A doomsday prepper has revealed just how much starter cash Brits will need if the UK goes into war – and it’s a staggering sum of money.
Rowan MacKenzie is known for her “extreme” preparations that people used to laugh at years ago.
These days however, as tensions escalate across the globe, she’s constantly approached for advice on how to stay safe.
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Rowan, who has a bunker underneath her home with £315,000 worth of goods, says a family-of-four needs to have at least £5,000 ready to go in case of emergency for food, water and supplies.
Even more shockingly, this nest egg will only last you one month.
“It really does depend on the household income, so only get what you can afford without breaking the bank,” Rowan told What’s The Jam.
“But I would say it should roughly cost no more than £1,000, per person, for food and supplies and that should last around three weeks if rationing is done correctly.
“That cost also includes bugout bag materials, aka a portable emergency kit which lasts for three days in the event of sudden evacuation.”
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The homemaker and estate agent’s advice is dire news for some Brits.
The average UK adult has £19,214 in savings but there’s a huge discrepancy across generations, according to 2026 research by Finder.
Those under 55 have just £9,888, while close to half the country (39%) have £1,000 or less.
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But Rowan says it’s not just about the amount of money in the bank – preparedness is about having a “plan” that can be actioned quickly.
Rowan said: “Is anybody actually ready?
“Don’t prepare for one disaster, prepare for the consequences disasters have.
“[I ask myself]: ‘If something happened tomorrow and I couldn’t buy anything for seven days, how comfortable would my household be?
“You don’t need an [expensive] bunker to get started. “You need a plan.”
Rowan, from Missouri, US, is also trying to do her part in assisting others.
She recently donated her entire stockpile and is currently in the process of rebuilding it.
Rowan has created a list of the “must-haves” for every family which includes having various power sources, such as flashlights, lanterns, power banks and backup cooking devices.
Shelf-stable foods like preserved beans and rice are a must; with at least seven days’ worth, per person, in rotation.
A printed list of important contacts and a battery-powered radio is essential, as is the aforementioned emergency cash and vital documents.
Basic medicines, water purifiers, extra fuel and blankets should be taken into account, too.
Although her advice seems like common knowledge, Rowan says there are mistakes people should be aware of – ones that even she makes.
She said: “Stockpiling food you never eat is a no-go.
“In an emergency, discovering your family hates half your food store will be a problem.
“Always make sure to rotate your stockpile, all supplies will have an expiration date or can degrade.
“Another mistake is buying food but forgetting water and so is having gear you’ve never used before.
“An unopened water filter, camp stove, radio or generator won’t be much help if you don’t know how to operate it.
“You also can’t rely entirely on electricity.
“So have ways to get around during a prolonged outage.”
The mum also notes preppers often forget sanitation products, such as soap, prescription medications, and necessities for non-human household members.
Rowan’s advice follows Wes Streeting’s comments that the UK is at “greater risk of war”.
Reports are circulating that the UK Government has started working on updates to the ‘war book’.
The manual is a classified document used to coordinate national defense and transition the country from a peacetime status to a full war footing.
And after the UK’s Chief of the Defence, Sir Richard Knighton, sounded the alarm saying Russia’s threat on Britain posed “dangerous” – people are starting to prepare themselves for the worst.
In fact, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has urged UK residents to stockpile tinned food, bottled water and cash.
But Rowan warns to not leave everything in one place.
She added: “Fire, flooding, theft or structural damage will wipe out a beautifully prepared stockpile.
“Also, don’t ever plan for one specific apocalypse.
“A flexible setup is much more useful than preparing exclusively for one scenario and don’t ever tell anyone what you’ve got.
“There’s little benefit to broadcasting the location and extent of your supplies – as it’s ‘one man for themselves’ in an emergency.
“Lastly, test out your plan.
“Turn off the power for an evening, cook using your backup method, use stored water, test communications and see what you’re missing.
“We know a day is coming soon that we need to be as prepared as possible.
“It’s not paranoia – it’s being ready.”
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