This is a good reason why having an example of character creation by the author is a good idea.
The text from the book contradicts itself. From my understanding culture skills are not part of the occupation. If one cannot put points in a skill from your culture with these extra points, then, putting 10 points into Craft ,for example, hinders you from using it as a personal interest later. I will most likely allow culture skills to be raised with these points.
Edit: The skills I am most referring to are the skills from the culture that are not in your occupation. So if craft is not in your occupation but is in your culture..