In our  , we aim to help ease your retirement worries. Are you concerned you’re not saving enough for your later years? Do you want to know if you have enough to retire or don’t know how to find your lost pensions?

I am 29 years old and have moved to England after travelling around south-east Asia and Australia. I have no savings left after my travels and no pension savings. I recently started a new job and earn £34,000 a year. I am worried I am behind on my retirement savings but also want to save for a house – what do I do?

I know thinking about the future can be daunting, especially if you feel as though you are “behind” on your savings compared to your peers, but it is not too late and you are doing the right thing by asking these questions.

You told me you are putting in 5 per cent into your workplace pension with your employer contributing 3 per cent – currently the minimum auto-enrolment amount.

You are currently also paying off a £2,500 loan that you would like to clear before focusing on saving.

Jonathan Kirby, an independent financial adviser at Furnley House, says: “At 29, earning £34,000 and already contributing to a workplace pension, you’re in a better starting position than you might think.

“The important thing now is to establish some good financial habits and make sure your money is working towards the things that matter most to you.”

You mentioned after clearing your debt you would like to save for a house deposit and also make sure you are not leaving your retirement planning until it’s too late.

Kirby agrees that prioritising paying off your debt was the right thing to do and should continue to be your immediate focus.

He adds: “Once it’s repaid, resist the temptation to let that monthly repayment disappear into everyday spending. Instead, redirect it towards your future goals.”

Kirby also suggests starting by building up an emergency fund, ideally covering three to six months of essential expenditure.

When it comes to your pension, it is worth checking if your employer offers any additional contributions if you increase your own payments.

Some employers will even match your level of contribution, which can give your pension savings a good boost.

Kirby said: “At 29, time is on your side. Your pension has potentially 28 years or more to benefit from investment growth and compounding.

However, remember that pension savings are generally inaccessible until later life, with the normal minimum pension age [the earliest age you can take money from your pension] increasing to 57 from April 2028.”

Therefore, Kirby points out that you should maintain your workplace pension and consider increasing your contributions once your other financial priorities allow you to.

One of your priorities is to save for a house deposit to buy with your partner and Kirby says he would particularly focus attention on this.

“A Lifetime ISA (LISA) could be an excellent option because it offers the opportunity to save towards your first home whilst also providing an alternative way to build retirement savings,” he explains.

You can contribute up to £4,000 to a LISA, each tax year with the government providing a 25 per cent bonus. However, the property you are buying cannot be worth more than £450,000 or you will incur a 20 per cent withdrawal penalty on your savings.

You also need to have been contributing to your account for a full year before you make a withdrawal, or you will incur a 25 per cent penalty.

Kirby says: “What I particularly like about the LISA is that if you don’t eventually use it to purchase a property, you can leave the money until age 60 and withdraw it tax-free.”

It is important to note the that the government is introducing a new First-Time Buyer ISA from April 2028 that will replace the existing LISA, and will be used solely for people to save for their first home.

Current LISA holders will be able to continue using their accounts.

Kirby also suggests looking into opening a cash ISA or stocks and shares ISA, but generally these are a good option if you are happy to keep your money invested for a few years.

“If you’re hoping to buy within the next few years, cash is generally more suitable because your deposit isn’t exposed to stock market fluctuations,” he explains.

By saving £200 a month into a LISA, over one year, your £2,400 saved will become £3,000 after the government bonus is added.

Kirby says: “You’ve already had your Australian adventure. Now it’s time to start building the foundations for the next chapter.”