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I-Bonds

Zvi Bodie,finance professor at Boston University, pointed out today that that with I-bonds the fixed 30-year rate of interest is still 1.2% per year (plus the actual rate of inflation), but it almost certainly will fall when it is reset on May 1. The limit per person is $5,000 in electronic form at www.treasurydirect.gov and another $5,000 per person in paper form at banks.

I-bonds are a great way to save. No credit risk. Taxes deferred until the bonds are cashed in. And you dollar is safe against the ravages of inflation.

About the author

Christopher Farrell is economics editor of Marketplace Money, a nationally syndicated one-hour weekly personal finance show produced by American Public Media.