📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

PayPal abroad

I would like to send some money to family in Spain for the 3 kings celebration. (Not much money but multiple small amounts to different people).
My bank charges are quite a lot for the amount of money I am sending.
Does anyone know of a debit/credit card that allows cash transfers with small fees.
I know PayPal includes charges but only a few percent.

Many thanks 

Comments

  • Misslayed
    Misslayed Posts: 15,304 Senior Ambassador
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Homepage Hero Name Dropper
    edited 27 December 2024 at 9:28PM
    I send birthday/Christmas money to my daughter and grandson in Belgium from my NatWest current account, between £50 - £300 each time. No charges at my end (or theirs). Always very smooth transaction. 
    I’m a Senior Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Competition Time, Site Feedback and Marriage, Relationships and Families boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com All views are my own and not the official line of Money Saving Expert.
  • Don't use your high street bank, or PayPal. They will either change fees, take a big margin off the exchange rate, or both.

    You're best off using a specialist currency conversion service. I use Wise, but there are plenty of others.

  • Ayr_Rage
    Ayr_Rage Posts: 2,540 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    I use Wise too, whilst there are charges the fact you get the mid-market rate on most currencies this almost always beats the main banks who use a lower rate.

    Western Union may also be competitive these days.

  • My bank charges are quite a lot for the amount of money I am sending.
    ...
    I know PayPal includes charges but only a few percent.

    About 3-4% actually - for the conversion. And so does your bank as SEPA transfers are free AFAIK.

    Misslayed said:
    I send birthday/Christmas money to my daughter and grandson in Belgium from my NatWest current account, between £50 - £300 each time. No charges at my end (or theirs). Always very smooth transaction. 
    It's hard to believe that Natwest doesn't charge you for the conversion. Just compare what your relatieves receive to, say, xe.com
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.4K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.3K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.4K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.6K Life & Family
  • 256.5K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.