STOCKWISEPrepared for less.

Prepared for less

Three complete kits, rebuilt at every price check (five a day) from live fixed-price listings with a buy or fair verdict from proven sellers. Each says what it covers, what it does not, and what each step up adds. The listings filling each kit sit in their own block, with the time their prices were checked.

The roles follow the items the UK government's Be Ready checklist lists for a household (GOV.UK Be Ready): a torch, a radio, a power bank, a first aid kit, bottled water, non-perishable food and copies of documents. Bottled water, food and spare batteries are supermarket items, so the kits leave them out; the checklist says to keep three days' worth. For food that keeps for years, see Food stores. An item is never one the scoring flags as too far under its typical price, a pack whose count we could not read, or a power bank, power station or alarm from a private seller.

eBay links open the listing on eBay, where you buy from the seller under eBay's terms. If you buy, Little Jam Jar Ltd may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you; verdicts never take that into account. Prices and stock can change after the check time shown.

The £50 kit

What it sets out to cover, in order, for a budget of £50:

  1. Light A torch or head torch: hands-free light first.
  2. Radio A wind-up or solar radio for news and warnings.
  3. First aid Dressings and the basics (no medicines).
  4. Power Keeps a phone going.
  5. Documents Papers, kept dry.
  6. Water Somewhere to store drinking water when the taps stop.
  7. Warmth A blanket or sleeping bag for a cold house.

On eBay · Prices checked 4 Nov, 22:54 UTC

LightRadioFirst aidPowerDocumentsWaterWarmth

  1. Light
  2. Radio
  3. First aid

    BuyNew

    Portable Car First Aid Kit Emergency Medical Travel Health Kit Bag Home Camping

    £5.22 free postage

    Cheaper than 31 of 31 similar listings, £9.50–£18.99

    See it on eBayCheck price on Amazon
  4. Power

    BuyNew

    Power Bank 20000mah 22.5W Portable Fast Charger External Battery for Phones UK

    £10.97 free postage

    Cheaper than 14 of 14 similar listings, £13.89–£34.99

    See it on eBayCheck price on Amazon
  5. Documents
  6. Water
  7. Warmth

The £150 kit

What it sets out to cover, in order, for a budget of £150:

  1. Light A torch or head torch: hands-free light first.
  2. Radio A wind-up or solar radio for news and warnings.
  3. Power Keeps a phone going.
  4. First aid Dressings and the basics (no medicines).
  5. Water Somewhere to store drinking water when the taps stop.
  6. Warmth A blanket or sleeping bag for a cold house.
  7. Documents Papers, kept dry.
  8. Room light A lantern lights the room; a torch only lights where you point it.
  9. Cooking Hot food and drinks, outdoors only.
  10. Gas Fuel for the stove, outdoors only.
  11. CO alarm Carbon monoxide has no colour or smell.
  12. Grab bag Everything in one place by the door.

On eBay · Prices checked 4 Nov, 22:54 UTC

LightRadioPowerFirst aidWaterWarmthDocumentsRoom lightCookingGasCO alarmGrab bag

What £150 adds to The £50 kit

New

  • Room light
  • Cooking
  • Gas
  • CO alarm
  • Grab bag

Better

  • Light: lanterns becomes head torches
  • Water: water containers (20 L) becomes water containers (25 L)
  • Warmth: blankets becomes sleeping bags
  • Documents: document pouches becomes fire bags
  1. Light
  2. Water
  3. Warmth

    BuyNew

    3-4 SEASON SINGLE SLEEPING BAGS CAMPING RECTANGULAR ENVELOPE ZIP UP ADULT

    £11.79 free postage

    Cheaper than 6 of 6 similar listings, £11.95–£13.99

    See it on eBayCheck price on Amazon
  4. Documents
  5. Cooking
  6. Gas
  7. CO alarm
  8. Grab bag
The same as The £50 kit: Radio, Power, First aid, Room light
  1. Radio
  2. Power

    BuyNew

    Power Bank 20000mah 22.5W Portable Fast Charger External Battery for Phones UK

    £10.97 free postage

    Cheaper than 14 of 14 similar listings, £13.89–£34.99

    See it on eBayCheck price on Amazon
  3. First aid

    BuyNew

    Portable Car First Aid Kit Emergency Medical Travel Health Kit Bag Home Camping

    £5.22 free postage

    Cheaper than 31 of 31 similar listings, £9.50–£18.99

    See it on eBayCheck price on Amazon
  4. Room light

This kit stops well short of its budget. Every role on its list is covered at a well-priced listing, and we do not pad a kit to reach a number: spend the rest on the water and food the kits leave out.

The £400 kit

What it sets out to cover, in order, for a budget of £400:

  1. Power station Runs more than a phone for longer.
  2. Power Keeps a phone going.
  3. Light A torch or head torch: hands-free light first.
  4. Room light A lantern lights the room; a torch only lights where you point it.
  5. Radio A wind-up or solar radio for news and warnings.
  6. First aid Dressings and the basics (no medicines).
  7. Water Somewhere to store drinking water when the taps stop.
  8. Water treatment If the water company's advice calls for it.
  9. Warmth A blanket or sleeping bag for a cold house.
  10. Second warmth One each, for a cold house.
  11. Documents Papers, kept dry.
  12. Cooking Hot food and drinks, outdoors only.
  13. Gas Fuel for the stove, outdoors only.
  14. CO alarm Carbon monoxide has no colour or smell.
  15. Smoke alarm For the house, power cut or not.
  16. Grab bag Everything in one place by the door.

On eBay · Prices checked 4 Nov, 22:54 UTC

Power stationPowerLightRoom lightRadioFirst aidWaterWater treatmentWarmthSecond warmthDocumentsCookingGasCO alarmSmoke alarmGrab bag

What £400 adds to The £150 kit

New

  • Power station (298 Wh)
  • Water treatment
  • Second warmth
  • Smoke alarm
  1. Power station
  2. Water treatment
  3. Second warmth

    BuyNew

    3-4 SEASON SINGLE SLEEPING BAGS CAMPING RECTANGULAR ENVELOPE ZIP UP KIDS ADULT

    £11.95 free postage

    Cheaper than 4 of 6 similar listings, £11.79–£13.99

    See it on eBayCheck price on Amazon
  4. Smoke alarm
The same as The £150 kit: Power, Light, Room light, Radio, First aid, Water, Warmth, Documents, Cooking, Gas, CO alarm, Grab bag
  1. Power

    BuyNew

    Power Bank 20000mah 22.5W Portable Fast Charger External Battery for Phones UK

    £10.97 free postage

    Cheaper than 14 of 14 similar listings, £13.89–£34.99

    See it on eBayCheck price on Amazon
  2. Light
  3. Room light
  4. Radio
  5. First aid

    BuyNew

    Portable Car First Aid Kit Emergency Medical Travel Health Kit Bag Home Camping

    £5.22 free postage

    Cheaper than 31 of 31 similar listings, £9.50–£18.99

    See it on eBayCheck price on Amazon
  6. Water
  7. Warmth

    BuyNew

    3-4 SEASON SINGLE SLEEPING BAGS CAMPING RECTANGULAR ENVELOPE ZIP UP ADULT

    £11.79 free postage

    Cheaper than 6 of 6 similar listings, £11.95–£13.99

    See it on eBayCheck price on Amazon
  8. Documents
  9. Cooking
  10. Gas
  11. CO alarm
  12. Grab bag

This kit stops well short of its budget. Every role on its list is covered at a well-priced listing, and we do not pad a kit to reach a number: spend the rest on the water and food the kits leave out.

A kit is a starting point, not a prescription. Swap any item for one you already own.