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Outage Depot

Guide

How much cash should you keep at home for an outage?

Short answer: Enough to cover your household's essentials for three days to start, then build toward a week, in small bills. The right amount depends on what your household actually spends, so work it out from your own numbers, not a figure off the internet.

Why cash matters in an outage

When card networks, bank apps, or ATMs go down, the money in your account is still there, but you can't spend it. Stores that stay open often go cash-only. Federal preparedness guidance recommends keeping a small amount of cash at home, in small bills, because ATMs and cards may not work in a disaster.

Work out your number in 10 minutes

  1. 1Open last month's statement. Add up what you spent on essentials only: groceries, pharmacy, transit or gas, and anything you pay in person every week, like laundry.
  2. 2Divide by four to get about one week of essentials.
  3. 3Start with three days' worth (roughly half of that weekly figure). That's your first target.
  4. 4Build toward the full week over the next few months.
  5. 5Add a small amount for your wallet so you're never out of the house with nothing.

Leave out rent, subscriptions, and bills that come out automatically. In a real outage, those usually wait until systems come back.

Get the right bills

  • Mostly small bills. Stores running on cash during an outage often can't make change for large notes.
  • A few rolls of quarters if your building's laundry or parking takes coins.
  • Keep one sealed envelope you don't touch, so the reserve doesn't slowly turn into takeout money.

Store it sensibly

  • Split it. Keep most at home and a small amount in your wallet.
  • Choose somewhere that isn't obvious and isn't the first drawer by the door.
  • A fire- and water-resistant document box keeps cash with your ID copies and insurance papers. Check how many minutes it's rated for; "fire-resistant" is not "fireproof."
  • Insurance may cover little or no cash. Check your renters' or homeowners' policy before you decide how much to keep.

Keep it fresh

Look at the envelope when you change your smoke alarm batteries. If you borrowed from it, top it up. If your weekly spending has changed, adjust the amount.

What not to do

  • Don't keep everything you have in cash. The goal is a few days of spending, not a second bank.
  • Don't swap your reserve for gold, silver, or crypto sold as outage prep. None of them buy groceries when the network is down.
  • Don't tell people how much you keep or where.

Related

What to buy

Last reviewed: September 26, 2026

Sources