> And there are no real returns with I bonds, they literally preserve buying power. You save enough to buy a Happy Meal today and you'll have enough to buy a Happy Meal in 20 years.

Not entirely true. Series I Savings Bonds purchased during the current six-month period have a fixed rate of 0.4%, so in 20 years you'd have enough to buy about 1.08 happy meals.

Admittedly, it might be a challenge to find a place that sells fractional happy meals.