Inflation is on the minds of many Americans right now. While home and gas prices are beginning to fall, there are several other areas of our budget that are hitting some of us hard. It can be difficult to remain positive after reviewing your budget.
Luckily, there’s a timely bright side to inflation and your wallet. And this is a great time to take advantage of it.
Earn High Interest Rates on Series I Savings Bonds
Series I Savings Bonds are offering a high interest rate right now: 6.89%.
Before we explain why now is the time to buy I bonds, it’s helpful to understand how Series I Bond interest rates work.
There are two savings rates: a fixed rate of return and a variable rate. The fixed rate remains the same (0.4% as of November 2022) during the life of the bond. The variable rate is recalculated every six months (3.24% as of November 2022).
The U.S. Department of Treasury calculates the rate for 12 months as an estimation of what you would earn over a year. This means the composite rate for I bonds is 6.89% currently. The day you buy I bonds, you earn the existing inflation interest rate for six months. Then you earn the new interest rate for six months.
Here’s where money expert Clark Howard says it gets interesting:
“The rate that resets every six months is now 6.89%. But there’s a big difference. For years, the Treasury hasn’t offered any rate in addition to the inflation rate. With the new reset, people who buy Series I savings bonds now, you’ll earn an additional 0.4%, meaning that you’ll always earn the rate of inflation plus an additional booster shot.”
Should You Buy Series I Bonds Before the Rate Resets in May 2023?
If you purchased $10,000 worth of I bonds in 2022, you are now eligible to buy another $10,000 in 2023. A new interest rate will be announced in May 2023. But should you buy Series I bonds before the rate resets?
“They have been paying eye-popping rates during this inflationary cycle we’ve been in,” Clark says. “If you buy them in the next few weeks, they pay 6.89%. For how long? The next six months. The rate will reset in the likeliest guess of economists and financial people is we’re going to be somewhere around 3.5%.”
If the rate is predicted to reset to below 4% in May, is it really a good idea to buy I bonds right now? Clark explains why it’s still a safe bet:
“You face every six months that whatever the rate of inflation has been in the prior period, that’s what you’re going to earn moving forward. Except, people who buy them right now get a bonus. You get whatever the rate of inflation is each six-month cycle plus a bonus of 0.4%. I see it as a pretty safe bet. Even if you look at the best rates on savings accounts right now, the best rates on CDs, the best rates on money markets, they’re all around 5% where the Series I savings bonds, if you buy them during these next few weeks, you’re going to get a rate of 6.89% for the next six months, question mark after that. You blend those two and where are you? You’re still over 5% for the year.”
When is the deadline to get the rate? Clark recommends purchasing I bonds by April 25 to get the existing rate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Series I Savings Bonds
What does the “I” stand for in the I bond? The “I” stands for inflation. The annual interest rate resets every six months. As inflation goes up, what you earn goes up. As inflation goes down, what you earn goes down. The value of your I bonds can never be less than what you paid.
Where do I buy I bonds? Visit TreasuryDirect to purchase I bonds. You can find more information here on buying I bonds.
Is there a limit to how much I can purchase? The maximum purchase is $10,000 per person every year. However, you can also use up to $5,000 from your federal tax refund to purchase I bonds so you could potentially purchase $15,000 in one year.
What are the withdrawal rules? The money must remain in the bond for at least 12 months. If you cash them out before five years, you lose the previous three months of interest. I bonds earn interest for 30 years.
Does Clark Howard own Series I Savings Bonds? Clark says that he has owned these bonds for 24 years. He plans to hold them for all 30 years which is the amount of time it takes for a bond to fully mature.
Should you sell your I bonds? If you don’t hold I bonds for at least five years, you forfeit the last 90 days of interest. Clark says that you don’t want to sell during a time when that last 90 days would have been a really high interest rate. If you bought I bonds during the last cycle with the 0.4% fixed rate, Clark recommends holding Series I Bonds for a significant period of time unless your financial circumstances change radically.
You can find more answers to frequently asked questions about Series I Bonds here.
Final Thoughts
If you’re wondering where to stash your cash, Clark says Series I Savings Bonds are a great option right now:
Before you buy I bonds, make sure you can leave the money in the bond for at least one year (ideally at least five years) to avoid penalties.
Questions about Series I Savings Bonds or other money topics? Call Team Clark’s free Consumer Action Center and an experienced volunteer can help: 636-492-5275.
