A doomsday prepper has revealed how much starter cash families will need if the UK goes into war – a staggering sum. Rowan MacKenzie, known for her “extreme” preparations that people used to laugh at, says a family-of-four needs at least £5,000 ready for food, water and supplies in case of emergency.
Rowan, who has a bunker underneath her home with £315,000 worth of goods, says that amount will only last one month. As global tensions escalate, she is increasingly approached for advice on staying safe. The UK Government is urging everyone to keep a three-day emergency supply at home for natural disaster, blackout or attack.
Cost per person and rationing
“It really does depend on the household income, so only get what you can afford without breaking the bank,” Rowan 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,” she added.
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.
Preparedness is about a plan
Rowan says it is not just about the amount of money in the bank – preparedness is about having a “plan” that can be actioned quickly. “Is anybody actually ready? Don’t prepare for one disaster, prepare for the consequences disasters have,” she said.
“[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.”
Rowan recently donated her entire stockpile and is currently rebuilding it. She 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.
Common mistakes and final advice
A printed list of important contacts and a battery-powered radio is essential, as is emergency cash and vital documents. Basic medicines, water purifiers, extra fuel and blankets should be taken into account too.
Rowan warns of mistakes people should be aware of – ones that even she makes. “Stockpiling food you never eat is a no-go. In an emergency, discovering your family hates half your food store will be a problem,” she said.
“Always make sure to rotate your stockpile, all supplies will have an expiration date or can degrade. Another mistake is buying food but forgetting water and so is 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.”
The mum also notes preppers often forget sanitation products, such as soap, prescription medications, and necessities for non-human household members. Her advice follows 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 manual 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, said Russia’s threat on Britain posed “dangerous” risks, people are starting to prepare for the worst. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has urged UK residents to stockpile tinned food, bottled water and cash.
Rowan warns not to leave everything in one place. “Fire, flooding, theft or structural damage will wipe out a beautifully prepared stockpile. Also, don’t ever plan for one specific apocalypse. A flexible setup is much more useful than preparing exclusively for one scenario and don’t ever tell anyone what you’ve got. There’s little benefit to broadcasting the location and extent of your supplies – as it’s ‘one man for themselves’ in an emergency.”
“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.”
