Kimberly Palmer: How to prepare for your next emergency

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “I like to keep $40 in cash in my car or purse so I know I can always at least get home in case the registers aren’t working,” Carr says. “A lot of emergency gear is also camping equipment, so there are a lot of sales right before and right after summer,” Carr says. “I also ask people to declutter their life, because if you’re saving a lot of papers, then you can’t find the things you need,” Barthlow says. With this streamlined approach, she says, “I could get out of my house in an hour or less and know where all the key documents are.” January can be the ideal time to take on that challenge, says Paul Golden, spokesperson for the National Endowment for Financial Education, a nonprofit that promotes financial education and well-being.