At 20, Gabbi Garcia gifted her family with a new home in the South.
"In five years of showbusiness, I got to get a house with my family," the GMA-7 star told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) after Ked's Ladies for Ladies Talk last March 18, in Makati.
Gabbi bought the 350 square-meter propety in Parañaque with the help of her mom Tes, a flight attendant.
The young actress continued, "I've put so much effort into this family project."
In 2018, Gabbi got down to making preparations for moving her family into a new home.
The Kapuso actress said, "Nandun ako sa stage na yun na parang, 'Oh my god, am I really ready for this?'
"This means I'm not going to have, like, no shopping for how many months, di ba?
"Kasi siyempre, the downpayment is so—I mean, it's the truth, di ba? Ang bigat nung downpayment.
"It's cash. So, sabi ko talaga, 'Okay, I feel like I'm ready for this with the help of my family.'
"So, now, the hard part naman is the interior naman.
"You have to get furniture, you have to get the landscaping, so you have to budget everything.
"So as early as now, I'm experiencing everything."
Gabbi uploaded some photos of the Garcias' new house back in February this year.
HER DREAM HOME
She also has her eyes set on something else—her dream home.
"Iba pa yun! Iba pa yun!" the actress-performer immediately exclaimed.
At the same time she has been finishing up the new family home, Gabbi has been saving up for her own place in the future .
She said, "When I finish this house, target ko talaga, sabi ko, 'Kailangan less than ten years, ma-fully pay ko ito.'
"After that, siguro halfway through that, I'm going to get my own place as well.
"That's the dream before I turn, siguro 24, 25, I have my own place na for myself. Soon."
Any saving tips?
"If you need it, get it. If you don't need, then don't get it," she said about the changes in her shopping habits.
But the Kapuso star has also set up a reward system for herself. For every two endorsement deals, she would treat herself by shopping.
She said, "From time to time, if you deserve a bag or you deserve something na gustung-gusto mo for the longest time, then get it.
"It's not bad to treat yourself once in a while."
And her major financial tip?
Gabbi underlined, "Listen to your parents when it comes to saving.
"My parents kasi are such big influences to me when it comes to saving."
NEW ADVENTURES
Gabbi turned 20 last December 2.
What is she looking forward to at this time?
Gabbi said, "My 20s will be about exploration, new adventures—me traveling, me discovering new things about me, about the people that surrrounds me.
"Twenties is about balacing my work, my career, my family and friends, and my personal life."