Doomsday prepper Rowan MacKenzie has revealed that a family of four needs at least £5,000 in cash ready for an emergency, covering food, water and supplies for one month. Her advice comes as the UK Government urges everyone to keep a three-day emergency supply at home in case of natural disaster, blackout or attack.
Cost per person and rationing
MacKenzie, who has a bunker under her home with £315,000 worth of goods, said the cost should be roughly no more than £1,000 per person for food and supplies, lasting around three weeks if rationing is done correctly. That cost also includes a bugout bag, a portable emergency kit that lasts three days in the event of sudden evacuation.
“It really does depend on the household income, so only get what you can afford without breaking the bank,” she said. “But I would say it should roughly cost no more than £1,000, per person, for food and supplies and that should last around three weeks if rationing is done correctly. That cost also includes bugout bag materials, aka a portable emergency kit which lasts for three days in the event of sudden evacuation.”
Savings gap and planning
The average UK adult has £19,214 in savings, but there is a huge discrepancy across generations, according to 2026 research by Finder. Those under 55 have just £9,888, while close to half the country (39%) have £1,000 or less.
MacKenzie stressed that preparedness is not just about money in the bank but having a “plan” that can be actioned quickly. “Is anybody actually ready? Don’t prepare for one disaster, prepare for the consequences disasters have. [I ask myself]: ‘If something happened tomorrow and I couldn’t buy anything for seven days, how comfortable would my household be? You don’t need an [expensive] bunker to get started. You need a plan.”
Must-haves and common mistakes
MacKenzie has created a list of “must-haves” for every family, including various power sources such as flashlights, lanterns, power banks and backup cooking devices. Shelf-stable foods like preserved beans and rice are a must, with at least seven days’ worth per person in rotation. A printed list of important contacts, a battery-powered radio, emergency cash, vital documents, basic medicines, water purifiers, extra fuel and blankets should also be taken into account.
She warned against common mistakes, including stockpiling food you never eat, forgetting to rotate supplies, buying food but forgetting water, and having gear you’ve never used before. “An unopened water filter, camp stove, radio or generator won’t be much help if you don’t know how to operate it. You also can’t rely entirely on electricity. So have ways to get around during a prolonged outage.”
Government warnings and final advice
MacKenzie’s advice follows Defence Secretary Wes Streeting’s comments that the UK is at “greater risk of war”. Reports are circulating that the UK Government has started working on updates to the ‘war book’, a classified document used to coordinate national defense and transition the country from peacetime to a full war footing. After the UK’s Chief of the Defence, Sir Richard Knighton, sounded the alarm saying Russia’s threat on Britain posed “dangerous” consequences, Streeting has urged UK residents to stockpile tinned food, bottled water and cash.
MacKenzie warned not to leave everything in one place, saying fire, flooding, theft or structural damage will wipe out a prepared stockpile. She advised against planning for one specific apocalypse and against telling anyone what you have. “Lastly, test out your plan. Turn off the power for an evening, cook using your backup method, use stored water, test communications and see what you’re missing. We know a day is coming soon that we need to be as prepared as possible. It’s not paranoia – it’s being ready.”
