Best way to invest $5,000?

I wish to know the best way to invest $5,000 for a maximum yeild in a minumum amount of time. I am a student who has seen a sudden windfall and do not want to misallocate my funds. Looking into a window of 6-18 months. Would be willing(and just barely able to) tie up $10,000 for up to 2 years. Am open to any suggestions, hope for a 6.5% return semi-annually(every six months), is this possible? Am open to money market accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, commodities, etc. . Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

First only $5000.00 you need to knock out any debts you have such as credit cards and other bills that may have an high interest rate. The reason I say this is that once the credit card have been paid off the money that you would have been using to pay the bills will now become money that you can use for savings and ofter future investments. But let say you have no bills. Most online banks are now offering C.Ds with an interest of 6 percent for as little as 4-6 months with only $5000.00 to invest. At 6 percent that is close to $250.00 in a 6 month time. Basicly thats all I can tell you if you had a little more money to invest I would tell you to invest in a money market account. But talk to your banker. That appointment is usally free. Good luck to you. Whatever you do don't invest it in some waterfront land in Phoenix..

Do not invest in stocks, bonds or mutual funds. Your time frame is too short for that. You are looking for trouble. Put the money in a money market or CD. Please read my profile and email me if you would like to chat some more.

For safe and FCID insured investment there is Countrywide Bank where you can get 5.35% on a 6 mo CD $10.000.00 minimum That is the best I know. There are other Jumbo CD's Go on Bankrate.com and check out what they have, that may suit you better. You should have more answers coming for stocks bonds, mutual funds commodities etc. they are more risky, but best wishes, on good investing

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Pay down your debts today. You will have plenty of time to play the money markets after you graduate.

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Well, you won't get those returns on bonds, money markets or mutual funds. I view the stock market as a long term venture. You are extremely vulnerable to economic volititly in the short run, which is out of your control. The best way it even seems possible to make this return is to day trade, but that is extremely time consuming and risky. You might as take a grand and buy 200 $5 lotto tickets and see how you do!!