Cullen and Katie: Shifty eyes and constant lies | Part #25

[OKmom10]

I really am blown away by how Katie justifies her purchases. You can tell she honestly has no clue on how to be frugal. It comes off as really spoiled. I did laugh at the pine straw bit. It’s humbling to lay pine straw? My father in law is a millionaire and lived off of the lakefront in our town. He does his own yard work and works full time. Many of the wealthy people who have lakefront properties do some of their own yard work as well. That’s why these two are broke. They don’t understand that most millionaires are rich because they DON’T blow their money and they work hard. I was confused though as to why Cullen didn’t simply rake the leaves. We rake our leaves for compost and then rake the pine straw around our pine trees. It looks nice that way. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anyone put pine straw down like they did. I’ve only ever seen it circled nicely around trees.

Edited: When I think about it, I do see people use pine straw but to lay around their garden or do a small area. It seems like such a large area they did. Like, why not care for the yard instead of spending money to cover up leaves?

[Lovethesnark]

YouTube suggested the podcast where they talk about calling the cops. I’m wondering they were both high when they called the cops? Sounds like pothead paranoia.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ducklings4]

I really am blown away by how Katie justifies her purchases. You can tell she honestly has no clue on how to be frugal. It comes off as really spoiled. I did laugh at the pine straw bit. It’s humbling to lay pine straw? My father in law is a millionaire and lived off of the lakefront in our town. He does his own yard work and works full time. Many of the wealthy people who have lakefront properties do some of their own yard work as well. That’s why these two are broke. They don’t understand that most millionaires are rich because they DON’T blow their money and they work hard. I was confused though as to why Cullen didn’t simply rake the leaves. We rake our leaves for compost and then rake the pine straw around our pine trees. It looks nice that way. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anyone put pine straw down like they did. I’ve only ever seen it circled nicely around trees.

Edited: When I think about it, I do see people use pine straw but to lay around their garden or do a small area. It seems like such a large area they did. Like, why not care for the yard instead of spending money to cover up leaves?

I am not a fan of pine straw, but they could have raked up the leaves for free and not paid for the pine straw. To me they went the lazy route. My husband and I will have to start raking next month. We will bag over 50 lawn bags in March when the live oaks shed their leaves. We certainly could hire someone, but it’s exercise and fresh air.
My other issue is Gaines wants a fox umbrella. Wouldn’t this be a great time to teach her that you don’t always need to buy frivolous things. One in the Bush is worth two in the hand. A penny saved is a penny earned. She will follow right along in her Mama’s foot steps if they don’t teach her now. She won’t learn any younger!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[justkidding]

Can anyone clarify the foreclosure process? My understanding is when a homeowner gets too far behind on mortgage payments (3 months ?) the bank will foreclose/take possession, of the house. At that point, the homeowner no longer gets to sell it on their own. The bank will sell it or put it up for auction and is willing to settle for the principle owed. The homeowner is still liable for any interest, late payment fees and administration costs left on the contract signed at the time of purchase. If this is correct, K & C will be facing bankruptcy to get out of just the mortgage mess.

Good luck to them. Their credit will be in shambles, and they will not be able to apply for credit cards, loans, rentals etc for years. I don't know all the different bankruptcy formats, I just feel they should be doing everything they can to at least make a payment on the principle portion of their mortgage. The entire monthly payment is mostly interest at this point. Making a sincere effort to pay the principle is showing the bank you are trying to be responsible.

I’ve never worked in collections or faced collections. However, I know that sometimes a creditor will not accept a partial payment when a loan goes in default. It’s possible that their mortgage company will not allow them to only pay one months mortgage if it has gone into collections. This may explain why they don’t seem focused on catching up the mortgage payment.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[lovingthisforum]

I really am blown away by how Katie justifies her purchases. You can tell she honestly has no clue on how to be frugal. It comes off as really spoiled. I did laugh at the pine straw bit. It’s humbling to lay pine straw? My father in law is a millionaire and lived off of the lakefront in our town. He does his own yard work and works full time. Many of the wealthy people who have lakefront properties do some of their own yard work as well. That’s why these two are broke. They don’t understand that most millionaires are rich because they DON’T blow their money and they work hard. I was confused though as to why Cullen didn’t simply rake the leaves. We rake our leaves for compost and then rake the pine straw around our pine trees. It looks nice that way. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anyone put pine straw down like they did. I’ve only ever seen it circled nicely around trees.

Edited: When I think about it, I do see people use pine straw but to lay around their garden or do a small area. It seems like such a large area they did. Like, why not care for the yard instead of spending money to cover up leaves?

She doesn't even have to suffer, only sacrifice a couple of things, be realistic and sensible. Cancel a couple of big things that safe money easily and efficiently. The pine straw was a waste of money and in the same time they laid it out they could have raked the leaves. But luckily Gaines will have an umbrella for when they lose the roof above their head.

[Boymomma123]

Katie is obviously just addicted to shopping and the instant gratification you get from purchasing items. If they hadn't started this debt series she would have run right out and bought Gaines that overpriced $25 fox umbrella. I understand wanting to give your kids the world but they benefit more from being told no. I really just don't agree with giving super young kids money for helping with everyday chores. There are other ways to teach kids the value of money. This was just Katie's way of fulfilling her shopping addiction and continue to spoil Gaines. This is just another way they show their bias towards Gaines. All the money they gave to Gaines for "chores" they could have used to buy Brooks the rain boots he actually needed. Not that there is anything wrong with buying them used the way she did but it just highlights the favoritism. She is a child, talk her out of the fox umbrella and find a less expensive one that would really be teaching her a lesson. Find one that is half the price and teach her about saving the rest of the money. But no its Gaines world and she has to have anything and everything she wants or desires the moment she thinks it.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[Playsinrain]

I get that Katie shows favorites with Gaines but I see nothing wrong with letting Gaines save her money she earns from chores to buy something she wants. They are teaching her about saving money and having to work to earn money. It’s better than in the past where they would have just bought it no questions asked.

[sweetlace]

They bought them late valentines presents????? They got them Frozen 2 already for $19.99?!? Are their children seriously this entitled that they expect presents for every single holiday? I cannot even have an ounce of sympathy for them and their broke woes. First thing they should have cut when budgeting is purchases exactly like this!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[FakingIt_MakingIt]

They bought them late valentines presents????? They got them Frozen 2 already for $19.99?!? Are their children seriously this entitled that they expect presents for every single holiday? I cannot even have an ounce of sympathy for them and their broke woes. First thing they should have cut when budgeting is purchases exactly like this!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Didn't they say thanks to Grandberry on there? Im pretty sure theyre gifts from her, they likely got them at Sophia's b-day party this past weekend.

[Ducklings4]

While I see your point that Gaines should be able to earn her money and spend it as she wants, that is what got her parents into financial trouble. I believe they should teach her to spend her money wisely. Does she want the umbrella because she needs an umbrella or because she likes the Fox aspect? If she needs an umbrella are there cheaper options? Teaching someone to earn money is not managing money. Katie and Cullen need to learn to manage their money and while they’re at it teach their kids to manage it as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Playsinrain]

While I see your point that Gaines should be able to earn her money and spend it as she wants, that is what got her parents into financial trouble. I believe they should teach her to spend her money wisely. Does she want the umbrella because she needs an umbrella or because she likes the Fox aspect? If she needs an umbrella are there cheaper options? Teaching someone to earn money is not managing money. Katie and Cullen need to learn to manage their money and while they’re at it teach their kids to manage it as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you look at it that way then anything a child her age is gonna want to save her money for is frivolous and unneeded. Are we expecting her to save up her money she earns to catch up the mortgage? Buy groceries? She’s a kid. Let her save her money for what she deems important. It’s still instilling the same value. All kids are going to want toys games and movies. If she wants the umbrella she has to work for it and save. Just my opinion though...

[FakingIt_MakingIt]

While I see your point that Gaines should be able to earn her money and spend it as she wants, that is what got her parents into financial trouble. I believe they should teach her to spend her money wisely. Does she want the umbrella because she needs an umbrella or because she likes the Fox aspect? If she needs an umbrella are there cheaper options? Teaching someone to earn money is not managing money. Katie and Cullen need to learn to manage their money and while they’re at it teach their kids to manage it as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you look at it that way then anything a child her age is gonna want to save her money for is frivolous and unneeded. Are we expecting her to save up her money she earns to catch up the mortgage? Buy groceries? She’s a kid. Let her save her money for what she deems important. It’s still instilling the same value. All kids are going to want toys games and movies. If she wants the umbrella she has to work for it and save. Just my opinion though...

While I am not a fan of Cullen & Katie at the moment, and I don't agree with much of their approach to their finances I do think teaching Gaines to earn money for things she wants is a great thing. Its really the first step to teaching any child the value of money. And given that in the past Katie would have just went out and bought it for her? This is great. I think theyre really over paying her for the "chores" but whatever, at least she's learning if she wants something she needs to work for it.

[Boymomma123]

Most of my issue with the umbrella is that these chores they have paid her for just seem like a way for Katie to make sure Gaines has enough money to buy her umbrella.

I have not issue with them encouraging her to save her own money and I think it is great. However they paid he for chores that most 5-6 year old are expected to do without being paid. They also came up with the ideas for her to do chores and be paid it seems. It's not like she spontaneously offered to do the chores and they surprised her with money for her help. I think they are going to end up creating a monster with this whole chores thing and she will expect to be paid for any chore she does. Plus they also cannot pay their bills so can they really afford to be paying their kids for basic chores?

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[Ducklings4]

While I see your point that Gaines should be able to earn her money and spend it as she wants, that is what got her parents into financial trouble. I believe they should teach her to spend her money wisely. Does she want the umbrella because she needs an umbrella or because she likes the Fox aspect? If she needs an umbrella are there cheaper options? Teaching someone to earn money is not managing money. Katie and Cullen need to learn to manage their money and while they’re at it teach their kids to manage it as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you look at it that way then anything a child her age is gonna want to save her money for is frivolous and unneeded. Are we expecting her to save up her money she earns to catch up the mortgage? Buy groceries? She’s a kid. Let her save her money for what she deems important. It’s still instilling the same value. All kids are going to want toys games and movies. If she wants the umbrella she has to work for it and save. Just my opinion though...

While I am not a fan of Cullen & Katie at the moment, and I don't agree with much of their approach to their finances I do think teaching Gaines to earn money for things she wants is a great thing. Its really the first step to teaching any child the value of money. And given that in the past Katie would have just went out and bought it for her? This is great. I think theyre really over paying her for the "chores" but whatever, at least she's learning if she wants something she needs to work for it.

You hit the nail on the head, they over paid her for her chores. Like her mom, she is not going to learn the value of a dollar or a hard days work. The fact that Cullen and Katie repeatedly called that work humbling was nauseating. Gaines wants the umbrella, she will get the umbrella. There will be no discussion about once you spend that money it’s gone, if you decide you want xyz you won’t be able to buy it. Now if they did that I would say yes let Gaines spend her money the way she wants to spend it. Also do Cullen and Katie have an envelope dedicated to pay the kids for their chores? That is another aspect they need to tho k about. When you’re in as much debt as they are, you have to watch and budget every penny even what you pay the kids for “chores”.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Playsinrain]

All this is a matter of parenting opinions. Some of us think allowance is good, other don’t agree, some say she’s getting too much money, others don’t agree with that either. This point comes down to opinion and isn’t something we can ever agree on, it’s one of those non point kinda things for me. There will always be differing opinions on it. No need to argue for the sake of arguing here. I will say that I’m not sure what kinda “hard days work” you think a 5 year old should do for a couple bucks but I feel like helping out around the house is worth it to me anyway... we have no idea if there will be a discussion about when the money is gone it’s gone, but I assume that’s a conversation that has to happen weather they want to have it or not. When she wants another toy after she buys the umbrella she will have to save up for it! Unless they are sneaking money into her piggy bank and not telling her or anyone how it got there, seeing the empty piggy bank will make Gaines realize the money is gone, and now she is starting over. All in all, if we agree or disagree about allowance, Katie is making her save her money to buy it herself and that’s a positive thing. I can’t talk bad about that.

Also, to answer a previous question the cameras were from grandberry, as was the boomerang Brooks was playing with this morning. Cullen mentioned it was part of the Vday stuff they got from her.

[lovingthisforum]

This is not an allowance though plus you have to see it in larger context, their attitudes haven't changed and gaines is spoiled. The useless fox umbrella is a perfect example of how Katie is giving through her shopping addiction to Gaines (and all the aspects that it contains). And the fox part is only because gaines has a temporary mood of liking foxes, but this doesn't mean you suddenly have to buy everything that exists with foxes, the only reason gaines liked that umbrella is because of the fox. If she likes foxes it means she already has stuff with foxes. Also first, it hardly rains in Alabama, so when is she going to use it? Second, she is afraid of storms, so what is she going to do with her fox umbrella outside that'll being blown away immediately? Please be aware you haven't watched them in a while, except for a couple of debt disaster videos, because disaster it is, only Katie in particular isn't treating it as such, and 'Katie' of course immediately includes Gaines for her, they are one and the same. Though maybe not so important, that's what's happening here with the fox umbrella. No sacrifices for Katie and Gaines. And buying useless stuff. Even a seemingly futile gesture of not buying something can help you with changing your general attitude. Though I don't care that much about the umbrella, it's still really unfair Brooks got less money (with excuses and rationalizations).

Also did you get a pm from someone asking how you were doing? I was the one asking that because you didn't return after your parties in the summer Anyway, glad you're alright! @playsinrain

And the money probably won't be gone because Gaines has a second piggy bank UNLIKE Brooks.

[Playsinrain]

This is not an allowance though plus you have to see it in larger context, their attitudes haven't changed and gaines is spoiled. The useless fox umbrella is a perfect example of how Katie is giving through her shopping addiction to Gaines (and all the aspects that it contains). And the fox part is only because gaines has a temporary mood of liking foxes, but this doesn't mean you suddenly have to buy everything that exists with foxes, the only reason gaines liked that umbrella is because of the fox. If she likes foxes it means she already has stuff with foxes. Also first, it hardly rains in Alabama, so when is she going to use it? Second, she is afraid of storms, so what is she going to do with her fox umbrella outside that'll being blown away immediately? Please be aware you haven't watched them in a while, except for a couple of debt disaster videos, because disaster it is, only Katie in particular isn't treating it as such, and 'Katie' of course immediately includes Gaines for her, they are one and the same. Though maybe not so important, that's what's happening here with the fox umbrella. No sacrifices for Katie and Gaines. And buying useless stuff. Even a seemingly futile gesture of not buying something can help you with changing your general attitude. Though I don't care that much about the umbrella, it's still really unfair Brooks got less money (with excuses and rationalizations).

Also did you get a pm from someone asking how you were doing? I was the one asking that because you didn't return after your parties in the summer Anyway, glad you're alright! @playsinrain

And the money probably won't be gone because Gaines has a second piggy bank UNLIKE Brooks.

I guess what I don’t understand is why people are making a big deal about what a 5 year old spends the money she saves on... so what if it’s an umbrella? Would we be so upset if she were saving it for a Barbie? Is it just bc she now likes foxes, and that’s a new thing so she doesn’t deserve to spend her money on it? It’s just a strange thing to complain about. Idk, i get that Katie has a shopping issue and that they are in dire straights right now, but now we are dictating what a child can and can’t spend her saved money on? Just seems like one of the things that back in the day people would say we were discussing bc there was nothing better to discuss. Didn’t they say that Gaines found her lost piggy bank and that’s why she has two? Possibly one that she had a long time ago, and she had another one that was more recent since she had lost the first one? I don’t see that as anything sinister. This is just one of those nit picky things that I just don’t understand the uproar over i guess. Let the kid buy what she wants with HER money. Hell, at least Cullen and Katie aren’t emptying their piggy banks for “fun money”.

I did get a pm! And thanks for asking about me I tried to send one back to that person but I don’t think it sent. First it told me I had and outgoing message and when I went back in, it was gone. I am back! Probably not as active as before but I’m here!

ETA: it rains a TON in Alabama. Sometimes we have super dry summers but winter and spring are super soggy! Currently been in flood conditions for weeks. Maybe the umbrella will help with her fears? I don’t think she’s so much scared of rain as she is thunderstorms, which are super common too.

[LittleButThere]

I am watching my 5 year old play outside right now while I am typing this, just thinking. Shes 5!! Not 15!!! One she shouldnt even be asked to lay pine straw out in the first place, or in this case basically bribed so that Cullen gets help with it to help sell his house he cant afford. While I am happy for Gaines that she got the money that she had been saving for and worked for. That was a cheap shot. Probably wouldnt have wanted to help if it was for the fact that she got what she needed for something she wanted. Also, is there tax in Alabama? Wont the umbrella be more than just the $25?

Anywho. I agree with kids helping around the house. And my kids do. But they need to keep in mind her age. And that was pissy to give brooks a different amount. They only gave him crap change to make him feel better.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[Boymomma123]

I am sorry if my posts made it sound like Gaines shouldn't want or get her umbrella. I see an issue more in Katie's actions regarding giving Gaines money. They don't really have the extra money to be paying Gaines for chores yet they made it a point to get her to do chores so they could give her money. My issue is with Katie still finding ways to shop and fulfill her shopping addiction and continuing to give Gaines all the things she wants. That is the mindset that got them into the situation in the first place. The whole family needs to shift their mindset until they dig themselves out of this whole. I don't fault Gaines for wanting something silly because she likes foxes.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[honeybear]

I haven't watched their video yet but what the hell. I know they got current so fast because they sold a lot of stuff, but how are they that far on debtris already?

Unless they included the get current in that.... but seriously wtf

Sent from my SM-G975W using Tapatalk