If you are prepping for anything, big or small, you should seriously consider what would happen if anything should happen to you or whoever is the keeper of all of the day-to-day but important information regarding your home and your lives. Consider how much information in this modern age is no longer readily available in printed form should it be required: Financial records, utility details, account numbers, reference numbers etc.  Every prepper should keep a home information list readily available and regularly updated. We call ours ‘The Red Envelope’ and my wife and others know where it is kept. Make sure it is easy for your spouse or other family members to find should anything happen to you.

What to put on the Home Information List

The list below is the starting point for these records. My list is obviously geared to UK prepping but the principle is the same wherever you are. It should only need to be a page or two long and should include:

  • National Insurance Number(s)
  • Bank Account Details
  • Savings/ISA/Shares Details
  • Mortgage Details
  • Life Insurance (Provider, Policy no., payment, value, term)
  • Pensions
  • Employer details (may be Death in Service cover?)
  • Home Insurance Details (Provider and renewal date)
  • Car Insurance Details (Provider and renewal date)
  • Utilities details:
    • Gas
    • Electricity
    • Water Rates
    • TV License
    • Phone
    • Mobile
    • TV
    • Broadband

For most utilities the postcode and house number is enough to locate the correct account but it doesn’t hurt to record account numbers as well.  Record contact numbers and/or other contact details just in case google isn’t available.

My advice would be to keep your home information list with birth and marriage certificates, wills and any forms of ID you don’t normally carry with you (passport for example and possibly driving license although mine is always in my wallet). This makes it an easy ‘grab’ in other circumstances should you need to leave home quickly.

Important: Do not list any passwords or access codes for obvious reasons. How handy would it be to steal not only a list of all accounts but also the passwords to access them?! When required, banks and other companies will have procedures in place should family members need access to information or facilities for these purposes.