even without the fractional shares mentioned by sibling comments, you can open a vanguard account and get a single share of VTI, which is currently $170 something. no other fees, or hidden weirdness or anything.

or get some bond ETF that has less volatility. the dividends will still exceed anything you get from a savings account.

or even just leave the cash in the vanguard money market fund. that won't even lose value, and actually pays interest.

so... s/the affluent/the educated/ perhaps