Are you prepared?

maman

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

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.

I would recommend that you check your bank statement online more than once a month in case of any fraudulent transactions.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I like to keep at least £100 in the house for all sorts of scenarios:

-lost/stolen purse
-swallowed bank cards (although I do have another current account, if there's a problem with a particular machine it might eat both)
-nationwide IT problems with a bank (eg with Tesco recently)

It's naive to assume that cards will always work everywhere. I was checking out of a hotel recently and their card reader just wouldn't process; big queue, tutting, faff etc; as I had enough cash to pay for the room I didn't have to stand there wasting my day.

DigForVictory

I keep a £50 note for emergencies - hoping that if the cash machines fail then whomever requires cash will overcome the usual scruples about a £50 note. (Christmas present...)

When we know water's going to go, I fill the bathtub. It's when we don't we get into trouble, although the local copshop filled jerrycans willingly, bless them.

What with inflammables, camping gear & a storecupboard loaded to keep me off the roads when we've snow & ice, we're passably sorted.

I should not covet another forumite's generator...

pollyanna24

This thread has certainly made me think.

We now keep a spare £20 at home as one my daughters got her finger stuck in a bottle. I was at work, my mum (who doesn't drive) was at home with her and didn't have any money to get to the hospital in a taxi. I somehow got her one and put the fare on someone's account. She ended up walking home from the hospital with two kids in tow. So now, just in case...

Gloomendoom

DigForVictory wrote: »

I should not covet another forumite's generator...

I have actually got three.

Water isn't a problem as we have a working public pump/spring a minute's walk from the house.

Malthusian

maman wrote: »

I would recommend that you check your bank statement online more than once a month in case of any fraudulent transactions.

Once a month is sufficient for this purpose. The bank is liable for fradulent transactions unless you were negligent (PIN number written on the card, etc). Checking your statement only once a month isn't negligence. In þe olde days when everyone had paper statements, once a month was the norm.

It can still be a good idea to check it more frequently to ensure that if something does go wrong you can stop it before it gets any worse, as well as for other reasons like staying on top of cash flow. But it's not strictly necessary.

Fireflyaway

So many times I have driven to the petrol station on fumes just taking if for granted my card will work, or getting to a zero bank balance confident I will be paid on time the next day. My new years resolution is to be more prepared!

ripplyuk

I use my card for almost everything, but still make sure I have cash in my wallet. About £50.

I also have a wind-up mobile phone charger, a wind up torch for the car, a battery powered radio, candles in an easily accessible place, and two panic alarms. Also notebooks with information/emergency phone numbers etc in case I lose my handbag/get burgled.

Primrose

Wind up Mobile phone charger a great idea especially as chordless landline phones won,t work in a power cut. We have a wind up lantern bought in the Woolworths closing down sale. It has a mobile phone charger lead with it but I bet it doesn,t fit my new Apple iPhone. I must check!

PeacefulWaters

Car:
Around £30 in coins for car parks.
Portable mobile charger in addition to wired in charger.
First aid kit and basic medication supplies.
Pen, paper and insurer details.
Wind up torch.
Between 1 and 6 bottles of water.
Snow spade and red triangle.
Full change of clothes in a bag.
I also keep my walking rucksack in the boot with various additional things in that such as flares, whistle, one man shelter, foil body warmers etc.

Wallet:
Debit cards and credit cards that traverse MasterCard, Visa, AMEX and at least three banking groups. And £20 note. And enough money on a Boots Advantage Card for a meal deal.