Martin Lewis urges UK households to stock up on emergency supplies – here’s what to buy now

Martin Lewis has warned households to start thinking ahead when it comes to basic emergency supplies – including having cash on hand, a torch, a wind-up radio, and tinned food in the cupboard.

Appearing on This Morning following reports of a massive power outage in Spain and Portugal, Lewis said we can’t assume digital systems will always be available – and that extreme weather and energy insecurity could easily trigger blackouts here too.

“We don’t yet know why there was a power cut,” he said, referencing the mystery outage which left homes in Spain without internet, phone signal, and access to digital banking. “They said it wasn’t a cyber attack, which was one of the things being considered, but energy security is a big issue in all Western countries.”

He added that years ago, he was already warning people to avoid using appliances like washing machines between 4pm and 9pm – not for saving money, but to ease peak pressure on the grid.

“They’re sensible precautions everyone should really think about,” he said. “Because it’s not just power outages. Banks go down, your app doesn’t work, you can’t make payments. It’s always worth having a little bit of cash.”

The MoneySavingExpert founder then listed the items he believes every home should keep stocked:

• “A torch and some spare batteries in your house, because we get power cuts for normal reasons – floods and weather incidents.”
• “A bit of tinned food, a little bit of water always kept stocked up is useful.”
• “A wind-up radio.”
• “A power bank to charge your mobile phone – fully charged in your house – because that gives you a torch, a radio, and communication.”

He acknowledged not everyone will be able to afford all these items, but said having even one or two makes sense, “much as I talk about travel insurance or home insurance – you hope you never need them, but they’re worth having.”

Government warns Brits to be ready for blackouts and chaos – here’s what it’ll actually cost you to prepare

So if you’re wondering where to start, we’ve pulled together a quick-reference guide below using trusted items previously featured in our emergency kit series – all available on Amazon.

Martin Lewis’ emergency kit – where to get the essentials

Torch + batteries: A wind-up torch means no batteries needed – the Sealey AK3305 model is just £9.49

For battery-powered torches, stock up with Duracell AA + AAA (24 pack) – £18.96

Wind-up radio: The Rychi emergency radio includes solar, crank, USB charging, flashlight and SOS alarm – £41.99. Read our full review here.

Power bank: The INIU 10000mAh power bank is small, fast, and ideal for emergencies – £14.99

Tinned food: Start simple: Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup (12 cans) – £9.02

Bottled water: This 72 x 500ml pack from Amazon’s own brand is enough to cover basic needs – £13.50

The £41 gadget everyone in Spain wishes they’d had during the mystery blackout - and how you can get it

Lewis made it clear he’s not trying to panic anyone – just encourage a bit of practical thinking. “These are like insurance policies,” he said. “You hope you’ll never need them. But having them ready could make a massive difference when something does go wrong.” For millions of UK households watching events unfold abroad and at home, it might just be the reminder they needed to get prepared.