figuring out what savings bonds are worth

[Dznypal]

while cleaning out a file cabinet I found about 20 series I bonds that we bought through my DH job I cant remember exactly what we paid for them but the employer took out so mucj per check and when we got to a certain amount we then bought an savings bond I also cant remember what the certain amount was.

So I put them through a bond calculator and think that the total I came up with was the interest these bonds am I correct on this

also the bonds are 50$ each so if I take the 50 and x by the number we have add in the interest

is this what the bonds are worth--so if we would take them all to the bank and cash them in this is what we would be able to get

we have a finanical planner who will be coming over sometime next month to get our investments into something better so well talk to him then about these

but since I found them tonight Im just actually curious what we could get for these--

Honestly are savings bonds really all that great--

thanks

 

[eandt]

while cleaning out a file cabinet I found about 20 series I bonds that we bought through my DH job I cant remember exactly what we paid for them but the employer took out so mucj per check and when we got to a certain amount we then bought an savings bond I also cant remember what the certain amount was.

So I put them through a bond calculator and think that the total I came up with was the interest these bonds am I correct on this

also the bonds are 50$ each so if I take the 50 and x by the number we have add in the interest

is this what the bonds are worth--so if we would take them all to the bank and cash them in this is what we would be able to get

we have a finanical planner who will be coming over sometime next month to get our investments into something better so well talk to him then about these

but since I found them tonight Im just actually curious what we could get for these--

Honestly are savings bonds really all that great--

thanks

can’t recall the website but it will tell you exactly what they are worth and then just take them to the bank and cash them in

 

[Jonnnyap]

@Dznypal You can go to https://www.treasurydirect.gov/savings-bonds/savings-bond-calculator/ and enter the bond ID/info into this US government site to determine what each is now worth. This gives the precise value of each. Depending upon the bond, the return can be OK relative to inflation over time, but they're more secure and earn less interest than higher risk stocks or mutual funds, as I understand it. Of course, I'm not a financial advisor, so please do your own research if needed.

Congrats on the 'found' money and best wishes!

 

[Dznypal]

thanks for the info and it was actually fun to put them through the calculator--
honestly though I throught theyd be worth a little more seeing weve had the for around 20 years
but never the less it was found money since we totally forget about them
well see what the finanical planner can do maybe we can get them into something better--of course wed like to put them into some sort of investment account where we dont have to pay interst on what we earned--

 

[QueenIsabella]

Yeah, savings bonds are not the best investment for growth. I have a couple for my DS28, that he was given at birth--I think they were bought for $25 and are now, 28 years later, worth $50. Ooh. But, hey--cash them in and take the windfall, however large or small--it's still found money, right?

 

[LoveToDisney]

I don’t think you can cash at a bank any longer around here. One has to do it online. Let us know what you find out.

 

[Jonnnyap]

As of a few years ago, Wells Fargo would cash them. Currently, Bank of America will cash up to 9 at a time if you have had an account for 2+ years. It’s certainly not convenient.

 

[georgina]

My local PNC branch cashed out my kids series EE bonds when they matured, but I am not sure about I bonds. My I bonds I mailed in and created an online treasury direct account for them. The interest rate on I bonds changes every 6 months, so it is not as simple as multiplying the $50 by the interest rate it showed you. Use the online bond calculator. I bought I bonds at a lucky point in time in 2000 and they have been a fantastic low-risk investment, currently paying over 6% interest. You may be surprised what they are worth.

 

[VGCgroupie]

This isn’t a thread I thought I’d find on the DIS but I’m happy I saw it! Thanks @Jonnnyap for the link!

I have had this bond sitting in my desk drawer forever and I never get around to figuring it out.

My $50 bond is from 1986 and is now worth $115 better than nothing.

 

[Dznypal]

Gee it sounds like we did pretty good. We have 18 50$ I bonds and when I put each one through the calculator each one got a bit over 100$ in interest. Wonder what our financial planner can do with them. Ours are from the early 2000

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

If you don't want to pay interest on the future earnings, you could put it into a Roth IRA. The withdrawals during retirement are non taxable as well because you're not investing with pre-tax dollars.