Most of us have heard about keeping extra food, bottled water, and emergency supplies at home. But what about cash? With debit cards, credit cards, and mobile payments making everyday purchases so convenient, it’s easy to forget how much we depend on electronic banking.
One longtime doomsday prepper believes families should keep thousands of dollars in cash on hand in case of a major emergency. That recommendation might sound extreme, especially for households already struggling to keep up with everyday expenses.
But it raises an interesting question: If the power went out and you couldn’t access your bank account, how much cash would you actually have available?
A Prepper Recommends Thousands in Emergency Cash
Rowan MacKenzie, a longtime prepper who has spent years preparing for potential disasters, believes a family of four should have at least £5,000, or roughly $6,500, available for an emergency.
According to a recent report from The Mirror, MacKenzie has an underground bunker stocked with approximately £315,000 worth of survival supplies. She estimates that £5,000 would cover just one month of food, water, and other necessities for a family of four during a major crisis.
Her recommendation is much higher than what many households would consider keeping in cash, and it’s important to remember this is her personal approach to preparedness, not an official emergency savings guideline.
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What Happens When Credit Cards and ATMs Stop Working?
We rarely think about how much we rely on electronic payments until something goes wrong. A widespread power outage, internet disruption, or banking system failure could temporarily prevent people from using debit cards, withdrawing money, or making digital payments.
That’s where physical cash can help, especially for buying groceries, fuel, or other essentials from businesses that are still operating and accepting cash.
Small bills can be especially practical because stores may struggle to make change during a disruption.
Is Keeping Thousands of Dollars at Home Really Necessary?
While MacKenzie recommends keeping a substantial amount available, that doesn’t mean every family needs thousands of dollars tucked away in a drawer or safe.
Keeping large amounts of cash at home carries risks, including theft, fire, and the possibility of losing money that may be unrecoverable. During a major emergency, cash won’t necessarily guarantee access to food, fuel, or other supplies if businesses are closed.
For most households, keeping a modest amount of physical cash for short-term disruptions while maintaining a separate emergency savings fund may be a more practical approach.
Related: The New Generation of Doomsday Preppers Looks Nothing Like You’d Expect
Most Families Have Other Financial Priorities
Setting aside $6,500 in emergency cash is a significant financial goal, especially when families already pay for housing, groceries, childcare, and other everyday expenses.
Financial preparedness doesn’t have to start with thousands of dollars. Having a little extra cash, building savings gradually, and keeping basic household necessities stocked can help families get better prepared without adding pressure to their budgets.
The right amount depends on household size, expenses, location, and the types of emergencies most likely to affect them.
Being Prepared Doesn’t Have to Mean Going to Extremes
MacKenzie’s approach to emergency preparedness may be more extensive than most people would ever consider, but her advice highlights something easy to overlook.
We spend so much time thinking about what supplies to keep at home that we sometimes forget about the financial side of an emergency.
You don’t need an underground bunker or thousands of dollars in cash to start preparing. But having some cash on hand when electronic payments aren’t working can make an unexpected situation a little easier to manage.
