UK Survey Shows Households Stockpiling Cash and Supplies for Emergencies

A survey conducted in March has found that a number of households across the UK are storing essential items in preparation for potential crises. The research indicates that people are taking steps to safeguard themselves against major disruptive events such as cyber attacks, natural disasters or widespread IT failures.

Seventeen percent of individuals maintain a stash of cash at home ready for emergencies.

Nearly half, or 49 percent, possess a battery-powered torch, while 47 percent have a supply of tinned goods. Thirty-seven percent ensure they have a charged power bank available to keep mobile phones operational during potential outages. The same survey examined recent cash usage habits.

It found that 61 percent of respondents had used physical currency within the preceding two weeks. This figure has fallen from 69 percent in 2025 and 73 percent in 2024. Contactless cards accounted for 42 percent of in-store payments and using a phone accounted for 30 percent.

Ten percent of people said they are fully cashless. Thirteen percent said they prefer to pay in cash, including 16 percent of those aged 55 and over. Supermarkets, convenience stores, cafes and pubs were the most common places where cash had been used among those who had done so in the past two weeks, along with giving money to friends and family.

Since similar research was carried out in June 2025, there has been a drop in people reporting cash use at convenience stores. Forty-five percent of people surveyed said they find not accepting cash inconvenient. The majority, 56 percent, do not expect to go cashless in the next 12 months.

When asked why they would not go completely cashless, 61 percent cited the importance of low-value and person-to-person payments, while 56 percent said cash is vital in the event of digital payment outages. A spokesperson for the ATM network that commissioned the survey said cash continues to play an important role in the UK's payment landscape.

The spokesperson added that while digital payments are now the first choice for many, millions of people still rely on cash for budgeting, day-to-day purchases, and because they value choice, privacy and control.

The spokesperson noted the growing role of cash in resilience planning. The survey was carried out by YouGov and included more than 2,100 people across the UK.