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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask how much ready 'cash' you could get your hands on today for an emergency?

145 replies

Wiseplumant · 30/08/2025 10:40

I was just idly wondering how much ready cash I could get my hands on without cashing in pensions /investments or selling the house, in just a few days. For example a family emergency ,such as to pay ( heaven forbid) a relatives drug debts to prevent them being beaten up or to run away to a safe place etc. This is all purely hypothetical! I rec conned about 3 grand from current account, 9 grand from various saving accounts and 4 grand from credit card is what I could manage!

OP posts:
ChicaWowWow · 30/08/2025 20:03

DuckslnARow · 30/08/2025 19:54

Ha - mine's also a 2016 car! Wouldn't get much for it, and really can't do without it. Depressing. Just did some extra lines on the lottery - I'll message you with a little boost if I win.

Show quote history

Ooh fingers crossed for you!!! 🍀

OneKhakiFish · 30/08/2025 19:59

we could get as much as the bank allows us to take as they have a cash limit but definitely wouldnt pay for a drug debt for anyone

EmeraldShamrock000 · 30/08/2025 19:59

1100 from bank, leaving me broke for the month, 4k credit union, no credit cards.

DuckslnARow · 30/08/2025 19:54

ChicaWowWow · 30/08/2025 19:24

Same here. I could sell my car maybe, but it's already a 3rd hand, from 2016 and I didn't get it for very much, so maybe 3k max?

Show quote history

Ha - mine's also a 2016 car! Wouldn't get much for it, and really can't do without it. Depressing. Just did some extra lines on the lottery - I'll message you with a little boost if I win.

Bringmeahigherlove · 30/08/2025 19:39

Moellen54 · 30/08/2025 19:20

A lot. And I mean ALot! Without touching ISAs and Pension drawdown. But we have just moved house and havent set up investments with the money we made.

Brag.

Shellyash · 30/08/2025 19:29

Shellyash · 30/08/2025 19:28

£294k
But obviously that takes some time to get out.
Ready cash in the house circa £320

But if to bale someone out for drugs then £0

IncaDog · 30/08/2025 19:28

About 17k in accessible cash.. but I wouldn’t pay 17p to save a drug related beating.

Shellyash · 30/08/2025 19:28

£294k
But obviously that takes some time to get out.
Ready cash in the house circa £320

hellokellie · 30/08/2025 19:26

£2,000 in savings.
£600 in premium bonds.
£1,200 in a holiday savings account.
And around £200 from my current account if I had to, the rest I need for food and my own bills!
So, £4k!

lotsofpatience · 30/08/2025 19:26

I guess people are not taking into account the daily cash withdrawal limits.
In my case £280k, without any major issues

ChicaWowWow · 30/08/2025 19:24

DuckslnARow · 30/08/2025 11:54

Not a penny. I live month to month.

Same here. I could sell my car maybe, but it's already a 3rd hand, from 2016 and I didn't get it for very much, so maybe 3k max?

CracklingFlames · 30/08/2025 19:22

£20.

pokewoman · 30/08/2025 19:21

About £150. And that would leave us skint until next payday

Moellen54 · 30/08/2025 19:20

A lot. And I mean ALot! Without touching ISAs and Pension drawdown. But we have just moved house and havent set up investments with the money we made.

Zippedydodah · 30/08/2025 19:17

About £28.72 that’s in my purse.

CoralOP · 30/08/2025 19:17

For people who have low savings and hate to see a thread like this, do not worry too much.
A quick Google search shows about 30% of people have no savings and 1/4 of people with savings have less than £200 so mumsnetters seem to have a lot higher than average.
The average savings pot for 55 years and over is 29k, younger people have a lot less.

BloodandGlitter · 30/08/2025 19:12

Maybe about £300? I've £20 on a scratchcard and a large tin full of change for Christmas that I reckon must have a couple of hundred in.

Lurkingonmn · 30/08/2025 18:59

Quickly accessible accounts: 6k
Investments I can access, but prefer not to: 16k
Not for the emergency you said or a nice purchase but emergency scenario. I might use a credit card for guarantees etc. Or ask immediate family. I feel pretty fortunate. I read that 40% of people couldn't cover a £500 emergency without going into debt.

Dave57 · 30/08/2025 18:56

odd post. This will make people feel awful.

BoldBlueZebra · 30/08/2025 18:51

If I needed to buy a kidney I could probably rustle up enough for one

BoldBlueZebra · 30/08/2025 18:50

I wouldn’t be cashing in my savings to pay off someone else’s drug debt. You lie down with dogs yoy get up with fleas

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 30/08/2025 18:49

Between us, about 20k.

stayathomer · 30/08/2025 18:48

PinkyFlamingo

I should never have opened this thread as I have no savings so the answer is nothing. And this has just depressed me.

I saw the first few posts and took a breath but then the answers were more similar to me. I have a hundred euro out and hidden, aside from that I’m mw and no savings, married but we’re in difficulty so I don’t know what happens in the future so have to get adding to that 100euro!!!!

ScrambledEggs12 · 30/08/2025 18:48

Cash - £1500 - £500 from each account at ATM, but often the local ATM hasn't money in it.

Otherwise I think £20k is the biggest transfer I can do in one day.

Butterflyreasons · 30/08/2025 18:41

About £12 and a handful of miniature bounty chocolate bars left over from last years Christmas tub