Send him cash: there's no call for after-shave

Melanie Bien on how to get money overseas in time for Christmas

Many of us prefer to give cash rather than perfume or socks at Christmas, particularly if our loved ones are thousands of miles away. Sending money is less hassle than shopping for a present that is both small enough to post and not too delicate to arrive in one piece.

Sending money is relatively easy and there are a number of ways to do it. However, as the deadline passed last week for guaranteed Christmas delivery to continental Europe (and on 6 December for the rest of the world), a postal order or cheque won't arrive in time by standard post.

You could send a cheque via the Post Office's Express Services, but as this will usually have be paid into a bank account, it may not be convenient for anyone travelling in remote regions. The recipient will have to wait after cashing the cheque in to get his or her hands on the money, which could lead to more inconvenience. Cheques can also go astray and, in the wrong hands, can be used to garner details about your bank account.

The best and safest way to send money abroad is via an international money transfer service such as Moneygram or Western Union. This method is quick – the cash reaches its destination in 10 minutes – and completely guaranteed, with the sender receiving confirmation that the cash has reached its destination. Agents are also widespread: Western Union has 117,000 in 185 countries, while Moneygram has over 50,000, including the Post Office, in 150 countries.

To send a Moneygram, simply go to your nearest agent, fill out a send form and pay the agent in cash (not by cheque or credit card). The recipient goes to their nearest Moneygram agent, fills out a receive form, shows proof of identification and receives the cash. The cost of sending a Moneygram starts at £12 for sums up to £100, rising to £180 for £5,000 to £6,999. You cannot transfer more cash than this in a single transaction.

Alternatively, you can arrange an electronic transfer via your bank, which will move the money from your account into another. How much this will cost depends on who you bank with, where you are sending the cash, how much you send and how quickly you want it to arrive.

But electronic transfers can take some time and cost a lot of money, and the recipient must have a bank account. It might also be difficult to access the cash outside banking hours if there isn't a 24-hour ATM available.

Most banks offer a variety of services for sending money abroad and charges vary depending on how quickly you want it to reach somebody else's account. For example, Barclays customers can pay £10 for a Low Value Payment, which enables them to send up to £2,000 to friends and family in European countries including France, Germany and Spain. Delivery is guaranteed within six working days.

For those who need to transfer money more quickly and further afield, Barclays' Standard Payment takes just three days but costs £20. Meanwhile, a Priority International Payment is available instantly but only at a Barclays branch and costs £35.

www.moneygram.com, www.westernunion.com