I am assuming you want to invest with minimal additional effort. E.g. more like buying shares than flying over to the states to enrol in YC. In that case you c

I am assuming you want to invest with minimal additional effort. E.g. more like buying shares than flying over to the states to enrol in YC. In that case you could pick up some books on investing in shares. This has good liquidity and although risky it is unlikely you will lose 100%. If you have a portfolio of shares in different sectors, you should be at low risk of losing lots. If you fancy learning but still a passive investment, then maybe stamps, antiques, collectibles. You will get additional enjoyment out of it in the meantime. Some parts of the UK I imagine you could use 5k for a house down-payment and rent it out. I have been expat for 4 years so I have no idea. If you want to be more involved you could start some kind of business, using 50-100 pounds and your own effort to get it going, then 'invest' more money once you have a proven method. For example once you can spend 100 on advertising to make 200 gross profit, then you can scale that up using the 5000, then keep reinvesting to grow it. Easier said than done! Or you could renovate something. Lots of people have broken things they would give away or sell cheaply - you repair and sell on for a profit. But you will need some capital and that is how you can invest your 5000.