Emergency cash and documents: how much to keep and how to store it
Keep enough cash in small notes and coins to cover three days of essentials. The Dutch government suggests about €70 per adult and €30 per child. Store it with copies of your ID, insurance, prescriptions and key phone numbers in a waterproof pouch you can grab in seconds.
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Why cash still matters
When the power or the payment network fails, card terminals, contactless payments and ATMs stop at the same time. During the April 2025 blackout in Spain and Portugal, many shops that stayed open could only take cash. That is why the UK’s Be Ready checklist, Sweden’s civil-defence agency and the British Red Cross all list cash, and why the Dutch government puts a number on it.
How much cash to keep
| Source | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Netherlands (Denk vooruit, 2025) | €70 per adult, €30 per child |
| United Kingdom (Be Ready) | A mix of coins and notes; amount depends on your family’s needs |
| Sweden (MCF) | Cash in case payment cards stop working |
| United States (Ready.gov) | Cash or traveller’s cheques in your kit |
A practical way to decide: what would you spend in three days on food, medicine, fuel and a taxi or bus? For most households that lands between €100 and €300 (or the local equivalent). Keep it in small notes and coins; in a crisis, shops may not be able to give change.
- Split it: most in the home kit, a little in your grab bag and car kit.
- Don’t keep it all in one obvious place.
- Check it once a year and replace old notes if your country is changing designs.
- Travelling? Keep some cash in the local currency too.
Documents to copy
| Document | Paper copy in kit | Digital copy |
|---|---|---|
| ID cards, passports, residence permits | Yes | Yes |
| Birth, marriage and adoption certificates | Yes | Yes |
| Insurance policies (home, health, car, life) | Yes, the policy and claim numbers | Yes |
| Property deed or rental contract | Yes | Yes |
| Bank, pension and loan details | Account numbers only | Yes |
| Prescriptions and medication list with doses | Yes | Yes |
| Vaccination records, allergies, medical device instructions | Yes | Yes |
| Pet vaccination and microchip records | Yes | Yes |
| Photos of your home and valuables (for insurance) | No | Yes |
| Key phone numbers and addresses | Yes, on paper | Yes |
The UK government also suggests writing down the contact details of anyone you might need to check on, and instructions for any medical equipment you rely on.
The paper contact list
When your phone is flat, you may not remember a single number. Write these on a card, laminate it or put it in a plastic sleeve, and keep one in the kit and one in each wallet:
- Family members, a neighbour and a contact outside your area.
- Your doctor, pharmacy and any specialist.
- Schools and childcare.
- Your electricity, gas and water companies (and outage line).
- Your insurer’s claims line and policy number.
- Your local council or municipality.
How to store them
Use layers. Originals in a safe place, copies in the kit, digital backups encrypted.
| Product | Best for | Key spec | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterproof document pouch | Copies and cash in your kit | Zip seal, A4 or A5 | Check price on Amazon |
| Fire-resistant document bag | Originals and backups at home | Fire-resistant, not fireproof | Check price on Amazon |
| Encrypted USB stick | Scans of all documents | PIN or hardware encryption | Check price on Amazon |
| Roll-top dry bag | Grab bag and flood kit | Fully waterproof when rolled | Check price on Amazon |
We don’t list prices because they change often. Use the button to see the current price on Amazon.
- Paper copies in a waterproof pouch inside the 72-hour kit.
- Digital copies on an encrypted USB stick and/or an encrypted cloud folder protected by two-factor authentication.
- A second set with a trusted relative or friend in another town, in case your home is damaged.
- Update whenever you renew an ID or change insurer, and check once a year.
Never write PINs or passwords on your document copies. Keep account numbers and claim lines only.
If you must leave in a hurry
Put the pouch in your grab-and-go bag, along with keys, phone, charger and medicines. The Dutch government suggests keeping a bag ready near your kit for exactly this: keys, ID and cash first. Then tick off the rest of the 72-hour checklist.
Questions people ask
How much cash should I keep at home for emergencies?
Enough to buy food, medicine and transport for about three days. The Dutch government’s kit advice gives €70 per adult and €30 per child; other agencies leave the amount to you. Use small notes and some coins.
Which documents should I keep copies of?
ID cards or passports, birth and marriage certificates, insurance policies, property or rental documents, bank and pension details, prescriptions and a medication list, vaccination records, pet records and a list of key phone numbers.
Should I keep originals or copies in my emergency kit?
Copies. Keep originals somewhere safe, ideally in a fire-resistant box or a bank safe deposit, and put copies in the kit.
Is it safe to keep digital copies?
Yes, if they are encrypted. Use an encrypted USB stick or an encrypted cloud folder with a strong password and two-factor authentication.
Are fireproof document bags really fireproof?
They are fire-resistant, not fireproof. They protect papers from brief exposure to flames and heat, but not indefinitely in a house fire. Treat them as a useful extra layer.
Keep reading
- The 2025 Iberian blackout: 10 lessons for your kit
- /kits/evacuation-bag/
- Emergency kit for kids: checklist by age
- /checklist/