UK Households Stockpiling Cash and Emergency Supplies for Disruptions

Households across the UK are storing physical cash along with items such as torches and tinned goods so they can be used in the event of a major disruptive event, a survey has found. The research for cash access and ATM network Link showed that items are being kept at home in preparation for scenarios including a cyber attack, a natural disaster or an IT failure.

When asked what steps they take, 17% of respondents said they have a stash of cash at home. Nearly half, or 49%, reported having a battery-powered torch, 47% said they keep a supply of tinned goods and 37% have a charged power bank to keep their phone working.

The survey, carried out in March, also examined recent cash use. Around six in 10 people, or 61%, said they had used cash in the previous two weeks. That proportion has fallen from 69% in 2025 and 73% in 2024. Contactless cards were the preferred method for day-to-day in-store payments for 42% of those surveyed, while 30% said they prefer using a phone.

Ten percent reported being fully cashless. Thirteen percent said they still prefer to pay in cash, including 16% of those aged 55 and over.

Among those who had used cash in the past two weeks, the most common locations were supermarkets, convenience stores, cafes and pubs, as well as giving money to friends and family. Since similar research was conducted in June 2025, there has been a drop in people reporting cash use at convenience stores in particular.

Forty-five percent of people surveyed said they find it inconvenient when retailers do not accept cash. The majority, 56%, do not expect to go cashless in the next 12 months. When asked why, 61% cited the continued importance of low-value and person-to-person payments, while 56% said cash is vital in the event of digital payment outages.

A spokesperson for the network said cash continues to play an important role in the UK’s payment landscape. The spokesperson added that while digital payments are the first choice for many, millions of people still rely on cash for budgeting, day-to-day purchases, choice, privacy and control.

The spokesperson noted the growing role of cash in resilience planning. Link commissioned YouGov to survey more than 2,100 people across the UK in March.