Start Buying Shares in December with a Spare $500 and Build a Long Term Portfolio

This December, even putting aside just $500 can be the first step towards building real long-term wealth especially by owning strong companies which are bound to grow over time.

iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ)

provides exposure to the 200 largest companies listed on the ASX by tracking the S&P/ASX 200 Index and it is one of the simplest ways to invest for beginners.

The etf has a relatively low expense ratio of 0.05% which makes it as one of the most cost-efficient ETFs available in Australia.

The performance will reflect the index before fees and its wide diversification helps lower concentration risk while quarterly distributions offer consistency for passive income focused investors and the current annual yield is around 3.45%.

Top holdings are major names such as BHP Group, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Wesfarmers, Goodman Group and Westpac which add stability to the portfolio.

Coles Group Limited (ASX: COL)

delivered steady performance in the first quarter of FY26 as total group revenue increased to $10.96 billion which is a 3.9% rise compared to the same quarter last year and this was supported by improved customer demand.

Digital channels continued to scale as Supermarkets eCommerce sales increased 27.9% with the help of same-day delivery availability in Melbourne and enhanced platform features including predictive filtering and a simplified checkout experience.

The business expects similar supermarket sales momentum in the second quarter with a particular focus on the holiday trading period where more than 340 new Christmas products will be available across stores.

The company is prioritising omnichannel growth, store renewal and automation investments including continued construction progress on the Truganina automated distribution centre which is expected to support future efficiency and margin improvement.

Telstra Group Limited (ASX: TLS)

is one of Australia’s most significant telecommunications providers with more than 24.9 million retail mobile services supported by 265 retail stores and 26 technology centres across the country.

A key development during the year was the expansion of its AI partnership with Microsoft along with a new seven-year joint venture with Accenture to establish an AI Silicon Valley hub which is aimed at advancing automation, customer support and network intelligence.

The company reported strong results in FY25 with EBITDA of $8.6 billion, Net Profit After Tax of $2.3 billion and aims to lift underlying return on invested capital to 10% by FY30.

The company expects FY26 and the following years to benefit from rising digital infrastructure demand, faster AI deployment and monetisation of premium mobile connectivity.

JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH)

had a great start to FY26 as total sales grew by 6.0% in the first quarter and JB Hi-Fi New Zealand recorded an impressive 39.3% growth in total sales.

The company has moved to the second quarter with solid momentum as there is growing demand for the latest technology products and holiday season is expected to boost sales.

The main focus right now is on boosting customer engagement and expanding the multichannel ecosystem along with ongoing integration of e&s.

JB Hi-Fi will benefit from interest rate cuts which puts it in a good position to grow steadily through FY26.

(Source: Company Reports)