I had a question about a Series EE bond that I have. It was given to me in '87. I was just wondering how much it was worth. I think it still has another 10 years to go.
• The bond's "issue date." Find this on the face of the bond. You already know it was issued in 1987, but in what month?
• What dollar amount is printed on the face of the bond? In other words, what is your bond's "denomination"?
Once you know these two things, you can find out your bond's worth. I used a simple, handy tool that's available free of charge on the savings bond program's Web site: www.publicdebt.treas.gov.
That's what it has earned, on average, so far. It's currently earning 4 percent, which is "pretty good right now," Weishaar said. "I think [that bond is] worth holding on to."
By the way: Series EE bonds earn interest for 30 years from date of issue. So your 1987 bond will continue to earn interest until 2017.
Your bond is currently worth between about $1.26 and $1.32 per $1 dollar in denomination, said Weishaar, who also runs a Web site about savings bonds: www.savings-bonds-alert.com.
How much is going to be taken from our Social Security checks to cover this new [Medicare] prescription drug [benefit] that starts in January?
Suppose you enroll in one of the new prescription drug plans offered through Medicare, the federal health insurance program that's mainly for people 65 and older.
If the plan charges a premium, you can have it deducted automatically from your Social Security check each month, or pay it directly to the plan's provider, Czarnowski said.
MoneyLine correspondent Neil Downing is a staff writer for The Providence Journal in Rhode Island and author of "The New IRAs and How to Make Them Work for You." Do you have questions about your money matters? Call us at 1-401-277-7484 and leave a message, or e-mail moneyline@projo.com.
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