Five emergency kit mistakes that waste money (and what to do instead)
Last reviewed 24 October 2026 · 6 min read
Quick checklist
Quick checklist
0 of 7 doneFive emergency kit mistakes, and the cheaper fix for each
This section is our opinion, not a test result. We have not tested any kit, and we name no brands. It draws on the Be Ready checklist, ordinary food safety guidance and common sense.
Mistake 1: buying a ready-made kit without checking what is in it
A boxed kit looks like a quick answer. The trouble is that you pay for the contents whether you need them or not, and the box may leave out basics such as food, water, medicines or a tin opener. Some kits are also built for camping, not for sitting out a power cut at home.
The fix. Before you pay, put the kit's contents list beside the Be Ready checklist, or beside our emergency kit list. If the box covers most of the list at a fair price, it may be worth it. If not, build your own for less. Our budget emergency kit guide shows the buying order for about £25, and it can be done in stages.
Mistake 2: buying gadgets before the basics
Hand-crank gadgets, multi-tools, paracord and fire starters are fun to browse. They are not what you reach for in the first hour of a power cut. You reach for a torch, something to eat and a way to open it, water and a blanket.
The fix. Make a short list in this order: light, food you can eat cold, water, warmth, basic first aid and a charged power bank. Buy nothing further until each item is in the house. A plain AA battery LED torch (Retailer link coming soon) and a manual tin opener (Retailer link coming soon) cost far less than a gadget and do more of the work.
Mistake 3: buying a stove or heater to use indoors
When people think about a power cut, the first thought is often heat for food and warmth. A camping stove, portable gas heater or barbecue looks like the answer. It is not, because all of them give off carbon monoxide, a gas you cannot see or smell, and it can kill. They are not safe indoors, in a garage or near a window or door.
The fix. Plan around food you can eat cold, and keep warm with layers, blankets and one closed room. If your home has a boiler, gas fire or any fuel-burning appliance, fit a working carbon monoxide alarm (Retailer link coming soon) and test it as the maker advises. That alarm is worth more than any stove. Our guide to keeping warm in a power cut has the safe options.
Mistake 4: packing the kit once and never checking it
A kit goes wrong quietly. Batteries leak or flatten, food reaches its date, water gets old and the tin opener turns out to be stiff. You find out at the worst time.
The fix. Pick a regular day. Be Ready suggests checking expiry dates around every six months, and we tie ours to the clocks changing. Switch on the torch, open a tin with the opener, and swap anything that is due. Our monthly emergency kit check is a 15-minute version for a closer look, and our guide to storing batteries helps the torch last. Stick date labels (Retailer link coming soon) on food and water so you can see what is due.
Mistake 5: storing the kit where you cannot reach it
A kit in a loft, a damp garage or the back of a shed is hard to reach in the dark. It can also spoil. Heat, damp and frost are hard on food, batteries and plastic. Do not put water in an airing cupboard either, because warm storage is not good for it.
The fix. Choose a cool, dry spot you can get to without a ladder, such as a cupboard by the front door or under the stairs. Put the torch and a lantern where you can find them with your eyes shut. If space is tight, a few stackable clear pantry containers (Retailer link coming soon) help, but only if you will use the shelf. Tell everyone where the kit is.
Two smaller slips
- Food nobody wants. If the household will not eat it, it will not be eaten when it matters. Buy what you already like.
- Everything on the phone. Phones go flat. Keep a paper list of key numbers, as in our emergency contact list guide.
Is a kit worth it at all?
Yes, in our view, but a small and sensible one. If you are unsure whether you need a kit, read our guide to whether you need an emergency kit in the UK. If you are buying for someone else, our guide to an emergency kit for elderly parents shows what changes.
Do this today (free)
- Find the torch you already own and test it.
- Check that the tin opener works on a real tin.
- Fill two or three clean bottles from the cold tap and date them.
- Look at what is already in the cupboard and put it in one place.
- Tell everyone at home where the kit will live.
If you have £10, £25 or £50
These are budgets, not quotes. Prices change, so check the current price first.
- About £10: a torch and spare batteries, plus a manual tin opener.
- About £25: add tins you will eat cold, plasters and dressings, and date labels.
- About £50: add a carbon monoxide alarm if you have none, then a radio or power bank.
Questions people ask
What should I buy first for an emergency kit?
Start with light, a manual tin opener, food you can eat cold and a few bottles of tap water. Those cover the first day of a power cut. Add warmth, basic first aid and a charged power bank next, then anything on the Be Ready checklist you are still missing.
Are ready-made emergency kits worth it?
Sometimes. They save time, but check every item against the Be Ready checklist before you pay. Some include gadgets you will not use and may leave out food, water or medicines. Building your own lets you buy what your household needs, in the order you need it, and spend nothing on the rest.
How often should I check my emergency kit?
Be Ready suggests checking expiry dates around every six months, and we tie it to the clocks changing, which is easy to remember. Test torches, replace dead batteries, swap out food and water that are due, and update your paper contact sheet.
Where should I store an emergency kit?
Keep it somewhere dry, cool and easy to reach in the dark, such as a cupboard near the front door or under the stairs. Avoid damp garages and sheds, a hot loft or anywhere you would need a ladder. Tell everyone in the house where it is.
Sources and further reading
Sources
firesidefolk.com/kits-and-grab-bags/emergency-kit-mistakes · Last reviewed 24 October 2026 · Fireside Folk