U.S. Savings Bonds. Untapped financial long-term resource.

AI Summary

 

U.S. savings bonds are government-backed securities designed to help individuals save money while earning interest. They are issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Types of Savings Bonds

• Series EE Bonds: These are purchased at face value and earn a fixed interest rate. They double in value after 20 years if held to maturity.
• Series I Bonds: These offer a combination of a fixed rate and an inflation rate, protecting against inflation. The interest is compounded semiannually.

Purchase and Redemption

• How to Buy: Savings bonds can be purchased online through the TreasuryDirect website or at banks (for paper bonds).
• Redemption: Bonds can be redeemed after 12 months, but cashing them in before five years results in a penalty of the last three months' interest.

Tax Benefits

• Interest earned on savings bonds is exempt from state and local taxes. Federal taxes can be deferred until the bonds are redeemed or reach maturity.

Usage

• Savings bonds are often used for education savings, as they can be redeemed tax-free for qualified education expenses if certain conditions are met.

Limitations

• There are annual purchase limits: $10,000 per person for electronic Series I and EE bonds, and an additional $5,000 for paper bonds using your tax refund.

For more detailed information, visit the U.S. Department of the Treasury's official website or TreasuryDirect.

 

 

 

Humanity: Never lose in crisis or disasters. July 2025

“…..FEMA itself has said it can’t act alone, relying on local groups, volunteers, and mutual aid to reach those in need. Our response as citizens cannot mirror the dysfunction at the top.  It cannot become, “I only help those who voted like me.”

 

by   Nick Allardice Allardice is the CEO of GiveDirectly and former CEO of Change.org   “No! They voted for this to happen,” a donor wrote in response to our call to give cash relief to Texas flood survivors.   Normally, my organization GiveDirectly receives donations, not anger, when we respond to disasters. But this week, after at least 120 people, many of them children, died in the Texas floods, we’ve been inundated with messages implying that the victims had brought this on themselves by helping elect Donald Trump and that the politics of the state should dictate the response.    “Future Trump voters. Oh well.” “Go ask Elon for help.” “Are you Texans feeling that you voted for the right man?” A longtime donor said our Texas response has “shattered” their image of our work.   This has played out on social platforms as well, prompting some liberal commentators to speak out against the dehumanization of Texas communities. Political trolling online is nothing new, but its spillover into blaming victims and survivors of disaster is a dangerous new low. Our support for low-income families impacted by January’s L.A. wildfires received a positive response. There were no bitter comments blaming liberal forest-management policies. We simply offered aid, and people gave generously.    The contrast with Texas is disturbing. Yesterday we had to stop promoting our online ads as the comments below a photo of a Kerr County flood survivor filled up with sentiments of “they deserved it” and “thoughts and prayers — well, not really.”…………….READ FULL ARTICLE HERE