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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. Ready.gov warns that ATMs and credit cards may not work in a disaster, just when you need to buy supplies, fuel or food. That's why it says to keep a small amount of cash at home, in small bills. If you have no cash at home, you may not be able to buy groceries until the systems come back.

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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-resistant document pouch or file box keeps your cash with your ID copies and insurance papers. Check how many minutes it's rated for: "fire-resistant" is not "fireproof."We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.See document boxes in the Shop →
  • Check what your renters' or homeowners' policy says about cash before you decide how much to keep. Ready.gov says to review your policy for the coverage you need.

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.

Before the holidays or a storm

Before you travel or when a storm is in the forecast, check the envelope and top it up with small bills. Ready.gov says "It is important to have small bills on hand because ATMs and credit cards may not work during a disaster when you need to purchase necessary supplies, fuel or food."

Its power outage page adds that an outage can "Close retail businesses, grocery stores, gas stations, ATMs, banks and other services." So a card reader and the nearest ATM can be down at the same time. See Card readers down? What to do at the register and Can't access your bank?.

If you're traveling, keep some of it in your carry-on, not only in checked bags. See Holiday travel and a winter storm.

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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.

FAQ

Should I keep more cash at home in winter? There's no set winter amount. Keep your usual reserve, and check it and top it up with small bills before you travel or when a storm is forecast, since card readers and ATMs can go down along with the power.

Related

What to buy

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Sources

Last reviewed: November 3, 2026