According to a survey commissioned by Link, the cash access and ATM network, a growing number of UK households are stockpiling essential items such as physical cash, torches, and tinned goods in preparation for major disruptive events like cyber attacks, natural disasters, or IT failures.
Emergency preparedness on the rise
The research, conducted by YouGov in March 2026, found that 17% of respondents have a stash of cash at home for emergencies. Additionally, nearly half (49%) possess a battery-powered torch, 47% keep a supply of tinned goods, and 37% have a charged power bank to maintain phone connectivity during crises.
Cash usage trends
The survey also examined cash usage over the previous two weeks. Around six in ten (61%) respondents reported using cash, a decline from 69% in 2025 and 73% in 2024. Contactless cards (42%) and phone payments (30%) remain the preferred methods for everyday in-store transactions.
While 10% of people describe themselves as "fully cashless," over one in ten (13%) still prefer cash, including 16% of those aged 55 and older. Among cash users, supermarkets, convenience stores, cafes, pubs, and giving money to friends and family were the most common venues for using coins or banknotes.
Link noted a drop in cash usage at convenience stores compared to June 2025. Overall, 45% of respondents find it inconvenient when businesses do not accept cash.
Resilience planning
The majority (56%) of those surveyed do not anticipate going cashless within the next 12 months. Reasons cited include the importance of low-value and person-to-person payments (61%) and the vital role of cash during digital payment outages (56%).
Graham Mott, director of strategy at Link, commented: "Cash continues to play an important role in the UK’s payment landscape. While digital payments are now the first choice for many, millions still rely on cash for budgeting, privacy, and control. What’s interesting is the growing role of cash in resilience planning, with more people keeping emergency cash at home amid concerns about power outages, cyber attacks, and card payment disruptions."
The survey polled over 2,100 individuals across the UK in March 2026.
