How to Build Your Emergency Kit on a Budget

Water is the top priority when preparing for an emergency. Without a reliable supply of clean water, even a short disruption can quickly become a serious problem.

Five-litre bottles of drinking water can cost around £1.50 to £2 each, depending on the supermarket. For a family of four, eight bottles would provide 40 litres of water, costing approximately £12–£16 in total.

This is a useful starting supply for drinking and some basic food preparation over three days, although additional water may be needed for other household needs.

You don't need to buy all eight bottles at once. Aim to pick up one or two bottles during each weekly shop. Within a few weeks, you could have built up your initial water supply without having to find the full amount in your budget at once.

Store your water somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight, following the storage instructions on the packaging. Remember to check dates and replace supplies when necessary.

Food is another essential part of your emergency kit. Rather than buying large quantities of food in one go, it helps to plan how many days of emergency food you have available for everyone in your household.

For example, if you're a family of four, start by putting together one complete day's worth of food for all four people.

Make a list of the foods you would buy for that first day, taking account of everyone's preferences and dietary requirements. Include a mixture of foods that provide energy and nutrients, and prioritise items that can be eaten without cooking if the power goes out. Tinned meals, beans, fruit, fish and ready-to-eat foods can all be useful options.

Check that you have enough food for everyone, rather than simply counting the number of tins in your cupboard. A day's supply needs to provide enough food for each person throughout the day.

Once you've planned your first day, start adding a few items to your weekly shop. Choose foods you already eat so that you can rotate your supplies and use them before their best-before dates.

When you've built up your first full day of emergency food, move on to the second and then the third. Over a period of weeks or months, you'll gradually build a three-day food supply without needing to spend a large amount upfront.

Water and food are important, but there are other items worth including in your emergency kit.

Start by checking your existing supplies against our guide to the nine essential emergency supplies. You may already own some of them, such as a torch, a power bank or a first aid kit. There's no need to buy replacements if your existing items are suitable and working properly.

For anything you don't have, we've recommended some budget-friendly options to help keep costs down.

Rather than buying everything at once, choose one item to focus on each month. For example, you could buy a torch this month, a battery or wind-up radio next month, and spare batteries the month after.

Some items may cost more than others, so adjust the order to suit your budget and the supplies you already have. Prioritise the essentials you are missing and gradually work through the list.

Emergency preparation doesn't need to happen overnight. By setting aside a little money during your regular shopping trips, you can steadily build up your household supplies without putting unnecessary pressure on your budget.

Start with water, make a plan for your emergency food, and then work through the remaining essentials one item at a time.

The important thing is to start. Even a small emergency kit is a step towards being better prepared.