If you know you need it and can't risk it why would you want to do anything except the safest thing? $5000 isn't exactly a large amount for an investment that you don't want to lose. High yield is high risk. It's like you're asking for the winning lottery numbers. You want a sure thing that will pay off and I wish you luck. I'd put it somewhere I know I couldn't touch it but I have zero self control and I'd nickel and dime it away in less than a year
I acknowledge that I'm asking for the magical unicorn financial solution that everyone wants... but I think what I'm really saying is... I can afford to take a slightly higher risk than a CD (essentially 0) but not a huge risk, like stocks, or crypto... wondering if anyone had suggestions for an in between.