Doing something similar to this.
Get paid on the 28th and then split the money into different accounts - joint account for household bills, some into savings, monthly spending allowance on Monzo and try to keep an excess in my high street bank and if it survives… sweep that into savings when I get paid again 
The NHS pension was a defined benefit scheme (I assume it still is).
As such, your contribution level is immaterial. What matters are your earnings and length of service.
Andy,
I take the rule of thumb as a minimum but your employer contributions do count.
The advantage of contributing more to your savings is you can either retire earlier or have a more comfortable retirement. Or use it to buy a house etc.
I’m a bit of a Moustachian myself, and whilst I don’t want to ‘retire’ as in do nothing productive, I find the ideal of financial independence really attractive. Most people increment their living standards as they earn more, but if you resist this and put the extra to work for you, you can become independent early and work at things you want to do rather than just to exist.
Thanks Dave, what you’re saying makes sense! I think I need to read up on how my NHS pension works as from what @Anarchist is saying it would seem that my contributions are actually somewhat irrelevant. I think I’ll just get 1/54th pension per year based on my total earnings when I retire.
The idea of Independence is really enticing though and probably not unachievable with a bit of careful thought and preparation, which I am attempting to do.
Yes, if your pension is independent of your contribution level, contribute the MINIMUM!
Then put anything else you wanted to save into an additional plan such as a SIPP.
Having said that, you can top it up, or take out additional pension. If you work for the NHS your employer should have a pension advisor you can and should talk to before making any decisions.
Hi!
It seems to me that you enjoy playing and experimenting with the money that you have been receiving so far. It seems like a good idea until you find the correct way of it for yourself?
What options has worked best for you so far?
I am too under construction on how to organise a proper skill on the matter myself.