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If you want to send money overseas to a friend or family member, it is important that you know how to do it and what your options are. This can be a little tricky unless you know what you are doing, which is all the more reason to get this information. No matter who you are sending money to, it is a good idea to review the different ways of doing it. The following steps will help you get through this process as smoothly as possible.

Your Options

There are a few different ways that you can send money overseas, including:

1. Bank: You can choose to send money through your bank, which is one of the easiest and most direct methods. It is likely that you will have to pay some sort of a fee. Contact a local branch of your bank to learn about the fees associated with doing this.
2. Foreign exchange broker: If you are sending more than a few thousand pounds at a time, a forex broker is probably the way to go.
3. Money transfer firm: You also have the option of sending money through a firm like Western Union. This is one of the fastest ways to send money overseas, but the steep fees make it the most expensive option.

Cost

If you are going to send money through a foreign exchange broker, it is important to keep in mind that the rates are changing on a daily basis. You should take the time to compare different rates, but make sure to do it within a short period of time.

There will be fees for sending money overseas, but there is also a fee for receiving. You can request that the receiving fee come out of your end if you don’t want the other person to pay it. Some exchanges will give you a lower rate if you choose to send more money at once. This is definitely something to look into before making a decision as to how much you should send.

Confirmation

When you have all the details worked out, you will need to make sure that the agency or financial institution can handle the amount of money you want to send. Some agencies might not be able to send your money if it is a particularly large amount. You should make a point of keeping any paperwork you get just in case.

Is the Money I transfer Safe?

All of the money in your savings account will be perfectly safe thanks to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme in the event that the firm you use goes under. This is not the case if you choose to send your money through a foreign exchange broker. Those who are planning transfer a large sum of money at once should use an FCA-backed firm. This way you won’t have to worry about losing any money that you transfer.

Using a Bank

You have the option of going through your bank to send money overseas. There are a number of advantages and disadvantages to doing this you should be aware of. One of the best things about this option is that it is completely secure, as your money will be protected. It is also a very convenient option that doesn’t require much time or effort on your part. One of the downsides of using a bank to send money overseas is that it can take up to six business days for the other person to receive it. If you are going to send at least five thousand pounds, you should consider going through a foreign exchnage broker due to the lower rates.

Using a Money Transfer Firm

You can also use a money transfer firm to send funds overseas. This option is probably the fastest, but the fees can be substantial. It is important to compare your options so you don’t pay more than you need to. It’s also important to remember that your money won’t necessarily be safe. The funds you send won’t be protected the way they would if you went through your bank.

Watch out for Scams

There are a number of money transfer scams that you should be aware of if you are going to send money to someone overseas. If you are ever offered a deal by a person or business that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You should never give out any of your banking details to any business that isn’t 100% reputable.

Anyone who wants to send money overseas should keep all of these options in mind. If you are going to send a large sum of money to another country, you should think about using a foreign exchange broker. If keeping your money secure is your top priority, you should go through your bank for the transfer.

Those who are self-employed need as many tips as possible for managing their money. The more effective you are at doing this, the more successful your business will be. In fact, one of the most common reasons that self-employed people fail miserably is because improper money management. In this article you will learn some useful tips for keeping your finances in top shape. If you want your business to be truly successful, this is one thing you cannot neglect.

Create a Budget

Everyone who runs their own business needs to have a clear budget established from the start. Take some time to write down all of your business expenses so you know exactly how much you spend on a regular basis. Remember to track your spending on a regular basis so that your finances don’t become disorganized. This will help you know whether or not you should start cutting back on your spending.

Take Care of Your Tax Obligations

All self-employed people in the UK need to pay National Insurance on their income as well as tax. In order to figure out exactly how much you owe, you will need to have detailed records of all your incoming and outgoing expenses. Take as much time as you need to go through these records so that you will have a clear picture of what you owe. The last thing you want to do is to make a mistake, because it could end up costing you your entire business.

Make Your Bills Priority Number One

Anyone who owns a business needs to make paying their bills the top priority. Those who neglect even seemingly minor bills can experience big problems in the near future. Make sure that all of these expenses are taken care of on time. The farther you get behind with any of your bills, the harder it will be to catch up. If you are having problems with paying your bills, you can seek help from the National Debtline or Citizens Advice. These are both very helpful resources for self-employed individuals who are struggling financially. The worst possible thing you can do is to simply ignore your bills for any period of time.

Treat Yourself like an Employee

You should make a point of treating yourself like any of your employees, at least when it comes to salary. You might make more than the people who work with you, but it’s still important to give yourself a set amount. Not all of the money you make goes to you, which is why it’s good to have this mindset. By doing this you will be able to minimize the temptation to take more for yourself than you should out of your profits.

Plan for Retirements

Even those who are self-employed need to start thinking about their retirement. The standard State Pension most likely won’t be adequate, so you have to examine some of your other options. You could be able to make National Insurance contributions to beef up your current State Pension. The sooner you start thinking about retirement, the more likely you are to be prepared.

Establish an Emergency Fund

It’s also important that self-employed people have an emergency fund just in case. You want to know that you have some money put away if an important expense suddenly arises. You should try to put away a little bit of the money you give yourself each week. Eventually you will have a nice-sized fund for taking care of important emergency expenses.

Limit Your Credit Card Use

You should try to limit your credit card use as much as possible, as it can quickly get you into big trouble. Those who use their credit cards to pay for business expenses on a regular basis can end up debt in debt very fast. If you ever use your card to pay for something, it should be important. Make sure that you can pay off whatever you spend on time. It is important to clear the balance on your account so that you don’t end up owing more than you need to. Often, a loan, even if you have bad credit can be much better than using a credit card.

Use Computer Software

The right computer software can go a long way towards helping you to manage your finances effectively. You should spend some time looking for a good program for budgeting so you can stay on track financially without doing more work than necessary. These days software can help you with a lot of aspects of your business, including finances. While you shouldn’t rely entirely on it, there is nothing wrong with utilizing it for some things.

Hire a Good Accountant

If you are not going to manage your own books, you should focus on getting someone very skilled and experienced. The person you choose for this job can help keep your business on track or drive it into the ground, so make sure you choose carefully.