Are you prepared?

Fireflyaway

Having just tried to log onto my bank account and found it was down I was hit with the realisation of how I live life so close to the edge money wise! I just expect things to work. But what if there was an unexpected occurrence? Bad weather meant the internet was cut off or the water or power goes out?
Do you have emergency cash in your house / bag just in case? I'm thinking I should really start doing this!

skimper

Previously no, I don't usually deal in cash & always use my card, but the majority of the time I always know whats in the bank.

Other half has recently changed jobs to taxi driver so now we always have cash in the house.

onomatopoeia99

No, everything is paid by direct debit so I don't need to log on to online banking more than once a month. I have a small amount of cash for things like takeaways (the kebab van will just laugh if you offer contactless payment or a credit card) or the bakery near work, but everything else goes on cards.

Izadora

Although the vast majority of my spending is done on cards I hate not having any cash on me so I try to make sure that I have some money in my purse and I've always got a £10 note in both my phone case and work pass.
It's come in very handy a few times when I've needed to get a cab to/from a station and am nowhere near a cash machine.

Gloomendoom

Fireflyaway wrote: »

But what if there was an unexpected occurrence? Bad weather meant the internet was cut off or the water or power goes out?

How is having a bit of spare cash stashed in the house going to help in those situations?

Malthusian

I always have £50 in the glove compartment of my car in case all my cards fail while buying petrol, as I have no desire to be threatened with the police again. That plus cash and cards in my wallet should cover any unexpected complications bar the apocalypse.

Proxima_Centauri

I try to simplify my finances as much as possible. I withdraw money for the week's groceries and don't use the card again until the the next week. I wouldn't want a cash-less society, which is supposedly where we're all heading..

Hermia

I keep £100 in the house. I started doing it after I once had to call out a locksmith and the local ones would only take cash. At the same time a friend had her bag stolen with her cards, house keys and car keys inside and was in a terrible state as she had no cash and had to go through a long process before the bank would give her any money. I also got swine flu and was very glad I had the money to pay my friend who picked up my prescription. It depends on your circumstances. I live on my own and don't have a car. I guess if you live in a house full of adults you are more likely to have someone who could go and get some money in an emergency.

I also keep a six pack of mineral water as I have had my water cut off a few times. I also have several torches and candles as I have had a few power cuts. The last time we had a power cut the neighbours were all freaking out because none had torches and they couldn't use their phones 'cause the batteries were dying.

spadoosh

Gloomendoom wrote: »

How is having a bit of spare cash stashed in the house going to help in those situations?

How would you buy a torch from the shop?

Theres always at least £200 in cash in my house, normally more knocking around (savings tins etc).

KxMx

£50 in house, £10 in handbag. TBH that's not my spending cash and it gets forgotten about so I'm not even tempted to spend!

I also have three accounts with two banks, one ISA & two currents. One of which is day to day the other is savings/treats/emergencies.

Also, a Visa & MasterCard CC.

LMG1305

I keep a small amount of cash in a secret place in my car in case of emergencies. It's come in handy on occasions where I realise I'm low on diesel and haven't got my cards on me because I was only supposed to be popping out. I also keep some cash in my house somewhere, only a small amount, but enough that I know I won't have to worry about not being able to pay for groceries if something really drastic happened. I'm not sure what that would be exactly but I just feel comfortable knowing there is some cash available.