i go to the post office (has to come from the post office!) and get two money orders at a time...50- each and mail them off every ten days or so....i think it takes about 3-4 working days for him to get them...i hate paying money to w.union or anyone if i dont have to. dont forget to make it out to your son add inmate number on the money order itself.

Federal Bureau of Prisons
Insert Valid Committed Inmate Name
Insert Inmate Eight-Digit Register Number
Post Office Box 474701
Des Moines, Iowa 50947-0001

Are you not allowed to send cash?

Hey Jim,
I too get Postal Money Orders and send them to the address that jackie provide above. I buy a money order for the whole amount that I am sending. Example: $100 money order. They cost $1.15 each, so no need really to buy separate ones. So that costs $101.15 total. No fees or other charges at all. Just plan in advance to get money when you are already at the bank - the post office will only take cash. You can't use a charge card to buy the money order at the post office. I already have my envelope made out when I go to get the money order and I fill it out while I am there and mail it. Do not put anything into the envelope except the money order. Allow 3-4 days for it to get there.

ha ha...i only mail one at a time....so two fiftys work well for me...that way i save a trip to the post office. dont know if there is a limit on how much you can send or they can spend. it doesnt matter, i dont see me going over two hundred anyway, but if anyone knows it would be good information. i am talking federal, but state information is of course useful too.

Oh yeah. Make sure you have the address above AND your incarcerated person's Mailing Address when you go to the post office as you will need to put that on the money order. I hate going to the post office to do the money order thing, so I have gotten recently an order for $250 to send and I had no problem with doing that - it was received with no problem on the other end. Not sure if there is a limit on how much someone can have in their account?

no you can not send cash anymore through the mail. the metal strips will also signal mail people there is money in here. it's much safer to use a money order from your bank/ post office.

You need both addresses: the one for where the money order goes AND the address where my son receives his mail? Ok....so noted! Thanks everyone....helps a lot...western union are gourgers....except....if u had to get money fast to them it MAY be worth the fees they charge....the money goes in from the phone or nonlinear like in 15mins.....still don't like the excessive fees though....

I meant phone or online

I use to use Western Union as well, but find that it only takes a few days with the post office to post. Of course my money orders get to Des Moines next day because I live 30 miles away. But it still is much quicker than I thought and is on $1.15 up to $500. Just looked, money orders must have gone up with stamps. It now costs $1.20.

You can use a debit card as well as cash, but no credit cards.

Yes, I just bought a money order yesterday for my son and the Postal Money Orders went from $1.15 to $1.20 for sure. Still cheaper than anywhere else. Mailing does get there fast and with a little planning you can avoid the Western Union fees.

Awesome, you guys...thanks so much!!