How much is a post office box, or PO box?

How would you get your own PO box at a post office?

• I live in an apartment complex. Recently, some new neighbors moved in, who happen to have our same last name. Although we put all of our first names in front of our mailbox (as did they) to avoid complications with our incoming mails, there seems to be a problem every time our mails are delivered. Someone mentioned to me that you could get your own PO box at a post office. How would one go about doing that? If you ask the sender to address your mails to your PO box, will it be delivered there instead of your home mailbox? And roughly, how much do I have to pay for my own PO box per month? Do I need to sign up for a minimum amount of months? Any starter fees or hidden fees? Did anyone encounter any problems with their PO box? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

• Answer:

  Go to your city's post office and tell them that you'd like to get a PO box. They will ask for picture I.D. (e.g. your driver's license or state I.D. card) and proof of residence (e.g. provide them with a copy of your electric bill to show that you live in that city). They will then ask you to fill out a short form and sign it. You can "rent" a PO box for as little as 6 months or even indefinitely. It costs less than $100/year (mine is ~$80 per year). You can pay for 6 months at a time (if you're on a tight budget) or once a year if you can afford to pay it all at once. There are no starter/hidden fees. Once you obtain a PO box number, you will not automatically receive all your mail at the PO box unless you fill out an official "change of address form" with the post office and/or notify all of your senders that you now have a PO box. I've never had a problem w/ my PO box. It's very reliable, but you have to remember to check it at least once a week or the mail will pile up!