Emergency items under 10 pounds: ten useful buys for £10 or less
Last reviewed 24 October 2026 · 8 min read
Quick checklist
Quick checklist
0 of 8 doneHow to read "under £10"
Every amount in this article is a budget, not a price. Prices change, shops differ, and we do not quote them. Where we say "about £10", it means: set aside up to that amount, then check the current price before you spend.
This list is our reasonable practice, built around Be Ready, the government campaign, which asks households to be ready for three days of disruption. You do not need all ten at once. Buy one, use it, then add the next. Our budget emergency kit guide shows how to build a £25 kit, and our guide to emergency preparedness for free covers what costs nothing.
Ten emergency items under 10 pounds
Each item below has a generic description first, so the advice stands whichever brand you choose.
1. A manual tin opener
Tinned food is the easiest no-cook food, and a power cut stops an electric opener. Look for a sturdy hand-held opener that grips the rim and turns smoothly. Test it on a tin today. A manual tin opener (Retailer link coming soon) is one of the cheapest items here, and ring-pull tins are quicker still.
2. A simple torch
A torch is the first thing you reach for in the dark. Choose an LED torch that takes common AA or AAA batteries, and keep spare cells beside it. A basic AA or AAA LED torch (Retailer link coming soon) is a low-cost start; check the current price. Keep it in a place you can find in the dark, such as a hallway drawer.
Our guide to the best lights for a power cut covers other options. Never use candles as your main light, because of the fire risk.
3. A whistle on a lanyard
A whistle is a loud, cheap way to attract attention if you are stuck, injured or need help. Choose a plastic or metal whistle on a cord. A whistle with a lanyard (Retailer link coming soon) fits in a coat pocket or grab bag. Teach children when to use it, and when not to.
4. Date labels
Stored food needs a date, or you forget it. Use a pack of date-label stickers (Retailer link coming soon) to write the month you bought each item and put the oldest at the front. Follow Food Standards Agency (FSA) advice: a use-by date is about safety, so do not eat food after it, and a best-before date is about quality.
5. Plasters and dressings
A small tin of assorted plasters and dressings (Retailer link coming soon) covers cuts and blisters. Keep them dry and check the expiry date on the pack. For wider first aid, a first aid course is worth more than a bigger kit. Speak to your pharmacist about what else to keep, especially for children.
6. A notebook and permanent marker
Paper works when screens do not. A notebook and permanent marker (Retailer link coming soon) lets you write numbers, notes for neighbours and a list of what you have used. Keep both in your torch drawer or grab bag.
7. Family contact cards
Phones run flat and numbers vanish. Write names and numbers on a card for each family member, or use a pack of printed contact cards. Keep one in each bag, coat or wallet. This also helps children who do not know numbers by heart. You can make cards for free from scrap paper.
8. A charging cable for your phone
A spare cable is cheap and easy to lose. If you own a power bank, charge it every few months. A cable alone does nothing without a charged power bank, so check both. We do not link a product here, because the right cable depends on your phone.
9. A roll of duct tape
Duct tape can patch a torn sack, hold a cover in place or label a bag. It is a small, general tool. We do not link a product here, because any plain roll will do.
10. A pack of unscented wipes
If water is off, wipes clean hands, faces and surfaces. They are not a substitute for soap and water. Bin every wipe and never flush it. Our guide to washing without running water shows how to use them well. Any plain unscented pack will do.
If you have £10, £25 or £50
These are budgets, not quotes. Prices change, so check the current price first.
- About £10: start with a tin opener and a torch. These two items do the most for the least.
- About £25: add a whistle, plasters, a notebook and marker, and date labels.
- About £50: add a second torch, a power bank, spare batteries, wipes and a small tin to keep it all in.
What not to buy first
Skip anything that promises to solve every problem, such as a big boxed kit, a "survival" gadget or a heat source. Gadgets often cost more and do less than the basics above. Many items work better when you already own them, such as a bowl, a blanket and a notebook.
Keep money for water and food first. Be Ready asks households to store 3 litres of water per person per day, and tap water in clean, food-grade containers is the easy and cheap way to do that. Our emergency kit list puts the ten items in the wider picture.
Do this today (free)
- Test your tin opener on a tin.
- Test your torch and check the batteries.
- Write contact cards for your household.
- Tell everyone where the torch lives.
- Write the date on three items in your cupboard.
Questions people ask
What is the most useful emergency item under £10?
A torch and a manual tin opener come first. A torch gives you light when the power fails, and a tin opener lets you eat tinned food without electricity. Both are usually low-cost. Check the current price, and test both today.
Can I build a useful kit for £10 in total?
You can make a start. A torch, a tin opener and a notebook cover light, food and messages for the first night. It is a starting point, not a full kit. Be Ready asks households to be ready for three days of disruption, so build up gradually.
Are cheap torches any good?
A basic LED torch works well for most homes. Look for one that takes common AA or AAA batteries, keep spares beside it, and test it every few months. A more expensive torch is an upgrade, not a first buy. Check the current price.
Should I buy a big pre-made emergency kit instead?
Not as a first step. A big kit often includes items you will not use, and it can cost far more than building your own. Start with the basics here, then add what your household needs. Our budget kit guide shows how.
Sources and further reading
Sources
firesidefolk.com/budget/emergency-items-under-10-pounds · Last reviewed 24 October 2026 · Fireside Folk