The Be Ready guidance says to check your kit every six months for expiry dates and to update it as your household's needs change. This is the routine. It takes about ten minutes once the kit exists, and the two best dates for it are the two you cannot miss: the weekends the clocks go forward and back.
Late March and late October. Everyone already knows the clocks change; attach the kit check to it and you never need another reminder. If you would like a nudge anyway, the reminder email arrives those weekends and says nothing else all year.
The ten-minute routine
These boxes are not saved between visits. They are the routine itself; tick them as you go round and they clear for next time.
Spring and autumn specifics
March: clocks forward
- Take the winter car kit out of the boot (or leave the basics in).
- Check the flood and heatwave guidance if either applies to you.
- Replace batteries used over winter.
- Review sun protection and extra water for summer.
October: clocks back
- Winter car kit back in the boot, grit by the door.
- Blankets, hats and hot water bottles checked.
- Boiler serviced, pipes lagged (see prepare your home).
- Check the Priority Services Register details are current.
After an actual emergency
Do an extra check the week after you have used the kit. Replace what was used, recharge what was drained, and write down the three things you wished you had had. Then buy them. Real experience beats any list, including this one.
Common questions
Why six months?
It matches the shelf life of the things that actually degrade: power banks lose charge in storage, alkaline batteries in a torch slowly fail, food approaches its dates, children grow out of the spare clothes, and medication and insurance details change. Six months catches all of it before it matters, and twice a year is a habit people keep.
What if I keep forgetting?
Tie it to the clocks changing in late March and late October; everyone notices those. Put a repeating reminder in your phone calendar. Or sign up for our six-month reminder email, which is the only email we send.
Do I have to throw away food near its date?
No. Move it to the front of the normal cupboard and eat it this month. Buy the replacement on the next shop and put it at the back of the kit. Nothing is wasted; that is the whole point of stocking food you already eat.