Getting started with investing might feel intimidating, especially if you only have a small amount of money to work with.

But the truth is, you don't actually need thousands of dollars to begin your journey with ASX shares.

In fact, a spare $500 could be all it takes to for a beginner investor to kickstart an investment portfolio that grows into something significant over time.

Starting small, thinking big

The key to building wealth in the stock market is consistency and time.

Even small amounts invested regularly can snowball into substantial sums thanks to the power of compounding.

For example, if starting start with $500 and then adding just $250 a month to an investment portfolio while achieving an average annual return of 10%, I could end up with around $185,000 after 20 years.

And if I could increase my monthly contributions, the numbers become even more impressive.

Adding $500 a month to a portfolio instead of $250 would give a beginner investor a portfolio valued at $365,000 in 20 years, all else equal.

Where to put the first $500?

For beginner investors, exchange traded funds (ETFs) can be a great option. That's because ETFs are usually diversified collections of stocks, which means investors can spread their investment risk across many companies, even with a small initial amount. They also remove the need to pick individual stocks.

Here are a couple of ASX ETF ideas to consider:

• Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS): This ETF tracks the ASX 300, giving you exposure to a broad range of Australian companies, including big names like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

• BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ): It is home to 100 of the largest non-financial companies on the famous Nasdaq index. This includes companies such as AI chip manufacturer Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), iPhone maker Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), search giant Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG), and software behemoth Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT).

Staying consistent and patient

The most important thing for a beginner investor to do if they want to turn their $500 into long-term wealth is staying the course.

Market fluctuations might tempt investors to sell during downturns, but the best returns often come to those who stay invested through thick and thin.

Overall, investing $500 might not seem like much, but it is the first step in building a brighter financial future.

By starting small, staying consistent, and letting compounding do the heavy lifting, even beginner investors can turn modest savings into substantial wealth over time. Start your journey in 2025, and you'll thank yourself in 2045!