This would be the best and cheapest way but it doesnt always work out that easy,if for instance a non fancier gets your bird in it is your duty to get it back as soon as possible which might mean a courier, other times the bird might have a injury that prevents it from flying home again a courier needed,if you start to worry about how much it might cost to get your birds back perhaps pigeon racing is not for you as it certainly is not a cheap sport.