Life moves quickly. It’s easy to get distracted. But that can be costly.
Miss an important financial date or deadline, and you could be on the hook for a penalty or lose out on a limited-time opportunity to save money.
Enter our “Money Calendar” series.
In this edition, we’ve rounded up the noteworthy money dates in May 2025. Take a look and mark your calendar with any dates that apply to you. And if you enjoy this series, sign up for the Money Talks Newsletter so you don’t miss the next edition.
New I bond rates announced — May 1
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announces new rates for Series I government savings bonds on the first business day in May (as happens every May and November).
This type of bond has two rates — a variable rate, which is tied to inflation, and a fixed rate. Either or both could change.
To learn more about I bonds, as they are often called, check out “7 Things You Should Know Before Investing in I Bonds.”
FOMC meeting — May 6-7
The Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) generally meets eight times a year. On the second day of these two-day meetings, the committee votes on whether to change its target range for the federal funds rate. So May 7 is the next time that they might change it.
Any change to the federal funds rate can affect everything from your savings account yield to your credit card interest. To learn more about what this means for you, check out “What Is ‘the Fed’ — and Why Should You Care?”
Real ID deadline — May 7
If your driver’s license doesn’t already double as a REAL ID — meaning it meets higher security standards established by a 2005 federal law — you might want to book an appointment at your DMV ASAP. After being pushed back numerous times, the deadline to make sure your ID is compliant is upon us for real.
Texas’ Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday — May 24-26
Just as some states offer back-to-school sales tax holidays, during which they waive sales taxes on purchases like school supplies, some states offer Energy Star tax holidays. During these periods, sales taxes are waived for products that have earned the federal Energy Star certification for their efficiency.
Texas’ Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday falls on Memorial Day weekend. Lists of products that do and do not qualify for the tax break are available on the Texas comptroller’s website.
Texas’ Water-Efficient Products Sales Tax Holiday — May 24-26
Also on Memorial Day weekend, Texas is having a sales tax holiday for products that have earned the federal WaterSense certification for efficient use of water.
Details are available on the comptroller’s website.
Memorial Day — May 26
Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday in May, is a federal holiday. So expect many financial institutions to be closed. Of course, many retailers will have sales, too.
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