What occurred in your mind when asked to define financial independence?
In a survey conducted by Citigroup Asia Pacific, the majority of Indonesian women defines financial independence as “the ability to buy what he wants, whenever it wants”.
In fact, according to Mr Hotman Simbolon, Vice President of Customer Care Center Head of Citibank NA in Indonesia with the theme of a meeting of the Financial Independence for Women that was held Nova Club Indonesia, financial independence is not simply about the ability to buy.
Financial independence, says Hotman generally include five things. Free from financial temptations themselves, free from financial dependence on the people who love you, free from dependence on the creditor, free of dependence on employment as an employee, and freedom from financial problems.
For starters, the father Hotman has tips on getting the first three financial freedom.
1. Free from temptation Financial Yourself
Step 1: priority needs rather than wants, focus on function rather than prestige, and be aware and avoid the negative influence of friends or your environment.
Step 2: identify your income, watch your expenses in detail, and record and evaluate your budget regularly and thoroughly.
Step 3: start the habit of saving now.

2. Free from Financial Dependence People who Love You
As social beings, we not only think about personal needs alone. Similarly, in terms of finance. There is a budget for the child, husband / wife, parents, in-laws and other relatives.
Step 1: Consider the frequency and amount of your income. First of all, focus on your fixed income. Manage and organize your expenses by reference to fixed income. If there is no fixed income (such as performance benefits, bonuses, or holiday allowances), Hotman recommends that you divide the income can not keep it to 60:40. Sixty percent savings, the rest you can spend.
Step 2: Live the lifestyle that match your financial capabilities. Do not let the peg is greater than the pole.
Step 3: Begin to try to invest. However, before investing you should recognize the needs, investment time period, investment objectives and your financial capacity. Study and understand the forms used and the investment risk you want to take.

3. Free of Dependence on creditor
Have a financial plan. Make a list of long-term financial plan and your short-term. There are four points that need to be reviewed in these lists: your loan payment plan, optimizing the return on the money, the effort to protect the financial future, and efforts to balance the need for short and long term.