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As digital payments become the default for millions across the UK, it’s easy to forget how vulnerable we are when systems fail.

Our research showed people typically carry just £20 cash in their pocket, and keep just £10 at home.

And most people now leave the house without carrying a physical wallet.

There are some simple steps you can take to make sure you can always pay.

Keeping cash available, both at home and on your person, provides a reliable fallback when digital systems fail. Despite its declining usage, cash remains the most trusted payment method across demographics. Cash machines in the UK only currently accept authentication using a card, so carrying a card remains a must for withdrawing money.

If you can, hold cards across multiple payment networks (e.g. Visa, Mastercard, American Express) to protect against any outages.

Using multiple digital wallets also reduces the risk of being stranded should you encounter technical issues.

Nearly half of us are unsure of their PIN – make sure you sign your cards and memorise your PIN code.

Know the maximum and minimum spend limits as well to make sure you don’t overspend

Having access to a secondary banking provider adds a layer of protection in case of service interruptions or transfer issues.

If you’re reliant on digital wallets, make sure you can charge up if you’re on the go.