Issue of sending money to family in pinas

[IainBusby]

Do some filipina here send money for their family in the philippines? I just got here in uk not so long ago and my family and some relatives in pinas are asking me if i could help them with their financial dilemmas. Most of them were asking me to send them some presents, like christmas or birthday gifts or even money and etc. Well i know that we filipinos have very close family ties but you see, i dont have a job here yet and most importantly i am expecting and due any time soon. My husband is working very hard to support me and he is saving for our baby's future. We have bills to pay and things to buy for our baby as well.

I dont want to ask my husband for money just to send to the philippines. My husband is working so hard and i pity him because im not contributing anything as of now. If i do want to send money to my family in the philippines, i want it to come from my own pocket. So now, if they ask me to send this and that, i just tell them that i cant send them anything because i dont have a job yet. But they will tease me that im too tight and that i should share my blessings... They think life in the uk is very easy...

Don't let them lay a guilt trip on you, just stick to your guns and tell them that cotrarary to what they may think life in the UK is like and how rich we all are over here, money has to be hard earned and doesn't just grow on trees. You leave them in no doubt that you came here as a wife who's purpose is to build a family with her husband, not as an OFW who's sole purpose is to work and support the family back home.

you could send a balikbayan box back at some point and just add small not too expensive things to the box now & again when you can and say that this is all that you can do.

That's the best to do, when your going around the supermarket, just add a few things to your basket each week and when you've collected enough and your husband can afford to send it, send them a balikbayan box.

The other problem which arises when you do give things, especially as soon as they ask, is that they always expect it again and start to take it for granted. Sometimes you just have a be a bit tough, but I know it' not easy.

As South-East-Boy says, this can become a very slippery slope and in my experience, whatever you do send will never be enough and they will always think that (living here in the land of milk and honey) you could afford much more.

oh dear kathy! better tell them the real scenario here. You're here to be with your loved one and start your own family. Let them realize whats life here... I know it would be hard to deal with it.

I also told my family then that i'll do help them incase they needed but that would happened only when i'll be earning my own money. DOnt want to bother my husband for money to be sent back home.

Go girl.....