You'd be better off buying I-bonds if you want to prevent the money from shrinking. They are liquid after one year. Your treasury bonds can lose value if newer

You'd be better off buying I-bonds if you want to prevent the money from shrinking. They are liquid after one year. Your treasury bonds can lose value if newer bonds pay a higher interest rate. Your free 3% is only guaranteed if you hold the bonds to maturity. If you have to sell them before maturity for some reason, you could lose money overall.