The envelope method, OFW edition
Before the money exists, decide where it goes. Give each peso a job: your own needs abroad, the family padala, an emergency fund, the Uwi Fund for going home, investments, debt, and giving. The split is in percentages so it survives salary changes and exchange-rate swings, and the tool shows each envelope in both currencies.
Why the family envelope needs a number
The commonest OFW money leak is an open-ended padala: whatever is asked for is sent. A fixed percentage, agreed with the family, turns requests into a budget conversation at home instead of a guilt conversation abroad. Forty percent is a common starting point; the right figure is the one your family can actually plan around.
Pay your future first
Emergency, uwi, and invest together are the envelopes that decide whether you come home for good or come back for another contract. Twenty percent across the three is a solid floor. If your employer covers housing, the "Housing provided" preset shows how much room that frees up.