Savings Bonds Explained: When to Buy, When to Cash In, and If They’re Still Worth It

NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

Budget better for group trips and explore if savings bonds still deserve a spot in your long-term investment plan.

How do you plan a trip with friends without blowing your budget — or your relationships? Are savings bonds a smart way to invest in your kids’ future? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss the emotional and financial dynamics of group travel and walk through what it really takes to invest in savings bonds for education and life goals. They begin with a discussion of traveling with friends, with tips and tricks on setting clear expectations, budgeting according to your values, and managing financial boundaries. Smart Travel podcast hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle join Sean and Elizabeth to share their insider tips for group travel, including itinerary planning, respecting different budgets, and balancing social time with solitude.

Then, investing Nerd Sam Taube joins Sean and Elizabeth to break down the pros and cons of savings bonds, including Series EE, I Bonds, treasury bonds, and more. They discuss tax implications, bond yield mechanics, and how to incorporate bonds into a long-term investing strategy.

8 Best Online Brokers for Bonds: https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/investing/brokers-for-bonds

Planning your next vacation? Before you budget, learn how to get the most out of your travel dollars by following our Smart Travel podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/FvKHzKit

Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header

In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: traveling with friends, how to budget for group trips, friendship and money, planning trips with friends, financial boundaries while traveling, group vacation budgeting, how to say no to expensive trips, budget travel tips with friends, post vacation financial regret, peer pressure spending on vacation, savings bonds, series EE bonds, I bonds, treasury bonds vs savings bonds, when to buy savings bonds, how to cash in savings bonds, best bonds for education savings, bond yield explained, fixed income investments, muni bonds, corporate bonds, bond diversification strategy, investing in bonds for kids, bonds vs 529 plan, bond interest rates, bond tax benefits, how to buy savings bonds online, treasury direct account, cashing paper savings bonds, bond market trends, and how bonds fit in a retirement portfolio.

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email [email protected].

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