Retirement help please

[olliegator]

Lurker here with some questions about retirement accounts.

My employer offers some sort of pension plan, but not until five years, and I've been there less than one.

What can I be doing to save for retirement on my own? What options would reduce my tax liability?

Can someone please explain the different options to me, like I'm five? I don't know a whole lot about financial things.

[olliegator]

I'm really not sure. They didn't explain much about it.  I don't think they start contributing until five years, and I don't think I can either.