Many new investors think they need tens of thousands of dollars before they can start building a proper portfolio.
However, the reality is that with just $3,000 you could create a well-diversified foundation in the share market.
The key is to keep it simple and focus on exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and high-quality shares that provide broad exposure and give you bang for your buck
Let's look at one way that you could approach it with ASX ETFs. Here's what you need to know:
Starting locally
A great starting point is an ASX ETF that covers the local market. The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) holds the top 300 shares listed on the ASX. This includes giants such as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS).
By putting $1,000 into the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF, you are effectively buying into the entire Australian market in a single trade. This gives you instant diversification across banks, healthcare, miners, and consumer staples.
Look globally
As Australia makes up less than 2% of global share markets, it is important to consider having some international diversification. One way to do this is with the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV). It offers Aussie investors a simple way to gain exposure to 500 of the largest U.S. stocks. This means the likes of Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), and Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA).
Allocating $1,000 here ensures your portfolio isn't too heavily reliant on the local economy. You will also be exposed to the world's largest and most innovative businesses.
Add an extra twist
To round things out, you could add a thematic ETF into your portfolio with the potential to deliver larger than average returns. The Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA) could be just the ticket. It gives investors exposure to some of Asia's biggest technology names, including Tencent (SEHK: 700), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM), and PDD Holdings (NASDAQ: PDD).
With Asia's digital economy growing rapidly, $1,000 invested here provides a stake in an exciting megatrend beyond Australia and the United States.
Foolish takeaway
With $3,000 split across these funds, you would have a portfolio covering the Australian market, the U.S. giants, and Asia's fast-growing tech sector. That's a level of diversification many investors with much larger portfolios don't achieve.
Overall, it is proof that you don't need a huge starting balance to build a strong investment foundation — just a smart allocation and the discipline to stick with it.
