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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:
Pieceofpurplesky · 30/08/2025 17:59

About £500 in my current account. No savings. Divorce did me dirty

Ponderingwindow · 30/08/2025 17:46

I wouldn’t bail out a drug addled relative. Far too much experience with addicts and I won’t let them drag me down with them.

as for ready cash, if the banks were open I could get 100k pretty easily and without paying any interest or fees. I would not count anything that cost me money to obtain, so any penalties for withdrawal or anything on a credit card as accessible cash.

if the banks aren’t open, I generally have around 500-1000 in a safe for emergencies.

when I was younger, these numbers were much, much smaller. I started out being eligible for limited benefits. It has taken a lifetime to build up this kind of a buffer.

Shizzlestix · 30/08/2025 17:40

Just closed an ISA and transferred it to my current account, so just over £20K. Give me a few days and I could get 10X that much, but that’s to help buy a house next year, life savings.

ClaredeBear · 30/08/2025 17:36

£250 from the cashpoint. I banks are closed and that’s the limit.

Createausername1970 · 30/08/2025 17:30

We have £500 cash locked in a small safe for emergencies. That is readily to hand.

Catsandcannedbeans · 30/08/2025 17:29

Idk how much does a kidney go for these days? DH won’t mind…

Realistically we would be fine, we have a lot in savings and investments and I know if I really needed money my Dad would sell his beloved boat and bail me out (and never speak to me again). I also have one pretty valuable bit of Dr Who memorabilia - but I would actually sell my kidney before I part with it. I grew up very poor and I’ve always been pretty careful with my money, we live well below our means.

Actual cold hard cash I could do a decent amount (800-1000) because my job is cash in hand and I’ve not taken it to the bank yet.

ThatRareLimeFinch · 30/08/2025 17:24

me alone, about 3k
between me and OH about 18k

TSMWEL · 30/08/2025 17:14

Gymmumma · 30/08/2025 17:01

We have 100k limit on a credit card but it’s only for absolute emergencies. Cash we could get maybe 10k

What credit card company has given you a 100k limit?! God I thought one of mine was mildly irresponsible and it’s only 15k!

PicaK · 30/08/2025 17:11

In actual cash?
Limited by what I can take out of the ATM - so £300 from x2 current accounts and x2 credit cards
How much could I go into debt by? £17k on the credit cards, 1k on the accounts
Finally just got paid so about 3k of actual money in current account and kids savings

Petrolitis · 30/08/2025 17:09

Not that much because the bank has quite a small daily withdrawal limit!

Eviebeans · 30/08/2025 17:07

Noelshighflyingturds · 30/08/2025 11:19

And I would let the drug addled relative get beaten up sometimes it’s the only way they learn

I agree- if you pay once they’ll know they can let them build up a debt again with no problem getting the money back

MyTommyGunDont · 30/08/2025 17:03

Today’s a Sunday, so probably £2k max - £500 in the house and £300 from the ATM from the 5 current account debit cards we have.

If I could got to the bank and withdraw it, or if it was a bank transfer (ignoring limits on these), about £40k.

Closer to £100k if I withdrew cash from credit cards up to my limit. But I’m not sure I’d do that in any scenario.

BettysRoasties · 30/08/2025 17:01

This personal money or can I call a friend.

Gymmumma · 30/08/2025 17:01

We have 100k limit on a credit card but it’s only for absolute emergencies. Cash we could get maybe 10k

Toetouchingtitties · 30/08/2025 16:55

A reasonable amount of cash and 4kg of silver bullion bars.

MadameMaxGoesler · 30/08/2025 16:48

£550,992.28.

Katieweasel · 30/08/2025 15:21

No cash at all. We live all month off the credit card and pay it off in full on pay day.

PinkyFlamingo · 30/08/2025 14:52

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

Obsesetits · 30/08/2025 14:51

I’m £4 into an unarranged overdraft. No savings, no ISA, no PB. I don’t really know how I got here tbh.

Fellowflow · 30/08/2025 14:29

autienotnaughty · 30/08/2025 12:01

If you forget the withdrawal rules maybe 20k

£11k in money just from normal accounts. But could cash in premium bonds and certain other investments within a week or so, which would bring it up to £72k. Some of my stocks ISA investments would be fine to cash in without penalties, and be accessible within a week or two.

batt3nb3rg · 30/08/2025 14:06

MagnoliaTreeBlossom · 30/08/2025 11:44

Not going to share specific financial information on here. 🤔 This calls for one of my favourite jokes.🤣

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Nana
Nana your business!

I didn't think anyone was asking you specifically. Also maybe I'm alone in thinking that essentially sharing how much you have in savings on an anonymous forum is hardly "specific".

I could only find about £1,000 in cash and another £1,000 in borrowing if it were a true, serious emergency that might have lasting consequences if not dealt with. This is due to me being in my early 20s and having just purchased my first house. And also becuase I don't work, so my savings are all joint account leftovers.

TidyDancer · 30/08/2025 12:44

About £15-16k but it would drain my savings completely and I absolutely would not be covering anyone’s drug debt with it. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes and all that!

YesImaman1100 · 30/08/2025 12:37

Noelshighflyingturds · 30/08/2025 11:18

About 1000
This time last year it would’ve been 10p

In that case, you deserve a pat on the back for turning your fortunes around. 👏

Original poster
Wiseplumant · 30/08/2025 12:32

I just came up with the relative with drug debt right off the top of my off head., honest😀. Suppose I could have said to buy something you see and just 'can't live without '! Ie a beautiful painting. I suppose my Interest in this passing thought was how much would be a typical amount a cross section of mumsnetters would be able to get their hands on quickly, Im not after your bank details!! A few years ago I would have had problems getting hold of a few hundred.

OP posts:
Lucy5678 · 30/08/2025 12:22

Literal cash as in physical money, about £20 plus whatever the ATM limit is for my current account. And some leftover holiday euros.

Money that isn’t tied up in property etc - enough for any likely scenario. Drug addicted relatives are on their own though.