In a recent LinkedIn post, Idris Akinlabi, PHRi™ MCIB discusses the limits of relying on friends and family for financial support when they may be facing hardships of their own. This article reports on Akinlabi’s post and its case for personal financial preparation; it is not written by Akinlabi.
“You cannot always afford to make someone else your emergency plan.”
When a support network is under pressure
Akinlabi opens with the news that a friend had been laid off again, then reflects on how people who are usually dependable can also be dealing with job loss, rent payments or unexpected expenses. His point is that apparent stability does not guarantee someone is able to help at a particular moment.
“The person you think has everything figured out might be one emergency away from starting all over again,” he writes. The observation shifts the post from one friend’s layoff to a broader concern: people may build plans around support that is not always available.
Preparation without abandoning mutual aid
According to Akinlabi, recognizing that limitation does not mean becoming selfish or refusing to help others. Instead, he argues that individuals should take steps to reduce their vulnerability before a crisis arrives. His suggestions include saving what they can, developing another source of income, avoiding unnecessary debt and living below their means.
The post also emphasizes preparing for the possibility of losing income. Akinlabi does not specify a savings target or offer a detailed financial plan; his advice is framed as a set of practical habits that can help people rely less heavily on others during difficult periods.
A reminder about the people people rely on
As Akinlabi notes, friends and family have “their own responsibilities, families, bills and fears.” That framing gives the post a social dimension: financial resilience is presented as personal preparation that can coexist with care for others, while acknowledging that support networks have limits.
“Plan for the day you need help and nobody is in a position to help.”
Akinlabi closes by asking readers whether they have ever sought help from someone they expected to come through, only to learn that the person was managing a struggle of their own. The question invites readers to consider how they prepare for uncertainty and how they understand the capacity of the people around them.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Idris Akinlabi , PHRi™ MCIB on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on November 4, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →