When it comes to building wealth, few tools are as powerful as compounding.

It is the simple idea that your money earns returns, and those returns then earn returns of their own. Over time, this snowball effect can turn small, regular investments into something much larger than most people realise.

Let's take a closer look at how investing just $250 a month into ASX shares could grow your wealth — and why time, consistency, and quality investments matter most.

Small steps, big results with ASX shares

Let's say you invest $250 every month into a diversified portfolio of ASX shares. This could be through a mix of individual stocks or exchange traded funds (ETFs).

Assuming an average annual total return of 10% per annum — roughly in line with long-term market averages, though of course not guaranteed — what happens over time?

Here's how it could play out:

• After 10 years, you would have around $50,000
• After 20 years, it would grow to approximately $180,000
• And after 30 years, you would be looking at a portfolio worth over $500,000

That's the power of compounding in action. Your regular $250 contributions add up, but it's the returns on your returns that supercharge your wealth over time.

Why consistency matters

The magic of compounding doesn't rely on perfect timing. In fact, trying to time the market often does more harm than good. Instead, it is about sticking to the plan — adding to your portfolio each month, regardless of market conditions.

When the market dip, your $250 buys more shares. When markets rise, your investments grow. This approach — known as dollar-cost averaging — smooths out the bumps and keeps you invested through both good times and bad.

Focus on quality

Compounding works best when you invest in quality companies and assets.

Investors might want to look for businesses with strong competitive advantages, healthy balance sheets, and long-term growth prospects. ASX shares like Goodman Group (ASX: GMG), ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD), and WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) could be worth considering.

ETFs like the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) or the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) can also help you diversify while tapping into global growth.

Foolish takeaway

Investing $250 a month might not sound like much — but give it time, and it can transform into hundreds of thousands of dollars.

So, start small, stay consistent, and let compounding work its magic. Because when it comes to building wealth, the best time to start is today — and the best thing you can do is keep going.