Emergency documents and cash: make a practical household record

Write a contact card that works without a phone

Record the contacts you would actually need if your phone failed: household members, a trusted person outside your area, your GP or pharmacy, care or equipment provider, utilities and landlord or managing agent. Include your home address and agreed meeting place. Check the numbers with the people or organisations concerned instead of copying an old card.

• Use readable text and an accessible format for the person carrying it.
• Keep one copy with household essentials and another where appropriate for journeys.
• Agree what your contact should do if they cannot reach you.
• Review after a move, provider change or change in care arrangements.

Build your household contact plan

Create an inventory of important records

List the record, where the original is kept and how a trusted person could find it with your permission. Consider copies of identity documents, insurance policy details and essential medical-equipment instructions. Include information needed for children, pets or someone you care for. A copy can help explain your circumstances, but may not replace an original document required by a service.

Cabinet Office Be Ready documents advice (opens in a new tab)

Keep copies secure and usable

Choose a protective folder or pouch that fits your circumstances and label it so the household can find it. Tell only the people who need to know where it is. Carry the minimum personal information needed for the situation. A lost bag should not expose every account credential you own. If you also keep digital copies, use your normal secure storage and check that you can access the needed information offline.

• Do not put bank PINs, passwords or full login instructions on a general emergency card.
• Do not upload identity or medical documents to an unverified preparedness form.
• Ask permission before recording another adult's information.
• Replace outdated copies and dispose of them securely.

Choose a cash amount around actual essentials

The Cabinet Office checklist recommends a mix of notes, coins and cards but does not set a universal cash amount. List likely short-term purchases such as essential travel or food, then consider what you already have, what you can afford and secure storage. Cash can be useful when some payment systems fail; it does not guarantee that a shop is open, supplied or able to make a sale.

Separate a payment backup from emergency savings

A small payment backup at home is different from savings for a broken appliance or loss of income. Do not move all savings into physical cash or miss essential bills because a preparedness list mentions money. MoneyHelper provides budgeting and emergency-savings guidance if you need help balancing current commitments and future costs. Our worksheet helps organise information; it does not set a financial target for you.

MoneyHelper: emergency savings (opens in a new tab)Prepare on a budget

Do a household handover check

Ask another household member to find the folder and identify one contact without using your phone. Check whether the text is large enough, the instructions make sense and any nominated helper has agreed to the role. This is a simple rehearsal, not a reason to share sensitive records widely. Put a review reminder beside the checklist and update the record when circumstances change.