Cash in an emergency: how much, which notes, and where to keep it

What the official advice says

GOV.UK's Be Ready checklist lists "cash (mix of coins and notes) and cards", in case electronic payments or cash machines are disrupted. Its power cut page says the same: keep a small amount of cash in case card payments or cash machines are down.

Be Ready doesn't give an amount. It says the right amount depends on your family's needs for essentials. Its kit is built around being ready for 3 days.

Other countries are a little more specific. Sweden's official brochure In case of crisis or war says it's good to have around 1,000 Swedish kronor in cash per adult, ideally in different notes, as well as cards and digital payment options. It also says to use cash now and then, so you stay used to it.

Why cash can matter

• Card systems fail. On 1 June 2018, a fault in one of Visa's European data centres caused about 10 hours of disruption. Visa told the Treasury Committee that 5.2 million of 51.2 million transactions failed, including 2.4 million in the UK (AFP report).
• Power cuts stop card machines and cash machines. The government's National Risk Register says a nationwide loss of power would also hit mobile and internet networks, which card payments rely on. Our post on a Spain-style blackout covers that scenario.
• But cash isn't magic. Full Fact explains that shops don't have to accept cash, and can refuse cards too. "Legal tender" only applies to paying off a debt. A supermarket with no power may not open at all. Cash helps most at small local shops, takeaways, taxis and with neighbours.

How much: a simple way to work it out

1. List 3 days of essentials for your household: food top-ups, medicines and prescription charges, fuel or travel, and anything for babies or pets.
2. Put a price on each. Use what you actually spend, not a guess.
3. Add it up. That's your starting amount. Our emergency cash calculator does the sums.
4. Build it up slowly if you need to, a few pounds at a time. You don't need it all at once.

We don't suggest a figure for you. No UK official source gives one, and every household is different.

Which notes and coins

• Mostly small notes and coins. Be Ready asks for "a mix of coins and notes". If tills can't give change, a £50 note is hard to spend. £5 and £10 notes and some £1 and £2 coins are easier.
• Check it's current money. The Bank of England says paper £20 and £50 notes stopped being legal tender on 30 September 2022 (paper £5 and £10 notes went earlier). If you find old notes in a drawer, pay them into your bank account, or exchange them with the Bank of England, which says there's no deadline.
• Queen Elizabeth II polymer notes are fine. The Bank of England says they remain legal tender alongside King Charles III notes; you don't need to swap them.
• In Scotland and Northern Ireland, local banks' notes are widely used. Full Fact notes that, there, only coins are technically legal tender, which again only matters for debts.

Where to keep it

These are common-sense steps, not official advice:

• Split it. Keep some in your kit or grab bag and some hidden elsewhere at home, so one loss doesn't take it all.
• Keep it dry. A waterproof document wallet or a resealable bag works, with copies of your important documents.
• Don't tell people. Family who need to know, yes. Not social media.
• Check your insurance. Home insurance often covers only a small amount of cash. Read your policy before keeping more.
• Look at it every six months. Be Ready suggests checking your emergency kit every six months. Make sure the cash is still there and still legal tender.

Watch out for scams

In any emergency, fraudsters follow the news. Don't hand cash to anyone at the door who says they're from the council, the energy company or the water company without checking their ID by calling the number on your bill. Real utilities won't demand cash on the doorstep. This is general advice.

Related guides

• How much cash should I keep at home?
• Keeping household documents safe and to hand
• Long blackout or cyber attack: keeping your household going
• The 72-hour emergency kit for UK households

Free tools

• Emergency cash calculator
• Be Ready kit checklist

We're an independent UK site, not the government. We check guides against official sources and link to them. In an emergency call 999.

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