Here are some tips for starting to invest with a limited budget:

• Open a retirement account like an IRA or Roth IRA – Contribute whatever you can afford up to the annual maximum ($6,000 for IRAs in 2023). Retirement accounts provide tax benefits.
• Use a robo-advisor – They offer automated investing services with low account minimums (sometimes as low as $1). Makes diversification easy with limited funds.
• Invest in index funds – Low cost index funds track market indexes and provide broad diversification. Look for broad market ETFs or mutual funds with low expense ratios.
• Buy fractional shares – Many brokers now allow you to purchase fractional share quantities. This enables investing fixed dollar amounts into stocks/ETFs you like.
• Use a micro-investing app – Apps like Acorns allow you to invest your spare change from everyday purchases into diversified portfolios. Can start with as little as $5.
• Invest consistently – Set up automatic transfers from your bank account to your investing account to put away what you can regularly. Consistency builds assets over time.
• Take advantage of employer retirement plans – Contribute enough to get the full employer match if one is offered. It’s free money on the table.
• Reinvest dividends and gains – Let compounding work for you by reinvesting all dividends and capital gains distributions back into your holdings.
• Avoid high fees – Fees erode returns significantly over time so use low-cost brokerage accounts and funds when starting out.

The key is to start as soon as you can and keep investing regularly at your own pace. Compounding can grow even small, consistent investments over time.