Helping with Money for Foreign Significant Other

[R de la R 2]

I am wondering how many of you are helping your partner living in a poor country?

How do you handle that? do you wait for a request or you do it by yourself?

Your responses are going to be appreciated. Thanks.

[shannon65 2]

I am wondering how many of you are helping your partner living in a poor country?

How do you handle that? do you wait for a request or you do it by yourself?

Your responses are going to be appreciated. Thanks.

I help a lot, usually just send extra money if I have it and sometimes by request for something specific. I have a much better-paid job.

[yassmine2878 1]

I used to send money to my husband (then fiance) about once a month or every two months depending on the need and my cash flow. I started with Western Union, but got better service and rates from MoneyGram. You can do either one online, its simple and pretty painless.

Usually I waited until he expressed an extreme need and had been unable to aquire money on his own, either via part-time work or relatives.

[BishopMnA 0]

I help as much as I can. We are one life. Now that my wife is here in the U.S., we still send money back home to Thailand. We're one big happy global family.

I agree with yasmine2878, I first used Western Union, now use MoneyGram. Saves a lot on the transfer fee and also on the exchange rate.

Peace,

MarkNAAm

[DavidEvgeniya 0]

It should be automatic, you send what you can, she spends as she needs, no more no less.

[truffles 2]

Not sure if i will get flamed for this....not intentionally being provocative but...how did these people manage before you (USC) become involved with them?

[mox 298]

Not sure if i will get flamed for this....not intentionally being provocative but...how did these people manage before you (USC) become involved with them?

No flamage here, it's a legit question. For some it's a little extra spending money, something to make life easier. I send money to my SO so she can have a little extra cash, go out a little more often, buy clothes, etc. She still has to work and pay her bills. It's my way of making her comfortable during this long wait.

[R de la R 2]

Not sure if i will get flamed for this....not intentionally being provocative but...how did these people manage before you (USC) become involved with them?

No flamage here, it's a legit question. For some it's a little extra spending money, something to make life easier. I send money to my SO so she can have a little extra cash, go out a little more often, buy clothes, etc. She still has to work and pay her bills. It's my way of making her comfortable during this long wait.

Looks like MOX got the point.

[William33 110]

I help as much as I can. We are one life. Now that my wife is here in the U.S., we still send money back home to Thailand. We're one big happy global family.

I agree with yasmine2878, I first used Western Union, now use MoneyGram. Saves a lot on the transfer fee and also on the exchange rate.

Peace,

MarkNAAm

Another option is to open a parallel bank account (savings) and send the ATM card abroad. Some banks and most credit unions offer free inter-account transfers, which enables you to move money for free. We have been doing that for over 3 years successfully. Even though the ATM card is in my wifes name, no problem for her family to use it.

In terms of why, as mentioned above, why not? We can help others to have a better life, with a few bucks a month.

[Minya's wife 25]

I sent money two times before my husband came here (we were not separated as long as some on this forum)...both times were because after paying the bills (which included his humongous cell phone bill) he literally had very little left over from which to feed himself. I did not need to be asked...I just wired the money, and told him when and where to go pick it up. We used Western Union, it was safe and quite fast.

Now, we're thinking of going w/ option of having another bank account opened and sending them the ATM card, as William33 stated. It is by far the most cost effective method of getting the money to our loved ones.

-P

[shannon65 2]

Not sure if i will get flamed for this....not intentionally being provocative but...how did these people manage before you (USC) become involved with them?

Not easy before or after. I want to help. When he comes here he will help me.

[lirachadsbaby 0]

if u sense there is a need, then do what is necessary.

my husband sent some before when I was still in PI but it's not much as I have my job. It's like his doing it coz we're one.

now that I'm here, we still send to my family in a case to case basis.

we use xoom.com ever since and we find it safe. Direct deposit to my bank account.

Edited February 9, 2008 by lirachadsbaby

[yassmine2878 1]

Not sure if i will get flamed for this....not intentionally being provocative but...how did these people manage before you (USC) become involved with them?

No flamage here, it's a legit question. For some it's a little extra spending money, something to make life easier. I send money to my SO so she can have a little extra cash, go out a little more often, buy clothes, etc. She still has to work and pay her bills. It's my way of making her comfortable during this long wait.

Ditto. When I had money to help buy my husband a few frills, I did so. Now that he's the bread-winner, he does what he can to give me a little play money from time to time. I dont think its so much of a case of whether or not our spouses and fiance(e)s were starving before they met us, but more of us trying to cushion the wait. And like Wills says, why not? My money went alot farther over there than it does here.

[ChrisB0707 4]

Every little bit helps. I try to send as much as possible each time to make it last lonegr. I also called Citibank and requested a card with her name on it. I am actually in the Philippines now visiting her for the 3rd time so I just brought the card with me. You can also mail it just dont activate the card until she receives it. Just need to make sure you are giving the credit card to someone you trust very much. My fiance is a nurse in the Philippines so she doesnt need to much but I do help with things. I paid 600.00 U.S. dollars for her to take a 3 month United States Kapland nursing class to help her get ready for the test needed to work as a nurse in the United States. You have to look at the big picture in the long run when your fiance is in the United States she will be helping you alot more then you will for just a few months. Just make sure you both agree on when and how much you will be sending back home when she gets there and starts working. Some will think they need to send everything they make. Another good thing to try in just get a bank account to put money in that you want her to have. get a ATM card for that account and send it to her. Doesnt need her name on it because she can go to a ATM and get the money out when you put it in the account.

[HighwayStar 0]

Well, in our case the positions are reversed, because even though I'm the foreign national, I am better off than my fiancé, and I've been helping him quite a bit. He has a good, steady job and works very hard, but as many of you know it can be hard to cope financially after a separation, especially when having to pay child support. He's never asked me though - I have done so of my own free will, and I know he'll take good care of me when I move there. He would've done the same for me had our positions been reversed.