Kris Aquino learns to be more frugal during pandemic

Kris Aquino is one of the local celebrities who have always been open about her splurges especially on luxury items.

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she said that her spending habits have drastically changed.

Kris had an online chat with select entertainment media after she was introduced as the new celebrity ambassador of Shopee yesterday, October 20.

Here, the actress-TV host admitted that she has refrained from buying designer products since the start of the pandemic.

"Nothing this year. Zero talaga, I swear. If you check my credit cards, sad sila," she told GMANetwork.com.

"I'm sorry for mentioning this, but Net-A-Porter has 'EIP,' those are the extremely important people or persons, whatever, basta hindi VIP.

"I think I'm gonna be downgraded already because I did not buy anything at all.

"Because I really feel, what changed is because you're not going out, so what's the point?

"So, when I came home [from Puerto Galera], I realized how many pairs of shoes I haven't even worn.

"And I realized how many bags I have not used.

"And since I'm not going out, what's the point?

"And I don't have a daughter, so wala namang makikinabang.

"And I don't even think that I'm gonna like my future daughter-in-law. [Laughs] We're moving 10 years forward already!

"You know, whoever it is that Bimb's gonna end up with, she's not getting any of my bags or any of my things. I'm gonna donate it to the charity, so don't think about it."

Kris and her sons, Josh and Bimby, were stranded in Puerto Galera during the enhanced community quarantine. They stayed at the resort of her close friend in showbiz, Wowowin host Willie Revillame.

During this pandemic, Kris mentioned that she had a lot of realizations especially when it comes to splurging on expensive things.

"You know, that's what I realized during this pandemic. I stopped totally. I did not buy a single thing from March until now that is branded.

"Nalungkot ang Net-A-Porter because nawalan sila ng client. [Laughs]

"I realized also that it didn't matter. Kasi, when I got home from Puerto Galera and I saw all these racks of clothes, I got embarrassed because I realized that there are so many people...

"Until now, I see it, that there are so many people who have taken pay cuts, who have lost their jobs, and it's just not right.

"I can swear to that, na from March until now there has been nothing."

Likewise, Kris thought it would be insensitive to spend a lot of money on material things while many people suffer from the negative effects of the pandemic.

She then shared, "The only thing that the boys have bought and I have also bought... Bimb only got a TV because nabasag ang TV niya. That's it.

"Kuya [Josh] did not get anything for his birthday because I realized also that it's the wrong time, it's so insensitive, and there are other more important things in life."

Although Kris has stopped shopping for luxury items, it doesn't mean she's not doing online shopping anymore.

She admitted that like many others during the quarantine, her buying habits have also changed--she now looks for healthcare items and work-from-home equipment online.

"I think what changed a lot for us is that we are so into making that everything is clean.

"Bimb is obsessed with wearing things [like air purifiers]. He even sleeps with one on.

"I don't know if it works or whatever or if it's just psychological. Pero for him, he said that his allergic rhinitis went away because of that.

"We bought more of those UV cleaners.

"Then, because we're doing this [online interview], in front of me, we have one ring light and two of the smaller lights. I know that the smaller lights, we bought those online.

"We have 15 of UV care. We ordered from the manufacturer the ones that clean the air. So, those are the things that changed. Those are the big splurges.

"We keep replenishing the face shields from Shopee, the face masks. Those are the things that have changed."

In conclusion, Kris said, "The buying habits that changed, I think, we're so much conscious about anything to do with health.

"Those are the things that we are really spending on to keep ourselves healthy."