Plan B: Who would you rely on in a financial crisis?
What would happen if you were suddenly made redundant? Or, through sickness, could no longer work? Are you relying on your own savings, an insurance policy or the state?
According to a survey from Scottish Provident, as many as 16.5 million - 35 per cent - of Brits believe that the state welfare system provides an adequate safety net for a modern standard of living.
Sarah Routledge plans for a financial crisis.
Employer
If you are made redundant because of job cuts at your firm, there is no entitlement if you have been employed for less than two years.
Statutory redundancy pay is calculated as: half a week's pay for each year worked before 22nd birthday; one week's pay for each year worked between 22nd and 41st birthday; and one and a half week's pay for each year worked after 41st birthday.
The absolute maximum you would receive is £10,500, and the minimum is zero.
If you are relying on your employer to look after you if you are made redundant, check your contract. Some firms are willing go beyond the statutory payout, even if you have worked for less than two years.
But on the other hand, if your employer goes bankrupt, you will have to get in the queue with all the other creditors and may end up with nothing at all.
In the case of accident or sickness, you will receive statutory sick pay (SSP) from your employer, for a maximum of 28 weeks. This kicks in if you are ill for at least four days in a row (including weekends and bank holidays and days that you do not normally work) and you're earning at least £95 a week.
The standard rate for SSP is just £79.15 a week, or £4,115.80 a year, which is unlikely to match your salary if you are working full time.
Check your contract, however. Some employers offer generous rates of sick pay, extending beyond the 28-week statutory limit. Some employers also offer free private health insurance to get you up and about (and back at your desk) as soon as possible.
State
If you have been making contributions to National Insurance over the last two years, 25-year-olds and over can claim a maximum of £64.30 a week, to last 182 days, while 16-24 year-olds can claim up to £50.95 a week.
There is also an income-based allowance, that ranges from £50.95 for single people under 25 to £100.95 for couples, both aged over 18.
Even at the highest allowance of £64.30 a week, this works out at £3,343.60 a year, a drastic reduction in income - and this will be reduced if you have savings, or a partner who has a job.
It is not handed out immediately, either - it could be a month before you start receiving payments.
If you are a homeowner, you may also be entitled to support for mortgage interest (SMI).
It is a government scheme designed to keep people in their homes after they have lost their job and will make payments towards mortgage interest payments or for specific home improvement loans. There is a waiting period of 13 weeks before payments can be made, however.
Susan Barclay, head of marketing at Scottish Provident, says: "Our report reveals that over the past five years, more people have come to believe that the state would provide an adequate safety net should the worst happen and we find ourselves out of work.
"However, the reality is that the average increase in job seekers allowance of just under £6 doesn't come close to the cost of living in today's world and the government will continue to place greater emphasis on people providing for themselves."
Insurance
There are several different policies that will pay out in the event of redundancy, although they are not designed to cover you if you quit or are fired.
Mortgage holders are often sold an accident, sickness and unemployment (ASU) policy by their bank but bear in mind this will only cover mortgage payments, not other bills.
Payment protection insurance (PPI) is also often sold alongside personal loans or on credit cards, but again this will only cover payments on that loan.
For all-round cover, choose an income protection policy, says Matt Morris, senior policy adviser for Lifesearch.
"To protect against loss of income the best policy is income protection. This pays out a tax free regular income, potentially until retirement (or until you return to work), if you can't work any longer.
"If you are worried about redundancy you can get unemployment cover added to the policy too, although this will only pay out for one year maximum.
"Arguably the biggest mistake people make is to assume the state will be there to help them if they become incapacitated.
"There is a very basic safety net but people need to think about whether the amount of money and help they receive will be enough to pay the bills and maintain their standard of living - for most people it won't.
"It's time the government came clean about this and encouraged people to take out private policies, as they have done with pensions."
A good income protection policy should pay out enough to cover all your bills while you are ill or unemployed.
When looking for a policy, the most important part to consider is the occupation class, according to Mr Morris.
If you choose 'Own Occupation' or 'Suited Occupation' this means the insurer will pay out if you cannot perform your own job, while selecting 'Any Occupation' will be cheaper but will only pay out if you are unable to take any job at all, no matter how basic or low-paid.
'Any Occupation' is best avoided, advises Mr Morris, as earnings are not taken into account and you may end up going from being a solicitor to stacking shelves.
Rather than saving money in this way, consider extending the deferment period. Most policies will not pay out immediately, and there will be a gap of around a month before they kick in.
If you can extend this further, by ensuring you have enough savings put by to cover the first two months, the policy will be cheaper.
Finally, consider taking a guaranteed rate. Reviewable rates will start off cheaper, but if you make a claim, or the insurance company sees you as more of a risk, your premiums may shoot up.
Instead, choose a guaranteed rate that will stay the same throughout the term of the policy for peace of mind.
Even if you do have insurance, however, you should also have a savings pot available in an emergency.
"Ideally people should have an income protection policy in place and have savings too - savings on their own won't be enough to see the average person through over a long period of incapacity (unless it is a seriously huge amount!)," says Mr Morris.
"Any help the government offers should be looked upon as a bonus but not relied upon."
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