Kate Gosselin got honest about how she budgets Christmas presents for eight children months after opening up about her financial woes.
The 50-year-old former reality star – who recently went Instagram official with a new boyfriend – got candid in a new TikTok post as she talked about budgeting during ‘good’ and ‘not-so-good’ years financially.
She said that it all begins in November when she asks her now adult children for wish lists so she can ‘take advantage of the holiday sales.’
Kate was previously married to Jon Gosselin from 1999 until their divorce in 2009. They share eight children: twins Cara and Madelyn, 24, and sextuplets Collin, Hannah, Joel, Aaden, Alexis and Leah, all 21.
She is currently estranged from Collin and Hannah and did not make clear whether she gives them gifts.
However, for those she does give presents too she makes sure their lists include ‘a link, size, color, an price’ as she inputs the data in a combined note on her phone.
Kate Gosselin (pictured in June 2019) got honest in a new TikTok about how she budgets Christmas presents for eight children months after opening up about her financial woes
The former Dancing With The Stars contestant will then go through the first lists to come up with an appropriate budget while trying to fit it into the parameters of all the other siblings.
However, if Kate ‘goes over’ that specific number for any of her children, she then adds more money to the budget for everyone else. She joked that going over the number happens with Leah ‘often’.
The star goes to all lengths to make sure that the gift giving is equitable as she tries to make it ‘fair to the penny’ on Christmas Day by providing a decorated box of cash, which she revealed is an idea that she got from her mother Charlene Kreider.
Kate said: ‘I know that might sound silly, but to me, fair is really important.’
The media personality concluded the informative video by revealing how her children have taken to the nuanced system.
She said: ‘Some will get $150 in their box if they don’t ask for much. It tends to work out really well and the kids are really happy.
‘Sometimes not everybody gets a square box. That means I finished your list completely and unavoidably went other a dollar or two. That usually doesn’t happen.’
Back in August, Kate gave the real reason why she is working 12-hour shifts following her reality TV stint.
The 50-year-old reality star said that it all begins in November when she asks her now adult children for wish lists so she can ‘take advantage of the holiday sales’
The TV personality – who gained recognition for appearing in the TLC series Jon & Kate Plus 8 – got candid with fans about her financial situation after uploading a TikTok video on Monday.
The star’s time on TLC came to an end when Kate Plus 8 aired its final episode in 2011.
In the clip, Kate could be seen doing dishes after working a long shift as a nurse in the pediatric field which earns about $30 an hour in most states. She later jumped to the comment section to respond to questions from fans.
When one said they thought she would be ‘set for life’ after the TLC show, Kate replied, ‘I wish. I spent sooooooo much money on attorneys. That killed us! 🙁 so sad!’
The media personality appeared to be referencing to her divorce from Jon which was finalized in December 2009.
Her request for primary custody of their eight children was granted and she also gained ownership of their family home.
But Jon later got sole custody of Collin and his sister Hannah back in 2018.
Another follower asked Kate ‘what happened with all the income from the show’ while referencing to the star’s long shifts.
Back in August, Kate gave the real reason why she is working 12-hour shifts following her reality TV stint; seen in 2019 in NYC
‘Honestly? Providing for 8 kids, college funds which I am proud to say covered all of their college and more and LAWYERS,’ she explained.
‘Sickening but I was drug into court constantly and that costs A TON. Sad bc my kids could have a lot more saved and I could have a retirement saved if it weren’t for the lawyers :(.’
However, Kate told the fan that it was ‘okay’ while adding that she is ‘helping other families and I feel needed and I enjoy helping!’
The TV personality also gave insight into her job as a nurse and stated that she works in ‘pediatric home health care.’
When one asked, ‘How long have you been a nurse for?’ Kate replied with, ’28 years. Wow. That made me feel super old to type that number.’
She also revealed that some of her children will live with her at home in between semesters at college.
In regards to what the mom-of-eight misses about her time on reality TV, Kate expressed, ‘I miss our house in Pa.
‘But mainly I miss when the kids were little. Not the stress, just their cuteness. At the time it felt like the days were long… but in hindsight it sped by. And I’m sad :(.’
When one said they thought she would be ‘set for life’ after the TLC show, Kate replied, ‘I wish. I spent sooooooo much money on attorneys. That killed us! 🙁 so sad!’
The media personality appeared to be referencing to her divorce from Jon which was finalized in December 2009; the former couple seen above on Jon & Kate Plus 8
‘Honestly? Providing for 8 kids, college funds which I am proud to say covered all of their college and more and LAWYERS,’ she explained
The TV personality also gave insight into her job as a nurse and stated that she works in ‘pediatric home health care’
Late last year in October, a source claimed that Kate was ‘hurting for money’ and ‘still trying to get a new show.’
Kate officially launched her TikTok account last month in July and has since amassed around 184K followers.
Her son Collin also recently joined the social media platform and made a heartbreaking claim last week as he reached out to his estranged siblings through an emotional message.
The college student alleged in a post that he and his siblings were ‘forced apart’ and ‘pitted against each other.’
Late last year in October, a source claimed that Kate was ‘hurting for money’ and ‘still trying to get a new show’; seen in 2019 in Pasadena
The college student alleged in a post that he and his siblings were ‘forced apart’ and ‘pitted against each other; Collin seen above
Collin included a throwback photo of himself with his brothers and sisters while adding the text, ‘Born to be a team, us against the world…’
A second slide showed the Jon & Kate Plus 8 alum in the driver’s seat of a car and he wrote, ‘Forced to do it alone, and wonder everyday what our lives could’ve looked like.’
In the caption of the post, Collin also claimed, ‘Forced apart, pitted against each other. All the fame and money in the world, but what about kids being kids?
‘I will always love them more than anything. The tears I shed behind closed doors, thinking about the memories we could’ve shared. I love you guys…’
Daily Mail has reached out to both Kate and Jon’s reps for comment.
Collin has notably been estranged from his mother Kate as well as most of his siblings for many years.
However, he is close to his father Jon – who got sole custody of Collin and his sister Hannah back in 2018.
One TikTok user questioned if Collin still has a close relationship with his sister Hannah, to which he replied, ‘Yes I just her today!
‘She was worried her car wouldn’t pass inspection so I was looking at it for her. She’s so funny and I love her sm. It makes my day whenever I see her, but we’re both so busy with work, school etc.’
Collin included a throwback photo of himself with his brothers and sisters while adding the text, ‘Born to be a team, us against the world…’
A second slide showed the Jon & Kate Plus 8 alum in the driver’s seat of a car and he wrote, ‘Forced to do it alone, and wonder everyday what our lives could’ve looked like’
One TikTok user questioned if Collin still has a close relationship with his sister Hannah, to which he replied, ‘Yes I just her today!’
Another typed, ‘if you choose to have kids one day and be involved, you’ll understand your mother more.’
Collin responded to the fan by claiming that he suffered both ‘physical and emotional abuse’ by his mother ‘while having to be an animal in her circus on tv.’
He added, ‘Being locked up, isolated, zip tied. Being sent away because I didn’t fit into an equation.
‘Having one visit from her after being completely cut off with no contact at 12 years old, in which the whole visit was her telling me how I deserved the situation I was in because I “destroyed our family.” Yeah I’m sorry, but I will never “understand” that. I will break the cycle that she couldn’t.’
Last year in September, Collin claimed that his mother Kate ‘zip-tied his arms and legs and locked him in basement as a child’ during an interview with The U.S. Sun.
Collin responded to the fan by claiming that he suffered both ‘physical and emotional abuse’ by his mother ‘while having to be an animal in her circus on tv’
And back in 2023 on Vice TV’s Dark Side of the 2000s, he talked about being sent away at the age of 12 to an institution, and alleged that his mother, Kate, did so to prevent him from discussing how he was being treated at home.
He also claimed last year that he was ‘discharged’ from the Marines due to Kate sending him to the behavioral institution in 2016.
On TikTok, Collin also confirmed that he is in the process of writing a book, which he called ‘an exciting opportunity.’
Earlier this year in March, Collin announced his new career venture and revealed he established a power-washing company in Pennsylvania, which he has ‘officially filed as an LLC.’
The new career path came less than a year after he announced his discharge from the Marines, for which he blamed on his estranged mother Kate for sending him to a behavioral institution in 2016 when he was just 12.
