Checks are useful, but not always the best option. Sometimes, what you really need is a money order, a special type of prepaid check that makes it really easy to transfer funds between people. Money orders are something you can get from many places, which often include grocery stores.
Trader Joe’s is definitely a grocery store of a sort, but can you actually get a money order from them? Unfortunately, Trader Joe’s does not offer money order services, meaning you’ll have to go somewhere else.
Needless to say, most of us would prefer to know without having to go to a physical store location and check for ourselves, so we’ll tell you about money orders and Trader Joe’s
What is a Money Order?
They are very similar to checks, being used as a secure means of transferring funds. They can only be deposited by the people they are made out to.
However, unlike a check, which does not take cash out of an account until it is checked, money orders are paid for in advance. This means they are guaranteed.
Basically, you buy the money order for a certain amount upfront. Let’s just say $100. You’ll pay the $100, on top of the fee for the money order, and give it to someone else.
Like a check, that person will deposit the money order into their own account, and gain $100. But unlike a check, you already paid for it, so there’s no risk of “bouncing” or anything similar.
Best Places to Get a Money Order
The good news is, there are literally tons of places that do offer money orders, and most of them are a hop, skip, and a jump away from your nearest Trader Joe’s.
Below are some of the best places to get a money order:
United States Postal Office
US Postal Offices are literally everywhere. Even the smallest towns have them. Practically every US post office offers this service.
Your Bank
Most banks offer money order services. However, the fees for money orders at banks tend to be fairly high, so be aware of that.
Local Credit Unions
If you actually have a local credit union in your area, many of them allow you to get a money order there.
Walmart
Oddly enough, most Walmarts offer money orders. not only are these stores pretty much everywhere, but they charge extremely low fees.
7-11
7-11 stores are also a pretty common place where you can get money orders. Their fees are also pretty low.
Kroger
Kroger is a grocery store chain where you can get a money order, much like Walmart.
Publix
Publix is another grocery chain that may be in your area that offers money orders.
CVS/Walgreens/Rite Aid
These pharmacy locations often allow you to purchase a money order, but keep in mind that their fees vary.
How Much Do Money Orders Cost?
Aside from paying the amount of money that you actually want the money order to be for, you often have to pay a fee in order to get a money order as well.
However, there is no universal “cost” for getting a money order. The fee is going to change depending on where you get the money order from.
Some places, like Walmart, charge a flat fee of just a few dollars. Other places, like some 7-11 stores, may charge a fee that is a percentage of the amount the money order is for.
Other places, like banks, may have their own specific fees. So, the cost of a money order all depends.
Can You Buy a Money Order With a Credit/Debit Card?
This too, depends on where exactly you are getting a money order from. However, for the most part, you cannot get a money order with a credit card.
Any seller that does allow you to purchase a money order in such a fashion is usually treating it as a cash advance, which will include some pretty expensive fees.
However, you can buy a money order with a debit card at almost all providers.
Which is Cheaper, a Money Order or a Cashier’s Check?
Which of these options is cheaper depends a lot on where you are trying to get them. As always, different providers have different rates.
However, generally speaking, the fee for a cashier’s check is more expensive than the fee for a money order. For instance, at most places you may only pay $5 for a money order, but $10 for a cashier’s check.
Again, fees will very from provider to provider. However, nine times out of ten, a money order will cost less than a cashier’s check.
Why is a Money Order Better than a Check?
When you write a check, no money has actually been moved yet. Until a check is deposited, money is not actually taken out of the account that the money is coming from.
This means that you don’t actually know a check is good until it the money has been deposited into your account.
For instance, imagine that you are selling an object to someone. To pay for it, they write you a check for $500, and you give them the item.
But when you go to cash it, it turns out the buyer doesn’t actually have $500 in their checking account! Not only do you not get paid, but you have to pay a fee for the failure to cash the check.
You have no guarantee that a check will actually be good for the money until you try to cash it.
But with a money order, you do know this, because the money order has already been paid for. It is guaranteed, and that means you don’t have to worry about the situation described above.
This is about the only way that money orders and checks are different from one another, but it’s also the most important difference.
Final Thoughts
Unfortunately, you cannot get a money order from Trader Joe’s. Sorry, but they can’t do everything! Don’t worry about it too much, though. There are many places you can get a money order near your local Trader Joe’s.
The best places to look are your nearest US post office, your local bank, or a Walmart. You can also check some other grocery stores like Kroger or Publix.
At the end of the day, a money order is one of the best and most secure ways to transfer funds, and the fees aren’t much at most places, so don’t hesitate to get one if you need one.
