The easiest way to qualify for an IRA is to come up with a part time job that earns more than $3K per year.

Alternatively, look into LTBH (long term buy and hold) in a taxable account. By selecting investments that can be held long term and that pay small dividends or qualified low tax dividends, you minimize your income taxes. Identifying investments you can truely hold long term can be the tricky part. But one of the good ones is an S&P 500 Index fund. Tax managed mutual funds also work well as do various growth stocks.

Best of luck to you.