OKAY really dumb question by old person!

[turtlerescue1]

Saw a picture of this old WWII poster "Buy Bonds".

Used to buy these $18.33 US Bonds. Just looked it up and they are now $100 minmum to buy.

WHAT IF we once more had that $18.33 six-seven-eight year bond?

On what I live on there is no way I could find $100 just laying around for one bond. BUT every once in a while, I could stumble across $20, and if it would just irritate a few folks, I would spend it on a bond that likely I wouldn't see "mature".

Its an idea...thoughts?

[RKP5637]

1. I think it's a good idea. I recall when I was a kid bonds were always

being pushed as a way to invest, and they were cheap. Also where I worked part of the companies business was defense, they were always pushing us to buy bonds.

[turtlerescue1]

3. Cheap = Affordable

Since SCOTUS..."money as speech" for corporations, why not make a bond even I could afford every now and then?

[RKP5637]

5. Yep! I agree! n/t

[valerief]

2. Maybe buying a bond in a first world country would be a safer bet. nt

[turtlerescue1]

4. Might be "safer" but I live here.

Likely if I could afford a bond, it'll mature after I'm gone.

Getting to that point where buying green bananas....

[valerief]

6. Ha!

[former9thward]

7. Why would it irritate anyone?

If you want to throw away your money on something paying basically zero interest why would anyone care?

[turtlerescue1]

8. It's not about the interest rate

Just saw that old WWII poster, the things about not having enough rubber or nylon at the time.

IF enough people, ya know us little common folks, each bought one $18.33 savings bond each, it would be less about a profit and more about a show of support. SCOTUS said money is speech, was wondering what speech we human humans could have in a battle?

Why would it irritate anyone? IF there were a massive dash for $20 bonds, ya think the GOP would notice, and want it to go their way?

I lived as the working poor in health care, the people I cared for had health insurance, I couldn't afford it and pay rent and utilities. Now am on partial SS, the only difference is, now I'm poor and don't have to go to work. Am just my in second month into my new poverty.

What happens to the $18.33? Where does it go? Change will always come in on the back of the poor and the downtrodden, no one else cares TO change. Just wondering what we, the 99%, could do.

[former9thward]

9. The Treasury Department eliminated small bonds long ago.

Last edited Fri Jun 22, 2012, 04:06 PM - Edit history (1)

They just don't want to deal with small change. It is easier to get a few hundred billion from China.

[csziggy]

10. The other useful use for those bonds was as presents

My grandmother and great aunt gave each of us kids US savings bonds for Christmas and birthdays. They'd actually give us one savings bond and one $20 bill for each. The cash disappeared almost immediately, but the savings bonds were stored away. When I was in college I cashed in my savings bonds which had all matured and used the money to buy a mobile home to live in while I finished my degree. It saved me a ton of money on rent while I was in school and got me used to maintaining my own home instead of being able to call a landlord for everything.

[TBF]

11. I used to get them for presents too

and eventually cashed them all in. My parents were factory workers so it was literally the only money I had besides part-time & summer jobs when I left for college (back in the 80s). I'm sure it didn't amount to more than $1000, but when you grow up poor or working class that is at least something to have in your lock box.