- Slow-burn crises are lost financially before physically: 3–6 months expenses as the real goal (start with £1k), cash at home in small notes (B9), zero high-interest debt as a prep priority, skills that barter (repair, medical, food production, childcare).
- A tank of fuel, a paid-ahead utility, and a full pantry are inflation-proof "savings" you'll definitely use.
- Paper + USB copies of: deeds, insurance (check flood/fire coverage NOW — most people discover exclusions after), IDs, marriage/birth certs, med records, key contacts. Will and guardianship for the kids written — that's family protection too.
- Modest precious-metal or tradable-goods holdings are Phase-3 insurance at most; food, fuel, meds, and skills barter better than gold in every historical shortage.
Financial and legal resilience
Three to six months of expenses saved, debts cleared, and your will actually written.