I be here! Not mad, although you are getting two spankings next year, joe.
We've been having virus attacks at work, which inspired the MIS dept. to randomly monitor where people were going more closely than usual (pays to have a friend in that dept.!), so I've been laying low at work. At home, I've been helping my cousin get ready for the St. Paddy's festival at his club in the evenings, but I am free again, and will make up for lost time today.
The best site for savings bond info is
here. In brief, the EE series will cost less (1/2 face value to buy), but the I series has a potential to earn more. If you want to cash it fairly soon after the penalty phase expires (5 years), I'd go with the EE as it has a guaranteed rate of return, while the I series does not. The dollar is losing value in the international market at present, and the average garden variety financial cycle is 10-12 years. If you plan to get some bonds to hang onto for longer (full maturity is 30 years), the I would be worth considering. They're kind of neat to buy & forget about - we found some $25 ones after my dad died from 1969 and each one was worth $132.
Paper vs. e-bonds: e-bonds are much less of a hassle to replace if something happens to them. The paper ones are really cool looking, though. If you want the paper ones, make copies of them and store in a safe separate place with details of when/where you got them.
