Last Updated on 6 months by Anoob P T
Looking for answers to place money order near me? Here are 12 best and cheap ways to place a money order near you.
Table of Contents
What is a Money Order?
Just like a cheque a money order is also used to make payments.
Unlike in the case of cheques, you have to pay for the money orders beforehand. You will need to both a processing fee and also the actual amount of the money order for it to be issued.
You can pay for a money order using cash, debit card, or even through Paypal in some cases.
What is the Use of A Money Order ?
You might be wondering why would someone use a money order when transactions can easily be done online or even using cheques. Here are a few reasons that might encourage you to use money orders:
-Privacy: Money orders are useful when you do not want to share your personal details to the person or business entity you are paying the money to. Unlike cheques money orders do not require any such information for transfer of funds.
-Guaranteed funds: In case a cheque bounces it is not only embarrassing but you also have to pay a fine for it. Any such possibility is eliminated when you use a money order since you have to pay the amount before the transfer.
-Protection from theft: There is no question of fraudulent activity when it comes to a money order. Since the name of the recipient is clearly specified you do not have to worry about it reaching in the hands of the wrong person. You can even safely send it through the post.
-Safety: For those who do not have a checking account, a money order is an extremely safe and reliable option. When in need of exchange of larger amounts, it is always safer to issue a money order rather than be on the move with a lot of cash on you.
12 Places to Get a Money Order Near You
7-Eleven
7-Eleven is one not only one of the most popular convenience stores but also the first choice for many when it comes to buying money orders.
If you buy a money order from 7-Eleven you will have to pay 1-3% of the total money order, depending on where you want to send it to.
Limit: $500
Fee: $0.65 minimum,1-3% of total money order
Provider: MoneyGram / Western Union
URL: https://www.7-eleven.com/
Walmart
Walmart is another good option for you to buy your money orders.
It has a higher limit and also lets you cash money orders that were bought from their store, regardless of the location.
It should be noted that you will have to show a photo-id and pay $3-$6 if you want to cash a money order at Walmart.
Limit: $1,000
Fee: $0.70
Provider: MoneyGram
CVS
Even though it’s a pharmaceutical store, CVS provides you with an opportunity to buy money orders pretty much hassle-free. CVS has a higher fee compared to Walmart and 7-Eleven.
Limit: $500
Fee: $1.25
Provider: MoneyGram
URL: https://www.cvs.com/
Meijer
Located over 240 stores Meijer is a popular grocery store that sells money orders. Even though Meijer does not cash out money orders like Walmart does, it is still a good pick because of its low fee and easy availability.
Limit: $500
Fee: $0.65
Provider: Western Union
Kmart
Kmart is another convenience store that provides money orders. However not all Kmart stores provide money orders and it is available only in specific locations.
Limit: $500
Fee: $0.69 – $1.25
Provider: Western Union
URL: https://www.kmart.com.au/
Publix
Publix is a good option for those living in Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. It is reliable and easy to locate but keep in mind that you cannot encash money orders at Publix.
Limit: $500
Fee: $0.85
Provider: Western Union
Kroger
Kroger and its many subsidiaries with over 2700 stores are also a good place to look for money orders. But the fee varies according to the location and subsidiary.
Limit: $1,000 – $500
Fee: $0.70
Provider: Western Union
Postal Service
USPS has their own brand of money orders and does not use providers like Western Union or MoneyGram. The fee is on the higher side but one advantage is that you can also cash money orders at USPS.
Limit: $1,000
Fee: Varies, $1.20 – $1.65 typical
Provider: USPS
Your Local Bank
If you opt for a bank service the fee will be higher than that of the money order you would buy from a convenience store. It is advisable to approach a bank where you have an existing account as non-members will have to pay higher fees.
Your Local Check Cashing Company
Any local cashing company will be happy to provide you with money orders albeit at a higher price. Different companies might have different rules so you might want to check the details before approaching them.
Your Local Credit Union
You can track your money orders efficiently and without much hassle with credit unions. Some credit unions even offer money orders for free. Local credit unions are a safe pick when it comes to large amounts.
Online money order Service Providers
Online money order providers like Xoom even lets you send international money orders. The fee varies according to the amount of the money order and the location.
5 Best Online Money Transfer Apps
OFX
If you want to make huge international transitions OFX is the app for you. You need to transfer a minimum of $10000 to use their service.
One advantage of this app is the exchange rate currency converter that will show you the most lucrative exchange rate deals live. OFX only charges 2% of the exchange rate as fee. It also has a broad listing of countries that qualify for a transfer.
URL: https://www.ofx.com/
WorldRemit
What makes WorldRemit a great pick is the fact that it has no minimum transfer limit and is one of the speediest when it comes to transfer and processing of funds. Another incentive is the low fees and extensive list of qualifying countries. It is easy to use and would be an ideal choice for small international transitions within the family circle.
URL: https://www.worldremit.com/en
Venmo
This a great app to use when you want to transfer money within your social circle. You can connect your Facebook account as well as sync your contacts with the app. There is also an option of commenting on transitions. It only has a transfer fee of 3% on credit card transfers, all other transactions are absolutely free.
URL: https://venmo.com/
TransferWise
TransferWise is an ideal pick if you want to make small international transfers since it has no minimum transfer limit. Even though not many countries qualify for TransferWise it is way cheaper than approaching banks with a fee of only 0.7%. The only shortfall is the long processing time of three days. But the efficiency and ease of use of the app makes up for it.
URL: https://transferwise.com/
Square’s Cash App
Square’s Cash App comes in handy when you want to split bills amongst your friends hassle-free. It requires no transfer fee when used for peer-peer transitions. It does not require the receiver to have a cash account. People who are not using the app can also ame payments to you through an accessible web page.
URL: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.squareup.cash&hl=en_IN&gl=US
So these were some of the best offline and online ways to get a money order near you.
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