Do you keep cash at home for emergencies?

[SootyTheCat]

Just that, really. I don't. But was wondering whether it would be useful? Could there be a scenario where bank cards would stop working and you'd only be able to buy things with cash for a few days (e.g. petrol, milk...). What if there was an economic collapse - would it be any help to have a couple of hundred at home, if the banks shut?

Likewise, in the car? I've got a tenner in there, but not sure what I'd use it for! Don't want to keep much more in case of theft.

I suspect what would happen would be I'd have a 'secret' cash envelope but keep snaffling notes from it for my wallet when I run out instead of using the cash machine, and then when the crisis hit the envelope would be empty!

[winchester1]

We keep cash at home as we use cash to pay for some things and occasionally get paid cash. I'd want a bit anyway tbh.
Although id rather have a few extra weeks food in the house if its one or the other.

[Buttercup27]

I'm glad we keep a little cash at home for emergencies. Dh went to work with my purse in his car last week and we had run out of nappies!

[jimijack]

I think it's essential to have a tenner in the house.
I know of LOADS of people who's kids are unwell at weekends or night time who have no transport, no family nearby, no friends and no neighbours who can take them to an out of hours drs appointment, no money to get a taxi or bus either.
True, resulting in either them getting no medical attention or an ambulance having to take them to hospital like a taxi service.

It is very very common.

[Chewbecca]

No, but there is always DS's piggy bank and a massive pot of coppers..

[sinphonim]

I keep a few hundred in the house. It's not that uncommon for the entire debit card/cash machine network for one bank to go down (although for that reason, I have an account with several different banks). I use it as a 'float' so I tend to take money from it to put in my purse. It means I don't have to use a cashpoint so often, I just withdraw the max possible and keep a surplus at home.

[BiddyPop]

We keep all our leftover foreign currency in different envelopes (by currency) in the safe. Mostly, we return to use it again over time, so no real point in changing it back and some small change is useful on arrival.

Also our passports etc - important docs.

In there, I DO also have an envelope with our local currency. I tend to keep a max of 500 in there, but it's often as low as 0. I started it when the economic crisis started, as there were real fears of banks closing at the time, so I wanted a cushion for a few weeks. But I also use it for things like "forgot to get cash to pay the childminder at sparrow o'clock tomorrow", "can't be arsed cooking, pizza night, wine already open", "note from school about trip needs paying for by return" sorts of last minute needs.

And DH knows its there too - so constantly raids but constantly forgets to restock (and occasionally forgets to even tell me its empty!! Grr)

It's a b it like the storecupboard - well stocked for "emergencies", but they can be small, regular ones as much as SHTF scenarios!

[MoonDuke]

Yes
And have used it several times for emergency taxis to hospitals

Recently in the floods my relatives said the local coop was selling food for cash only due to power cut - obviously no cash machines were working!

[cozietoesie]

Some - not a whole load but enough to pay for eg unforeseen taxis for needy youngsters or to allow us to nip out for some quick messages. I don't like to have too much cash around the place - it might make the house a more tempting target.

[namelessposter]

Yes. £200 in tenners in the car

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Yes we do, several £100.

[Stratter5]

Yes, I need cash in the house for DD2 for when I have to go into hospital