maintenance
Also called: biaya hidup keluarga
The obligation to provide for family members' living needs, generally governed by family law.
What it means
Maintenance is the family living cost that must be provided, covering food, housing, education, health, and other basic needs. In the Indonesian context, maintenance is often linked to a husband's obligation to his wife and children, but in practice it can be fulfilled together. The amount is not always a fixed figure; it follows needs and ability.
Why it matters for families
Understanding maintenance as real needs helps a family build a budget that does not merely follow habit. If maintenance is calculated too low, important needs such as health and education may be neglected. If it is calculated excessively without basis, savings and the emergency fund suffer. An honest calculation makes decisions such as moving house or having another child better prepared.
Example
A family calculates monthly maintenance covering Rp3 million for food, Rp2 million for rent, Rp800 thousand for transportation, and Rp1 million for the child's education. The total becomes the basis for the budget, then adjusted to actual income. These figures are an illustration, not a fixed benchmark.
Common misunderstanding
There is an assumption that maintenance only means daily grocery money. The correction: maintenance covers other basic needs such as health, housing, and education that must be included in the calculation.