Comptroller Topinka says she can't pay Illinois lawmakers

[Hestia]

10. Agree with the Savings Bonds - if you can, go I Bonds vs. EE Bonds - the rate is higher

but so is the minimum - $50 vs. $25. There is a savings bond wizard that you can d/l from the treasury direct site that will help you keep track of your inventory. We had accumulated $5k in bonds, and claimed the interest every year on our 1040 - around $229 per year (started in 2003). The lowest interest amount we've paid is $168 for the year. Still beats savings account. I do this so we won't have to claim the interest in one whack if they are cashed in, which we did when we bought our house this year. Now all I have to pay is an accumulated 1 month interest on $4.5k and the balance, instead of a couple thousand on our 1040 next year. Just print out the Y-T-D Accumulated Interest Report, attach to your tax return just in case anything happens, file away, viola', you've already paid that interest.

The rate on savings bonds is one way we the people have really been whacked since Pres. Obama was elected. In 2005, rate was 6.9%, though some do say it was a Katrina bump in the interest rate. 2009 - down to 1.5%. The rate has climbed back up and we will start buying again. The rate is set at the time when you buy the bond, with a little bump in rate later on down the line, but not much. You have to watch the new rates set in May & Nov. Watch that and you'll know when's a good time to start buying. I had set it up as an automatic debit every pay period. Set it up as a bill and it won't hurt as much.