The state of the economy right now is not a pretty one.  News of the continued drop in the stock market and the growing concern about failing  banks has got many of us worried.  Investing always assumes a risk,  the definition of invest, according to my Webster’s Dictionary is “to put money to use…in something offering potential profitable returns.”  Notice that word potential? It’s not guaranteed.    However, before we all start stuffing cash under our mattresses, there are a few places you can put your money where it will be safe.

• Bank Money Market and CD accounts. These investments are run by the banks  (not like money market accounts run by fund companies) which are insured up to $250,000 per individual by the Federal Reserve Insurance Corporation (FDIC).  These types of investments usually have a minimum balance requirement and early withdraw penalties.
• Treasury Bills (T-Bills) These are fully backed by the government and are considered very low risk investments.  The bills are sold for less than the face value.  When the bill matures, you are paid the face value.  The difference between the purchase price and the face value is the interest, or the money you will earn from this investment.  As an investor, you can choose the maturity date of your investment.   Short term T-Bills usually have a 13-26 week maturity date and are usually considered the safest investments.  T-Bills can be purchased from your bank, your investment broker, or directly from the US Treasury.
• US Savings Bonds. These are also fully backed by the federal government.  They tend to have lower interest rates but are considered one of the safest places to invest money.  You earn a fixed interest rate making it easy to figure out the amount you will earn from your investment.  You must keep the bond at least one year before redeeming and you will sacrifice 3 months interest if you redeem your bond before the 5 year mark. US Savings Bonds can also be purchased directly from the US Treasury

Jennifer can be found on her blog I Call Times! where she rambles on about her adventures as a wife, mother, and student trying to fit everything in and having fun along the way .