In this article, you will learn about money order near you and places you can get one along with their fees and exact locations. Let’s go!
What Is a Money Order?
This is a paper document carrying a monetary value. It’s like a personal check, but not attached to your bank account. Usually, it is written to a payee and is prepaid so the payee has a guarantee that the necessary funds are available. Moreover, in some cases, it will have a monetary cap, like $500 or $1,000. Money orders are for amounts not up to $1,000. But if the amount is higher, use a cashier’s check.
When Do You Need a Money Order?
You need a money order when:
You intend to write a check without revealing your bank account details.
A check is needed to pay a bill, but you don’t have a bank account
There’s a need for a funds-guaranteed way to pay a customer or client.
You don’t need cash to pay someone you owe.
Other moments you may need a money order:
Make a large purchase without putting it on a credit card
Send money to someone in a correctional facility/ remand home.
To pay rent, other bills, and movers.
Pay someone who needs assurance of your ability to pay
Payment for a piece of art or furniture instead of cash.
Where Can You Get a Money Order?
Western Union and MoneyGram are the best places to get a money order. They have their retail locations in many places. However, lots of retailers offer money orders powered by any of the companies above.
Where to get Money Order
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US Postal Service
Just go to a post office with your cash, debit card, or traveler’s check. They will demand a processing fee of $1.30 for amounts from 1 cent to $500 and $1.75 for amounts from $500.01 to $1,000. This is simple and easy, you can search outpost offices around you.
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Any Bank or Credit Union
Walk into any bank or credit union. You will easily get your money order. However, it’s not free. It costs around $5. You won’t need to have an account at the bank or credit union at all.
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Western Union or MoneyGram Locations
Western Union and MoneyGram are financial service providers. You can see their retail locations almost everywhere. But if you can’t, use the locators at their websites. With the locators, you can easily find them.
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Meijer
This is an option in states like Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Here, you get your money order through a debit card with no additional fee.
Fee: 65 cents
Provider: Western Union
Limit: $500; $3,000 maximum per day
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Publix
Publix has upto 1,300 locations across: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. It sells money orders at all of its stores apart from its GreenWise Market locations.
Limit: $500, with no daily maximum
Fee: 99 cents
Provider: Western Union
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Walmart
Everyone knows Walmart. You can pay for a money order at Walmart with cash or debit. The maximum fee is$. There’s no additional fee for payment by debit card. No cash money orders here.
Limit: $1,000 with a $1,000 daily maximum
Fee: Up to $1; fees vary by location
Provider: MoneyGram
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7-Eleven
Go to any 7-Eleven’s location in the U.S. Depending on their location and availability, they charge their own fees.
Limit: $500
Fee: from 1% to 3% of the money order value
Provider: Western Union
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CVS Pharmacy
CVS handles up to 10,000 drugstores across the U.S. You can get your money order here. However, cash is the only form of payment accepted for a money order at CVS. To get it, you must have a valid ID with you.
Limit: $500 per money order; $2,500 maximum per day
Fee: $1.25
Provider: MoneyGram
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Kmart
First call a Kmart location near you, to see if the store will issue a money order. They accept payment with cash or debit cards, with no additional fee for debit card use.
Limit: $500
Fee: $1.50
Provider: Western Union
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Kroger
Kroger has close to 3,000 supermarkets across 38 states. However, not all Kroger store issues money orders. For those giving, fees and limits vary by location.
Provider: Western Union
Limit: Typically $1,000, but limits may vary by location
Fee: 84 cents to 88 cents on average, but fees vary by location
Security Tips
Please note that even though your money order has a payee — making it harder for anyone else to cash it — carrying it around is the same as carrying cash. Keep it safe with the direction below:
Precautions To Take
In case you will mail it, use a discreet envelope and alert your payee immediately it’s in the mail. It’s best to ie certified mail.
If it is in the mail to try and prevent anyone from intercepting it. Consider sending it via certified mail.
Pay attention to your surroundings when you request a money order. If you sense a problem ask for help especially in getting to your car or safe place.
Also, fill the money order out completely before you leave the store. Ensure you write clearly in black gel ink. No blank spaces.
Moreover, safeguard your receipt. It has a tracking number that you may want to look up if the money order is going to travel to the payee through the mail.
What to Know Before You Go
Conduct research before going anywhere to get a money order. Take note of the following:
For a military money order, go to the APO/FPO/DPO location.
Also, you can send a money order internationally, but limits vary depending on location.
Getting a money order doesn’t mean you can cash it in that location. Decide where to cash it and where to get it.
Anyone can purchase more than one money order at a time. But, if you purchase more than $3,000 in money orders in a day, you must fill out a form and provide a government-issued photo ID.
Lastly, be careful to avoid fraud. Many fraudulent people can pose as real companies that you know and trust to solicit fee payments from you. Some will even send you a money order and ask for a portion of it. Be warned!