For many families living abroad, sending money home is part of life. It might be to support parents, help with family needs, or simply share the blessings of working overseas.
But if you’re not careful, a big part of your money can disappear because of transfer fees and bad exchange rates.
When I first started sending money years ago, I used traditional bank transfers. It was convenient but expensive. The fees were high and the exchange rates were not always good.
Over time, I started looking for better options.
Why Fees Matter When Sending Money
Most people only look at the transfer fee, but the bigger cost often comes from the exchange rate markup.
Many services advertise “low fees,” but then adjust the currency exchange rate so they still earn money. That’s why comparing rates before sending money is important.
Today, there are several apps that make international transfers cheaper and faster.
Here are some of the most common ones.
1. Revolut
This is the one I personally use.
Revolut offers competitive exchange rates and allows users to hold multiple currencies in one account. Transfers between Revolut users can even be instant and fee-free.
Typical fees and features:
Low or zero exchange fees on weekdays within certain limits Competitive FX rates close to market rates Transfers can arrive within minutes or hours depending on the method.
For families like ours sending money regularly, the exchange rate difference alone can save a lot over time.
2. Wise
Wise (formerly TransferWise) is widely known for transparent pricing.
Instead of hiding costs in the exchange rate, Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate, which is the real market rate used globally.
Typical fees:
Around £6.50 to send £1,000 to the Philippines depending on payment method Fees can start from about 0.43% of the transfer amount
Wise is often considered one of the cheapest options for sending money abroad.
3. Remitly
Remitly is popular for remittances because of its simplicity and speed.
It offers two transfer options:
Economy (cheaper but slower) Express (faster but slightly higher fees)
Remitly sometimes offers promotional exchange rates for the first transfer.
4. WorldRemit
WorldRemit is another common option for sending money globally.
It focuses mainly on international payments and offers different payout methods such as:
bank deposit cash pickup mobile wallet transfers
Fees depend on the country and payment method.
Why I Personally Prefer Revolut
For our family, the biggest advantage of Revolut is the exchange rate and convenience.
I can:
hold multiple currencies convert money at good rates transfer directly from my phone
For regular remittances, those small differences in rates can save a significant amount over time.
Simple Tips to Avoid Losing Money to Fees
Here are a few things I learned over the years:
Compare rates before sending
Different apps can give different results on the same day.
Avoid credit card funding
This often adds extra charges.
Send larger transfers less frequently
Multiple small transfers can increase fees.
Watch the exchange rate timing
Rates change daily.
DadBuhay Reflection
Sending money home is more than a financial transaction. It’s a connection to family.
But being smart about how you send money matters.
A small difference in exchange rate today might not feel big. But over months and years, it adds up.
And if we can save a little more while still supporting our families, that’s always worth it.
– Until then, love you bye! And that’s #Dadbuhay
DadBuhay 
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