A recent survey conducted for the cash access and ATM network Link has revealed that millions of people across the United Kingdom are actively preparing for potential emergencies by stockpiling essential items at home. The research indicates that items such as physical cash, torches, and tinned goods are being stored in households to be used in the event of a major disruptive event, including a cyber attack, a natural disaster, or an IT failure.
Key Findings from the Survey
The survey, carried out in March by YouGov on behalf of Link, polled more than 2,100 people across the UK. It found that 17% of respondents have a stash of cash at home specifically for emergencies. Additionally, nearly half (49%) have a battery-powered torch, 47% have a supply of tinned goods, and 37% have a charged power bank to keep their phones operational during a crisis.
Cash Usage Trends
The research also examined cash usage over the previous fortnight. Around 61% of people surveyed said they had used cash in the two weeks prior, a decline from 69% in 2025 and 73% in 2024. Contactless cards (42%) and mobile phone payments (30%) are now the preferred methods for day-to-day in-store payments. Notably, 10% of respondents described themselves as “fully cashless,” while 13% still prefer to pay in cash, including 16% of those aged 55 and over.
Where Cash is Used
Among those who used cash in the past two weeks, the most common locations were supermarkets, convenience stores, cafes, and pubs, as well as for giving money to friends and family. However, since June 2025, there has been a noticeable drop in cash usage at convenience stores, according to Link.
Attitudes Towards Going Cashless
Some 45% of respondents said they find it inconvenient when businesses do not accept cash. The majority (56%) do not expect to go cashless within the next 12 months. When asked why they would not abandon cash entirely, 61% cited the importance of low-value and person-to-person payments, while 56% emphasised that cash is vital during digital payment outages.
Graham Mott, director of strategy at Link, commented: “Cash continues to play an important role in the UK’s payment landscape. While digital payments, like cards or increasingly, using your phone, are now the first choice for many, millions of people still rely on cash, not just for budgeting and day-to-day purchases, but also because they value choice, privacy and control. What’s interesting to see in the latest data is the growing role of cash in resilience planning. With rising public concern about threats like power outages, cyber attacks and disruption to card payments, more people are prepping by keeping some emergency cash at home.”
