I think the real reason is that this is what tippers are reduced to if they want to avoid the usual hazards of being a paypig. I can't think of any other reason Phil would draw attention to such tips, unless he's THAT desperate to get the public-facing tips up.
Oh. That's it, isn't? He kept quiet about it before because he was doing fine, but now he actually needs them to be public.
I'm convinced at this point that Phil has made no steps to take advantage of the glasses gimmick by getting some that help him see but, to him, "look cool", entirely out of spite because of being made fun of for not seeing shit on screen. Because he could easily do that, and what else is stopping him? He already looks like a stupid asshole, it's not like wearing prescription glasses is going to be a downgrade in that regard. In fact, he would come across as less of a chimp because most glasses that correct ones vision don't look dumb these days.
It has to be because he knows it's grating to watch him bumble around like Mr. Magoo when he doesn't at all have to.
As for his thing with getting "donated" stuff, and Kat supposedly purchasing things, I assume that to be our fault. We talk a LOT about how Phil looks way less poor than he wants to seen as, and so he lies about his buying of consoles, games, and even his dress up gimmicks, to look more convincing. Which of course he fucks up.