Someone who is self-reliant can do and decide ordinary things by themselves — cook, pay a bill, choose a plan — without needing someone else to step in with help or advice. We mostly use it as praise: parents hope children will grow up self-reliant; teachers and job ads like the word. Though actually, it does not mean you never need anyone. Nobody is self-reliant in every way; the point is that you are not leaning on other people for things you could reasonably handle. You can be self-reliant with money, with daily life, or with your own choices. It is a slightly formal, “character” word — more a report or a description than something you shout across a room. The opposite feeling is dependent, not unkind.