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

[Scar2016]

JFC, the latest vlog - 60% of the vlog is already over babbling on about crap before they start the topic proper. Every single vlog they spend a large portion at the beginning rabbiting on about crap. If the lack of focus to get to the point in a 20 minute vlog is anything to go by no wonder their procrastination over their finances has landed them where they are.

[HashtagBlessed]

This is my attempt to make sense of their very unclear narrative, so take it with a grain of salt, BUT this is my understanding: They made roughly $28,000 for December that didn’t get paid until roughly the beginning of February. Because of the fact that they seem to spend money before they have it in hand (and I don’t believe they have 3-6 months expenses in a savings fund), they got behind on their mortgage and other bills. They sold possessions and discovered a long-lost savings account, totaling around $13K. They used this to get current on the late bills. Once the $28K landed in their account, they paid themselves $8K total for the month, and $17,883 of the remaining $20K went to paying down debt, apparently debt they have that is not linked to credit cards? That only leaves a little more than $2K towards taxes, which seems incredibly low, meaning they likely owe the IRS a good chunk of change. This seems to happen to them frequently.

Furthermore, we’ve figured out that all of the personal expenses they’ve outlined add up to WAY more than $8K a month. I thought perhaps they were paying for certain things before payroll as a business expense, but according to them all of their extra dollars went towards paying down debt. Even if you discount the money they likely owe the IRS, $28K a month is probably very unusual for them and only happens once a year. So what is their plan for the rest of the year? Do they really think they can just continue to sell stuff on Facebook?

[Liz_444]

JFC, the latest vlog - 60% of the vlog is already over babbling on about crap before they start the topic proper. Every single vlog they spend a large portion at the beginning rabbiting on about crap. If the lack of focus to get to the point in a 20 minute vlog is anything to go by no wonder their procrastination over their finances has landed them where they are.

I've noticed this too....and many yt vloggers do it when they have a "sit down" video. I FF, which sometimes is a good 1/3 of the video!

[FakingIt_MakingIt]

Im not watching this video, it will make me too frustrated lol. But from what ya'll have posted Im call BULLSH*T on Katie and Cullen. There is NO way they've truly paid that off and have an emergency savings account... If you had an emergency savings account wouldn't it be a great time to use it rather then getting behind on your mortgage?? Or when you had to put a single dollar in for gas? Theyre lying through their teeth, both of them.

This is very typical of them though, open up about something then reign it in and act like all is dandy without making real change. They're going to piss people off with this "budget" series and loose the increase in viewers they've had. Then what? They wont be able to hide a foreclosure!

[ZzzCupcakes]

I haven't watched the video but did they clarify whether the 13k get current was part of the 17k? Or are they claiming they somehow came up with 30k to get current ans pay off a large chunk of debt?

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I had the same question. On their "Debtris" sheet they currently have $17,500 filled in (if each box is $500 like they said), so I think the $13k is part of the $17k, unless they haven't been coloring the sheet in. Otherwise, I agree with everyone else here-- how the heck did they come up with $30k in 2 months to pay off their debts?! That would also mean they paid off 1/4 of their debt in 6 weeks with minimal budgeting, which I would hardly call a "debt crisis" and more of a "spending crisis."

[Boymomma123]

I haven't watched the video but did they clarify whether the 13k get current was part of the 17k? Or are they claiming they somehow came up with 30k to get current ans pay off a large chunk of debt?

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I had the same question. On their "Debtris" sheet they currently have $17,500 filled in (if each box is $500 like they said), so I think the $13k is part of the $17k, unless they haven't been coloring the sheet in. Otherwise, I agree with everyone else here-- how the heck did they come up with $30k in 2 months to pay off their debts?! That would also mean they paid off 1/4 of their debt in 6 weeks with minimal budgeting, which I would hardly call a "debt crisis" and more of a "spending crisis."

Exactly! This is not a debt crisis this is a we don't know how to manage money and can't stop spending crisis! It sounds like they were just blowing through the 8k they pay themselves a month before the debt series and had to constantly dip into the business to pay bills.

I still can't make sense though of their need to sell the mac computer right before Christmas to buy presents and groceries when they ready admitted to not paying their mortgage in November or December? How does that make sense if they have had this emergency fund. Also how do you not pay the 3400 mortgage and still not have money left out of $8000 for the month.

This whole series is one big giant lie and we all bought into it. I hope their views go back down because none of this is real and they have not given any realistic advice for others struggling to pay off debt!

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[lmmomSD]

Are you sure you are making the distinction between adsense and YT?

Adsense is how people get paid for YouTube except for sponsored videos. Sponsored videos are paid for directly by the advertisers, and Adsense is how YT pays people for allowing ads on their videos. Their policies page doesn't say anything about keeping your income private.
Going back to the umbrella debate for one quick point, I think the reason most people are upset is that it's another episode in the pattern of Katie seeing that Gaines gets what she wants and doesn't have to "go without". She wanted the umbrella, and instead of saying no, you don't need it and money is tight, they arranged for her to have enough money. If it was an isolated incident, I don't think people would have cared as much. There's nothing wrong with paying for chores (if that's your decision), or teaching kids to save for something they want. But they seem to try to arrange Gaines' life so that they don't have to say no to her. Katie's idea of "going without" is warped by privilege. Not doing gymnastics is not "going without". Not having clothing that's clean and fits, not having a stable home, or food-- that's going without. But hey, Brooks can go without karate...

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[lovingthisforum]

Are you sure you are making the distinction between adsense and YT?

Adsense is how people get paid for YouTube except for sponsored videos. Sponsored videos are paid for directly by the advertisers, and Adsense is how YT pays people for allowing ads on their videos. Their policies page doesn't say anything about keeping your income private.
Going back to the umbrella debate for one quick point, I think the reason most people are upset is that it's another episode in the pattern of Katie seeing that Gaines gets what she wants and doesn't have to "go without". She wanted the umbrella, and instead of saying no, you don't need it and money is tight, they arranged for her to have enough money. If it was an isolated incident, I don't think people would have cared as much. There's nothing wrong with paying for chores (if that's your decision), or teaching kids to save for something they want. But they seem to try to arrange Gaines' life so that they don't have to say no to her. Katie's idea of "going without" is warped by privilege. Not doing gymnastics is not "going without". Not having clothing that's clean and fits, not having a stable home, or food-- that's going without. But hey, Brooks can go without karate...

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I know. But it's forever been the case that youtubers can't share their YT-sec income but can share their adsense. Many youtubers have told this, Katie wasn't the first.

[Boymomma123]

I don't think they are allowed to share the amount they are paid for individual advertisements. Not because of the public but because companies obviously pay different influencers different amounts for the same amount of work.

Companies would make them sign a nondisclosure agreement when they agree to promote the brand. C&K are desperate and might accept the first offer a company gives them where someone that is more savvy and knows their worth as influencers might not promote a brand for less than a certain amount.

So if huggies were to sponsor them for an Instagram post they would not be allowed to discuss how much they made for that individual post. Adsense is simply yt/Google's way of paying creators.

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[yoyo16]

I haven't watched the video but did they clarify whether the 13k get current was part of the 17k? Or are they claiming they somehow came up with 30k to get current ans pay off a large chunk of debt?

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They haven’t clarified it but i assume that it does include the 13k because they included the get current amount into their total debt amount which was originally 80 something thousand (86k?) and changed the number to 100k after they disclosed that they had to get current first.



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[chloe6124]

Katie needs to take the WW sponsorship. That thing is paying huge bucks. They could wipe out the car payment with it.


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[Boymomma123]

Katie needs to take the WW sponsorship. That thing is paying huge bucks. They could wipe out the car payment with it.


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It doesn't really seem like they get a lot of big sponsors like a lot of other channels and Instagram moms. They seem to do a lot of smaller brands and get sent a lot of free toys for the kids to promote. They must not market themselves very well to brands is all I can think because she does seem to be a good candidate for weight watchers.

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[Lovethesnark]

She’d have to buy real groceries to pretend to be on weight watchers. She doesn’t have time for that.


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[GigglyMint]

Their “business” was essentially created for tax purposes. It presumably helps pay for the car, house, etc. But they have no employees and no business expenses outside of taxes. So really the rest of what they make is theirs. They’ve made that confusing by talking about paying themselves a salary but showing a salary that doesn’t cover monthly bills. They’re making it unnecessarily confusing.

[Haulnarse]

So if all their income comes in to the business, then the Business should then budget taxes, car payment (if thats a genuine business expense), business credit card, any other business expenses are paid FIRST.

Then whats left over should be split and paid as wages.


Its not bloody rocket science.

Saying they pay themselves $8k a month means nothing if you only have $5k coming in, that $5k is needed for other expenses first before it even hits an “employees” account.

My priorities when paying bills is the mortgage always comes first. ALWAYS. If shit hits the fan we still have somewhere to live. If we had debt id be paying the minimum payments next, then Insurances, Food, petrol.

Everything else is minor. Shes bitching about wasting money on her birthday?? Patting themselves on the back cos they cooked ramen and took it to eat in the car when there was a viewing vs picking up takeout. They have no idea at all. You dont have to eat at 12 noon, wait and make something when you get home, your a grown arse adult. Grab a museli bar or something.

[rosie_dalia]

I don't think they are allowed to share the amount they are paid for individual advertisements. Not because of the public but because companies obviously pay different influencers different amounts for the same amount of work.

Companies would make them sign a nondisclosure agreement when they agree to promote the brand. C&K are desperate and might accept the first offer a company gives them where someone that is more savvy and knows their worth as influencers might not promote a brand for less than a certain amount.

So if huggies were to sponsor them for an Instagram post they would not be allowed to discuss how much they made for that individual post. Adsense is simply yt/Google's way of paying creators.

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This is exactly correct. Brands typically make the "influencer" sign an NDA, so they can't disclose what they've earned. AdSense/YT/Google (all the same company, btw) don't have any such requirement. They (and ALL YTers) can divulge their AdSense income, but I think a lot of it is EGO! They don't want their YT peers to know if they are making more or less, etc. Although, some YTers are now being more honest about their YT/AdSense income.

The NDA issue is probably why Cullen and Katie gave that BIG number for their December income and didn't break down where it was coming from. I don't even recall what companies they worked with in December! That advertising didn't work. LOL!

[lmmomSD]

I don't think they are allowed to share the amount they are paid for individual advertisements. Not because of the public but because companies obviously pay different influencers different amounts for the same amount of work.

Companies would make them sign a nondisclosure agreement when they agree to promote the brand. C&K are desperate and might accept the first offer a company gives them where someone that is more savvy and knows their worth as influencers might not promote a brand for less than a certain amount.

So if huggies were to sponsor them for an Instagram post they would not be allowed to discuss how much they made for that individual post. Adsense is simply yt/Google's way of paying creators.

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That I understand. I guess it's mostly semantics. I consider making money _from YT_ to be the Adsense paycheck, while sponsorships are different, and I wouldn't consider that necessarily making money from YT. Makes sense that sponsors wouldn't want them disclosing their compensation.

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[lmmomSD]

I'm sorry, but they are the LAST people I would be taking child rearing advice from.
"Teachable moments", my ass.

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[rosie_dalia]

Today's video was 100% trolling. Who takes their kids to the mall with their piggybanks and lets them just SHOP for things they don't even need? Gaines wanted a fox umbrella, but they didn't even know if a store had one? Then why go?! Then they just suggest she buys other JUNK instead?? Is that smart?! No.

Also, these kids get TONS to toys and presents all year long. They shouldn't be shopping at ALL! The lesson should have been SAVE your $$$ for what you originally wanted. UGH!

Didn't Cullen IG story that they got presents from Grandberry just yesterday? And Katie says they are getting Easter presents soon. Jeeeez!

They are really NOT teaching them a lesson at all. If she wants a fox umbrella, then WAIT and get the damn fox umbrella!

And, they purposefully showed a new H&M bag in the backseat. What was that?

TOTAL TROLLS.

[ZzzCupcakes]

So glad they let their kid, who was complaining of not feeling well, pick his nose and then touch every toy in the mall.