What's a good investment for 1000 - 1500 dollars?

In My Humble Opinion
21

6-month T-Bills are right now like 4.5% yield or so.

I mean, compared to a savings account at ING, you’re talking about $10 over the course of a year, but if you want to get started in investing, and you know you won’t need the cash, it’s pretty easy to do.

And, when your buddy asks you if he can borrow $5, you can tell him, “sorry, but all my vash is currently tied up in T bills.”

22

You need it back in a year for a specific reason.

That’s not investment money, it’s CD money.
If you don’t want to tie it down for the year you might look around for a good money market. Vanguard Prime Money Market is currently yielding 4.02%