Scandinavia, historically Scandia, part of northern Europe, generally held to consist of the two countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Norway and Sweden, with the addition of Denmark.

‘Nordic’ is a term derived from the local Scandinavian-language word ‘Norden’ which in literal terms means, the northern islands. Nordic countries include Finland, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands (an archipelago of islands as an autonomous country within the kingdom of Denmark).

Netherlands is not part of Scandinavia but belongs to low countries. Low countries collectively known as BeNeLux comprise of Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg. Scandinavia comprises of Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Fino Scandinavia also includes Finland with Scandinavia.

If you’re speaking of a specific current geographic or political context, “Scandinavia” means the region that includes Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and the Faroe Islands. If you’d like to include Finland and Iceland in that same context, use the word “Nordic.”

The federal debt, reflecting the accumulated deficits and the occasional surplus, is forecast to reach 100% of GDP next year. Then it is predicted to keep climbing to $24.5 trillion — 107% of GDP — in 2023. That would snap the record of 106% of GDP set in 1946.

According to a report by Institute of International Finance report published in January 2021, China’s outstanding debt claims on the rest of the world rose from some US$1.6 trillion in 2006 to over US$5.6 trillion by mid-2020, making China one of the biggest creditors to low income countries.

China chooses U.S. Treasuries to invest in, versus real estate, stocks, and other countries’ debt, because of their safety and stability. Although there are worries of China selling off U.S. debt, which would hamper economic growth, doing so poises risk for China as well, making it unlikely to happen.

20 years

As a TreasuryDirect account holder, you can use the “Gift Box” functionality to purchase a gift bond. The “Gift Box” allows a customer to buy savings bonds for someone else and keep the bonds in their own account until they’re ready to give them to the recipient.

Key Takeaways. If you’re investing for the long term, a U.S. savings bond is a good choice. The Series I savings bond has a variable rate that can give the investor the benefit of future interest rate increases. If you’re saving for the short term, a CD offers greater flexibility than a savings bond.

30 years

When the bonds reach final maturity, they stop earning interest. Series EE bonds issued in January 1989 reached final maturity after 30 years, in January 2019. That means that not only have they stopped earning interest, but all of the accrued and as yet untaxed interest is taxable in 2019.

If you hold savings bonds and redeem them with interest earned, that interest is subject to federal income tax and federal gift taxes. You won’t pay state or local income tax on interest earnings but you may pay state or inheritance taxes if those apply where you live.

Effective today, Series EE savings bonds issued November 2020 through April 2021 will earn an annual fixed rate of 0.10%. Series I savings bonds will earn a composite rate of 1.68%, a portion of which is indexed to inflation every six months. The EE bond fixed rate applies to a bond’s 20-year original maturity.

The Series EE savings bond has a fixed interest rate of return. The U.S. government commits that Series EE bonds will double its face value by the 20-year maturity. The Series I savings bond has no guarantee of value at maturity. Series I bonds carry a fixed rate plus an adjustable interest rate based on inflation.

Savings bonds are not the best investment, even for college. The rate of return is set by the U.S. government and market conditions, and it can take up to 20 years for the bonds to fully mature to double their original value.1 That is a fairly low rate of return.

Yes. EE bonds bought from May 1997 through April 2005 earn a rate of interest that changes every six months (a variable rate). EE bonds bought before May 1997 earn interest at different rates depending on when they were bought.

For Series EE Bonds issued May 1997 through April 2005, interest is added every month. The bonds’ interest rate is compounded semiannually. The rate announced each May and November for these bonds is applied to a bond for the six-month earning period.

Rates & Terms Interest is added to an EE bond monthly and paid when you cash the bond. Paper bonds were sold at half the face value; i.e., you paid $25 for a $50 bond.

How do I cash my EE and E bonds? Log in to TreasuryDirect and follow the directions there. The cash amount can be credited to your checking or savings account within two business days of the redemption date. You can cash paper EE and E bonds at most local financial institutions.

When should you cash in a savings bond? You can cash in a savings bond once you’ve owned it for a minimum of one year. But if you want to avoid penalties, you’ll need to wait five years. Otherwise, you’ll lose the last three months of interest earned.

Series EE bonds are a type of zero-coupon bond, which means you never receive interest income. 7 Instead, the bonds are issued at deep discounts to face value and have been calculated to compound to the point that they are worth the face value of the bond on the maturity date, which is guaranteed by the Treasury.