tested your pension in today’s money, this is why surprises happen later. ✅ Confirmed Assumptions • Starting contribution: £500 per month (£6,000 p.a.) •