How shall I invest £35k? Sorry if it sounds like I'm boasting, I'm not.

[BrassCandlestick]

Advice please.
I'm in my fifties and single, my kids are grown up. I rent a lovely HA property. I used to be a poor lone parent working every hour I could, and now I'm self employed with no private pension.

My industry gives me large variations in my income over the year, ranging from comfortable to slightly worrying, although it always seems to pick up and I'm quite inventive with ways to keep earning and keep my head above water.

I stand to inherit about £30k soon. With some savings I might be able to bump it up to £35k - £38k.

I want to invest it wisely and although I'd love to buy my own house, I know I won't be able to get a mortgage on a property anywhere near where I live (SW) because of my age. But there are other possibilities.

I've thought of using it to get an ISA, or a buy to let in a financially poorer area, or even buy a car parking space in a nearby city and rent it out to give me a trickle of income.

I've also considered buying a bit of woodland and just sitting in it. But I'd get cold eventually.
I just want to make sure this money helps me when I can't work any more, which might be sooner than 65, due to physical problems.

Your thoughts welcomed.

As others have said, keep a few thousand in accessible account for emergencies and the rest in a SIPP.

Murblurb but say I did put in a lump sum of 5k and that kept me within how much I'm allowed to contribute in that year would the government top it up in the same way, and at the same rate, as normal monthly contributions?

After reading around I went with Evestor because they were recommended the best for people looking for low fees and not making massive investments. It's set up but still waiting for initial payment to arrive in my fund and it was only taken from my bank account yesterday. I'd like to know if I can add a bigger lump sum and if it would attract the same tax relief (which is actually money so weirdly named) if I did that.

I'd set up a self invested personal pension (SIPP), and also a savings account, and then transfer the maximum amount you're allowed to each year from the savings account into the pension. That would then be topped up each year by the government. Nowadays there's much more flexibility about how you use your pension savings and from 55 you can draw it down, so if there's an emergency you can get the money out - unlike an isa where the best rates require you to lock up your money for some time.

Maudes agree but just to add that is changing to 56 - I just set mine up and they warn you of that now. Hopefully they don't keep changing the age.

@KateWinceyette

Sorry to hijack your thread, OP, but I've got a question that someone might be able to answer and might help you I'm clueless

Those saying the government will give you £20 for every £80 you put in a pension ... if OP were to put £30k into a pension, the govt wouldn't put in £7,500 would they?

I'm not sure but I think that some schemes only allow you to add £2k a year. someone else will know better than me....