After much deliberation about how to invest the Sidewalker Fund a decision has been reached. After careful consideration, and taking into account the amount of time it has taken to amass the cash, there was really only one option left at the end of the day.

I ruled out buying shares, as the transaction costs were prohibitive. I liked the idea of buying a silver bullion coin, but the cost of shipping and handling was prohibitive. I loved the idea of going to Atlantic City and playing roulette with it, but the cost to my relationship with Mrs Sidewalker was prohibitive. The idea of trading in Mario’s Pizza credit was intriguing but the moral and ethical implications were prohibitive.

So that left me with one option, the Certificate of Deposit. Today I entered into an agreement with ING Bank, I bought a $20 12 month CD with a yield of 2.10%. I know it’s not sexy but it is safe, besides when has getting rich slowly ever been sexy? On 5th October 2010 the Sidewalker Fund will be 43 cents richer when the CD matures. I have a year to figure out how I’m going to represent those 43 cents in My Cash Trail Map to the right!

-Luke Sidewalker
-Current balance $22.90

It is with great honor I stand before you today as the Chairman and Chief Bottle Washer of the Sidewalker Fund. It gives me great pleasure to welcome each and every one of you to this, the first meeting of the Sidewalker Fund Investment Committee.

For those of you that have been following my quest for some time, you will know that I have often mentioned this day. The point at which we now stand is where the Sidewalker monies have swollen to a total that they must now flee the relative safety (assuming my bank doesn’t go belly up) of the Sidewalker checking account. These coins we brought in off the street, were first nurtured back to usefulness by an extended stay in the Sidewalker Change Jar before Jr. and I deposited them in the bank.

It is time these coins repaid my faith in them (and their free board & lodging at Castle Sidewalker), and to that end we must put them to work. It is at this juncture I realized that the burden and responsibility of controlling such funds was a task that could not fall on one man’s (mine) shoulders. So I have drawn up a short list of possibilities to allocate the $21 and change. I urge you to look over my list with due care and attention, then leave your suggestion in the comments section please.

So, in no particular order here are the suggestions.

Option 1: An ING Certificate of Deposit
Pro - These CD’s are FDIC insured up to $250,000
Con - The yield sucks and who is insuring the FDIC?

Option 2: Buy 5 shares of Citibank (C.N) at $4.50
Pro - With a 52 week high of $23.50 there could be lots of upside potential.
Con - Major perpetrator of today’s financial mess. Next Lehman perhaps? Lots of downside potential.

Option 3: Buy 1 American Eagle Silver Coin .999 fine silver
Pro - I get rid of my dollars before the Federal Reserve Bank devalues them to zero.
Con - It is a shiny piece of metal with a nominal value of $1.

Option 4: I go to the Borgata in Atlantic City and put it all on Black
Pro - I get to feel like a rock star for the time it takes the ball to settle.
Con - Tough to explain to Mrs Sidewalker why two years of sidewalking has yielded nothing when it lands on Red.

Option 5: Buy a Mario’s Pizza Value Card for $20 that is redeemable for $30 worth of pizza, and sell it for $25 to the Hoboken Paddler
Pro - An easy $5, my very own printing press.
Con - Slightly unethical, borderline illegal for dealing in unofficial currency.

So what option should I go for? Have I missed an option out? What say you?

-Luke Sidewalker
-Current balance $21.27