There are about 2.2 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) deployed worldwide, 57% of them are women. A digital money transfer company conducted a study which shows that female OFWs are sending more remittance compared to male OFWs, most of which are intended to support children’s education.
The study, which involves more than 1,000 Filipino participants, reveals that 92% of female OFW respondents regard education as the priority for sending money to the Philippines. Moreover, 72% of female OFWs are also found supporting the education expenses of those outside of their immediate family. Advertisement
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72% of female OFWs send remittances for their support on the education of more children even those who do not belong to their own family circle.
While many OFWs normally support 1-3 students, female OFWs has 5-6.
The study said that OFWs allocate a large chunk of their remittances for sending their children to school to have a quality education. OFW women send 2% more than men do.
It could be because women who are working abroad are mostly domestic helpers and they don't want their kids to experience the same working conditions. OFWs working in a foreign household are mostly women, and it is said that they are more vulnerable and prone to abuse and maltreatment. Nevertheless, the Philippine economy remains stable because of these remittances. However, the data is not released to despise or degrade OFW men because all the OFWs contributions are equally significant to the country from the remittances they religiously send to their families back home.
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) has a lot of sacrifices in order to earn money for the needs of their family back home.
This is also the reason why many OFWs save money as much as they can so that they can come home the soonest time as possible. But, for OFWs, don't you know that you can also save money when transferring funds while in other countries?
Because there are many banks and remittance center, it can get confusing to decide what is the best option when transferring money overseas.
Gifford Nakajima, Head of Wealth Development, UAE and MENA, at HSBC Bank Middle East recommends that people use a bank to remit their money as it “provides far greater security and convenience.
Aside from these, the following are seven ways you can take to save money when sending funds overseas according to ServiceMarket.
1. Keep track of exchange rates.
Keep a close eye on how exchange rates are changing in order to exchange your money at a suitable time. Exchange rates often change frequently during peak times, such as Eid or summer holidays, so staying aware of exchange rates and patterns can help you to save money! Also, look to transfer money between Monday and Friday as rates on the weekend and on public holidays are not ‘live’ rates, and can end up being higher or lower than when the international markets are open. (Rappler Talk: Financial Literacy for OFWs)
2. Do the transfer in the currency of the beneficiary’s account.
It is usually recommended that you do the transfer in the currency of the beneficiary’s account so that you are sure of the exchange rate you are getting. If you send the money overseas in your local currency, it will be subject to the exchange rate offered by the recipient’s bank or exchange house.
3. Choose who pays the transfer cost.
When transferring money, you can choose who pays the processing fees. You can choose whether the sender or the receiver pays or you can even choose to share the cost and this cost can vary from country to country.
4. Transfer your money online.
Online transfers are usually faster and cheaper as they reduce the possibility of errors and gives customers on-the-spot notifications for their transactions. They also offer higher physical security as you do not need to walk around with a lot of cash.
This service is available around the clock, giving you the ability to know the exchange rates at any time without having to visit a branch. (It is important to note though that when currency markets are closed rates are not updated – such as international weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and holidays, this is why it’s best to transfer Monday to Friday.)
5. Set aside some time for the transfer.
It is possible to save money if you are willing to wait a few days for the money to be transferred instead of instant or express transfers. Express transfer rates are typically a bit more expensive. Usually, transferring money on Mondays or Tuesdays will get the transaction through faster than on other days, because it usually takes 2-3 working days to process the request. With UAE being closed on Fridays, and international banks being closed on Saturdays? Sundays, Monday or Tuesday are the best days to ensure your money gets transferred within the week.
6. Keep an eye out for hidden charges.
Make sure to always read the terms and conditions and understand all charges on both ends of the transfer. Some exchange houses charge a “back-end fee” which is an additional fee upon collection of the money overseas. This can mean that the recipient overseas will receive less money than you anticipated, so make sure you ask in advance!
(ANC On The Money: Money Management for OFWs)
7. Open a bank account in your home country.
If you are looking to send money back home, it is a good idea to look into opening an account in your home country as well as the country where you are currently living. This will allow you to easily transfer money between the two accounts. If you open the two accounts with the same bank you should be able to make fast transfers between the accounts in different currencies. Some banks, offer a fee-free online transfer service in certain currencies through internet banking, which could help you to save money, especially if you plan to send money back home on a regular basis.
Transferring money to the same bank abroad is cheaper than sending money to any other bank, as this usually means intermediary institutions are involved – who may charge additional fees. That is why it is beneficial to use one trusted global banking partner if you frequently transfer money abroad.
