Here's The One Thing Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran Recommends Splurging On Before 30

The "Shark Tank" entrepreneurs frequently have a thing or two to say about the way people leverage their assets to prioritize future goals. They're not afraid to tell pitchers about their doubts surrounding business ideas, company goals, and valuations. But the "Sharks" are also vocal about their advice to entrepreneurial hopefuls, too. Kevin O'Leary (or "Mr. Wonderful") has shared advice on becoming a millionaire quickly, and Mark Cuban offers plenty of tips for successful money management. Another Shark that has been consistent when it comes to giving younger people guidance on how to set themselves up for long term success is Barbara Corcoran, who says that investing in your own travels should be a key point of focus for younger people. 

While Corcoran has offered her two-cents to Gen Zers as they enter the workforce in the past, this piece of advice might actually come as a surprise. The Sharks are frequently known for frugality, and often advise people to limit what might be considered splurge spending. However, Corcoran notes that young people should focus on travel specifically before turning 30 years old. 30 coincides with the average age, as of 2023, that women first have children. It's also roughly in line with the median age people are getting married, as of 2025. 30 also stands a full eight years ahead of the age that average Americans are buying their first home, as of 2024, offering plenty of time to shift focus and begin saving (which can take six to eight years on average).

Barbara Corcoran believes in experiences. This is a common thread among both ultra-wealthy investors and those with far less cash accumulation to their name. While she suggests cautious consumer behavior when it comes to buying 'things,' she urges young people to splurge on vacations. One lifechanging trip — whether that's a grand tour of Europe or an extravagant long weekend away to your favorite nearby city — will live with you forever. Plenty of people go through life regretting the chances they didn't take, and the adventures they missed out on, which makes splurging on a trip especially worth it.

While it might sound like an expensive way to leverage your money, for Corcoran, the price is worth it. "The one thing the world can't take away from you is a phenomenal memory of where you were, and how much laughing you got done when you were there," she told Us Weekly in 2019. The timing of her comments are particularly valuable, too. Corcoran offered this advice before COVI-19 related global lockdown measures stymied travel and tourism for years on end. Through that time, people were rightly itching to get moving and see something new, only adding to the weight of her advice.

While the Shark might advocate for a big holiday budget to create an equally big memory, she isn't suggesting that people should blow up their finances in order to do so. Saving up for a big trip is a must, and in many instances it will take balancing your debt load responsibly, as well. Taking time off from work isn't always easy, no matter where you might find yourself in your career. Plenty of workers will find themselves without a paycheck during their time off. This demands a solid savings strategy to cover essential bills during the time they are away — and in the days or weeks that follow the trip, too.

Moreover, ahead of a big trip a vacationer might look to leverage a travel rewards card to help tamp down the direct costs of travel and hotel reservations. However, rewards points only go so far — especially if you're carrying a revolving balance that adds to the total cost of your debt every month. Paying down these obligations — particularly those sitting on credit card accounts with the most egregious interest rates — before putting money aside for your getaway will allow you to maintain a stable financial standing through each phase of the adventure.