I send money home every month. How do I still build savings in Canada?
By Deborah Edokpayi, Zenith Advisory Inc., Saskatoon · Updated October 2026 · 3 min read
Start by making it a line item
Most people we meet don't know exactly what they send home in a year. Add it up. Once it's a number, you can plan around it instead of being surprised by it every month.
Protection matters more for you, not less
If your income stopped, your family here and your family there would feel it. That's why life and disability insurance come before investing for someone in your position. The cost of term coverage is small compared with what it protects.
Use the TFSA, because you might need the money
Emergencies happen in two countries. A TFSA lets you grow money tax-free and still take it out without penalty if you have to. Room comes back the following January. It's a better emergency fund than a chequing account, and a better investing account than most.
Automate a small amount
Even $200 a month moved automatically on payday builds into something. The amount matters less than the habit; the habit is what you can scale when income rises.
Watch the transfer fees
Bank wire fees and poor exchange rates can quietly cost several hundred dollars a year. Compare specialist transfer services. The savings go straight to your plan.
Talk to someone who gets it
Most of Zenith Advisory's advisors have supported family abroad. We're not going to tell you to stop. We'll build the plan around it.
Want this worked out for your numbers? We'll walk you through what to set up first, in plain language, from advisors who did it themselves.