BUY TREASURIES DIRECT

One of the government's bestideas, many bond investors say, isthe TreasuryDirect program (800-722-2678; www.treasurydirect.gov),which lets you buy US Treasury bills,notes, and bonds online or over thephone. When you buy a security, youpay by credit card or check. The USTreasury Department has come upwith a new wrinkle that lets you havethe payment taken directly out ofyour bank account, making the entiretransaction paperless. So far, this newfeature is only available if you want tobuy Series I (inflation-protected) savingsbonds, but the governmentplans to roll out the program to coverother securities in 2003.