DE-INFLUENCING *MORE* OF YOUR HOLIDAY WISHLISTS | ep. 2 ANTI-HAUL

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

Happy Holidays, everyone! Head to squarespace.com/caranicole to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using caranicole

[@phthalojohan]

Definitely agree. I always had this huge suspicion that these advent calendars were just a way for manufacturers to burn through a year's worth of inventory of tiny goods they can't sell. (And there is a strong loot box mentality there, that we are overjoyed with the 2 - 3 "good" items and have nearly forgotten about the other 20+ items worth of junk we hadn't wanted)

[@janisir4529]

My parents used to get me chocolate advent calendars. They weren't particularly good chocolate.

[@EurydiceAllAlong]

I worked at Target in the beauty section and our store had a free sample table (that was the bane of our existence) we usually ended up with tons of samples nobody wanted so they just took up space. We had a random brand ambassador come in for a hair line and leave behind tons of reusable bags so a coworker and I shoved those things full of the unwanted samples and now because people were getting like 10 samples per bag they were going like crazy and we got rid of everything in record time. Sometimes it really is quantity > quality.

[@katiekotok505]

5:56 my mom has a wooden advent calendar tree, where for each day you add the wooden ornament to it. We use it every year and I love it!

[@jackiew.9470]

I think the miniature discussion could have an overall theme of why we waste money on "cuteness" I feel like you may have touched on this in another video before (??) But literally that is the pull for me. I have to constantly debate whether I will be buying something from the miniverse Hello Kitty collection 😂

[@FravelBagel]

Yeah minis are adorable. Fortunately I'm able to get my fix simply by looking at other people's. 😅

[@KRMurdy]

We've had an obsession with miniatures for centuries. The first dollhouses were owned by adult aristocratic men in the 1600s

[@Brianna58321]

Trinket collection has a long history, the problem is the scale of consumption and the fact we no longer pass on dolls or create and repair them ourselves. I started collecting Mofusand cats and Sanrio decor and had to force myself to stop after a while when I looked at the sheer number of unnecessary purchases I was making on decor :/ I was rather proud of myself recently for resisting buying a hello kitty keychain I really liked. Just unnecessary. I can appreciate a screenshot as much as a solid figure and without the disadvantage of losing the money I could save.

[@duck8049]

Yessss I love collectibles. I actually disagree with her pov. We’ve been collectors for years! Centuries people love to collect cute stuff! Or things that are special to them. Trading cards, makeup, shoes, ties, cars. It can be anything

[@duck8049]

@@Brianna58321yes! It’s good to see what you like the best and refrain from buying everything in the collection

[@jmsl_910]

to our america friends: use your library!!! nation-wide library budgets are on the chopping block. many will close entirely. others are greatly reducing hours...

[@ylondes9927]

So european libraries should just go bankrupt?? 🥺😂

[@jmsl_910]

@ oh dear: i'm unlearned about the library situation outside of america. no bad intentions here...

[@Gr95dc]

@ylondes9927 ... are european libraries getting defunded?

[@janisceline]

I'm a librarian from Germany and I also encourage everyone to use libraries, if available! Many public libraries do not receive enough funding, and this amount decreases every year. My library receives less funding each year because my city wants to save money, and apparently, we are not that important.

[@jmsl_910]

@de5072 ty 🤍📚🤍

[@melonyrobinson9944]

With books, the key is to read library books, and then if the books are good enough to reread, buy one with a pretty cover to actually have

[@Cevalip]

That's what I do - people think its a little weird that I buy the books afterwards🫣😂

[@airiin6134]

Or buy second hand books! I’ve gotten a 1€ copy of a classic in a market recently

[@Cevalip]

@@airiin6134 that's great! I need to go to a book market if if can find one - people selling used books online tend to price them so that with shipping it ends up costing the same as a new one, sadly. I do want to do better for the environment too, but I do feel a little silly when looking at it through an economic lens😅🤔

[@clawwestfall8799]

I get why people buy books, you want to show support for authors that you like...

[@andreysegura2510]

But isn't that consumerism? You read the book already? Do you really need to buy it? How likely is it that you'll read it again? I have some books that I've read several times, but it isn't necessarily every book that I've liked

[@averycutecat1852]

I got so tired that every US holiday seems to be centered at buying. Nowadays before making any purchase (except necessities like food, etc.) , my first thought is that after I no longer exist, those plastics, parts of the products, will probably continue to exist another hundreds of years.

[@AskMiko]

12:52 dissecting the mini craze would be interesting. I think it's a result of people who didn't have enough play time as a kid or weren't allowed to creatively play with toys (think tech toys being normalized) and adults are rediscovering how important play time is

[@plasticwrapofdoom]

This is a good point. I think it's also an extension of millennials' obsession with childlike things overall. Things like legos, action figures, etc.

[@vi-anhnguyen1134]

One way i try to be conscious with chocolate is looking for brands that are ethical and tasty. Tony's Chocolonelys is one I really like as an example

[@kirsten2023]

I love this brand of chocolate👌🏽

[@fullmooneve1651]

I've used my asda points yo get it for Xmas. The white choc and raspberry is lush 🤤😂

[@Brianna58321]

@@fullmooneve1651I had no idea asda stocked this!! I’ll have to get on it xx

[@nyahcan]

i am curious on your thoughts of “collecting” and what can be an ethical way of collecting, with “trinkets” being all the rage at the moment especially popmart and sonny angels. i think it would be an interesting topic to delve into and would really help i a lot of people especially myself!

[@holdencornfield472]

I need to be deinfluenced from collecting interesting jewelry like I don’t even wear them I just want them

[@nothankyou7979]

Me with my antique compacts lol … I did clean up some of them to refill, but so many ended up being display collectibles 🥲

[@allennewhausen2541]

The last advent calendar I got that I was truly into was an advent calendar jigsaw puzzle. It's just a regular 1,000 piece puzzle, but instead of all the pieces coming in one bag, every day you open a box that has one ~50 piece section of the puzzle, so every day you get to do a little bit of a jigsaw puzzle. At the end of Advent, you still have the puzzle, and it still works, so the random waste is kept to a minimum, and if you put the pieces back into the little boxes, it's also reusable in future years! I haven't actually remembered to get it out again since the first time I did it a couple years ago, however, so I can't comment on whether it's actually as fun the second time around as I think it is, but I don't see why it wouldn't be.

[@TripleBcraftsandcrochet]

that's a really cool idea for an advent calender

[@kriichan6100]

That segment about stuffed animals is so real. I used to be obsessed with just buying one I thought looked cute but now I have no room for them. I have to apologise to them whenever I have to move them from my bed to my beanbag. When I get my own place I'll have room for them but for now I just appreciate the ones I have and won't get anymore unless they're given to me.

[@lorenasandoval75]

I have a miniature addiction 😓 and yes after a while it gets annoying to display them and clean the shelf and take it down carefully to not lose a piece. And then I need to put them away in a box if I don’t have enough space. But I’ve decided to finally stop with that. You should do a video on this!

[@kimc181]

Springboarding off of the discussion of minatures and trinkets, I'd love to see a video specifically on blind boxes! It feels like blind box toys and trinkets have exploded a ton in recent years and honestly it's kind of mind boggling how much people will spend on them.

[@TripleBcraftsandcrochet]

when i was like 9 or 10 years old, lol doll blind bags were all the rage. now, I have a ton of lol dolls that I don't know what to do with.

[@ShroomieCrossing]

Blind bags are so infuriating. Let me buy what I want.

[@iTzDritte]

Sunscreen in the US is regulated like a drug (by the FDA) and not a cosmetic, which is why the technology for producing US sunscreen is still from the 70s. That’s why sunscreen from basically anywhere else (but especially Japan) is so much better.

[@braxsensindelar1910]

Former Bath and Body Works employee here! There are two sales I recommend getting candles - Candle Day and Semi Annual Sale. Candle Day is usually ~$10 for three wick candles, which is the lowest price of the year in December. Semi Annual Sale, while not the cheapest to get candles, has candle scents that aren't available as frequent for a still great price. Sometimes 75% off.

[@KristenZianourry2015]

Well I have gotten $6 3 wick candles during the semi annual sale which is cheaper than $10 🤷‍♀️

[@materialgworl2394]

Yesss the buy 1 get one free sales or the buy three get three that happen in my area's bath and body works are the only time I have ever bought something

[@braxsensindelar1910]

​@@materialgworl2394if they ever have $4.95 or $5.95 (I don't remember the exact price) for body care, get it 👏👏👏 i mention this because I know those sales too haha

[@brendazanotti4026]

girl, i've been loving theses videos! have you ever thought about making videos deinfluencing lastest trends regularly through the year? i'm sure it'll help alot, my wallet for sure would appreciate it

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

Thank you so much!! So glad you’re enjoying these videos 🤩 And yes!! Seeing how much people are enjoying these last 2 deinfluencing wishlist videos, I think I’ll try doing them throughout the year so we can capture trends as they change month to month!

[@deedreamerify]

I started watching your stuff because I was getting very tempted by shein and temu and you happened to pop up with a video on one of them. Stumbling upon this corner of KZbin has definitely had a positive influence on me as this Christmas I had a list of what I planned to gift everyone and I STUCK TO THE LIST!! I also thought to collect the brown packing paper from parcels and a little bit of string as cute rustic wrapping paper 🎉

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

yay i'm so glad to hear that!! Merry Christmas!

[@kirsten2023]

Lately, I’ve seen people buying sooo many blind boxes. It’s insane!

[@sardonicprincess]

its just gambling but you get a tacky item out of it. thats why i go on secondhand sites to get what i actually wanted in the set

[@fabtrash]

​@@sardonicprincess Same ! I suck at gambling (i never get the figure i want) so i instead search if someone is selling it second hand. I know most people like blind boxes because you don't know what you're gonna get, but i'd prefer just buying the figure i want.

[@anabritelora]

I will say one “trinket” collection I’ve developed over the past couple years has been lapel pins. I attend lots of Broadway tours (tours and the occasional NYC trip) and I found I love them as souvenirs because they’re on the lower end of the cost spectrum and they’re SMALL. And despite the money that adds up getting them at roughly $10 on average, I get so much joy out of growing the collection (not just shows, but also other places, events, fun unique ones I find secondhand or at local shops, and ones I found that I got years ago). I absolutely love how it evolved from a few on a sash, to a small wall display, and after I outgrew that space, I moved them to a jean jacket that I got at the thrift store but didn’t wear often, so now I hang it on the back of a chair in my room so I can look over to it whenever:)

[@mihaelatab1039]

YES! Please make a dedicated miniatures video 😂! I love miniatures, but I don't buy these kind of miniatures because I know how wasteful they are. They're a very cute form of art... The same way some people like to have oversized common objects as decor.

[@fullmooneve1651]

Definitely preferable to watch videos instead of buying them 😂

[@JamieMittman]

Please I bought mini brands and now I'm trying to think of what to do with them. Purse Keychain?

[@mihaelatab1039]

I don't know how fond you are of DIY, but if it were me, I'd probably glue them to the things I use the most, like on a pen or at the end of a spatula (though it may not make it dishwasher safe anymore) or on a diary cover or on a wallet... Anything I would use often that would make me see and appreciate them more. Or I'd create a miniature display with all of them, but you may end up purchasing more if you do that. ..Keychain is a great idea too! Have fun discovering what to do with it! 💡

[@cheerfulremorse]

​@JamieMittman Turn them into jewelry? Like a necklace pendant, or earrings if you have doubles. That's what I'm doing now that I'm done collecting.

[@penguin1780]

Yes to a miniature video. I have been in love with mini things my whole life.

[@braxsensindelar1910]

As a former college student, I highly recommend Hoopla and Libby for reading. It's an online library with a huge array of titles. I found some books I'm shocked they even had and was able to read before I purchased for my own bookshelf. I use both of these applications becaus you can stack the amount you checkout if you read a lot (but I don't read that much haha) Hope this helps!

[@PaolaPonce-ec7tm]

do you have to pay for a subscription or something like that?

[@risxra]

@PaolaPonce-ec7tm nope! You sign in through your local library and you get access to that library’s catalog of audiobooks for free :)

[@PaolaPonce-ec7tm]

@@risxra thank you! I wish we had libraries so I could use it...😭

[@braxsensindelar1910]

​@risxra thank you for adding onto my thoughts. I use Hoopla a lot and I hope it helps others.

[@caitlyn.m.t9618]

I find spending rules helps me, especially when it comes to hobbies. I enjoy reading, but I won't let myself buy more than a certain amount of books per month, and if any book cost above a certain amount of money, it counts as two. It works not just because you have a limit, but it forces you to plan ahead of what books to get, and makes you think about the books that you are going to buy. It keeps me from impulse buying as well, and keeps me excited to read the books I have. Since there is thought behind the books I am buying, I am not having books collecting dust on the shelf because I am not buying them just to have them.

[@alyssiataylor546]

Someone told me they were buying random gifts for some ppl just so they got gifts and I was like ???? What's the point? It's not even a sincere gift. It's just consumerism!! I literally opted out of my work's secret Santa bc I didn't want to buy useless junk nor did I want to receive it lmao

[@skoda9635]

Aren't you looking a bit anti-social by doing this (opting out of Secret Santa activity)? I did my best to buy my colleague a convenient gift (he likes chili and brings his own everywhere, so I got him a keychain with a small storage for chili powder - it's entirely made of aluminum and built to last). Cara should definitely make practical Secret Santa gifts video for the next holiday season.

[@alyssiataylor546]

@skoda9635 It was for multiple teams, and I hadn't met most of the others. I didn't want to end up having to gift someone I didn't have _some_ sort of connection with, nor have someone get me random stuff just bc they have to. I'm particular about what I bring into my home, so it's a waste imo. I really like my coworkers/team, but I just want to go to work and go home after lmao.

[@singularlyinepthuman]

See the proliferation of "novelty" gift sets. They're literally made for people like that to randomly gift. Don't know what to get someone? Here's a bauble shaped bottle of bath stuff in festive gingerbread and pine fragrance! No-one ever wants or uses this crap, it's just stuff for the sake of stuff.

[@alyssiataylor546]

@@skoda9635 I think YT deleted my comment, but I basically said I hadn't even met most of the people bc it was a big party for a few different teams. They're all v nice, but I refuse to spend money on someone I have no relationship with, just for the sake of gift giving.

[@heavenjelic]

I'm the one that asked about the Smiskis! You did pronounce them right, as far as I know. Thank you so much for the ideas, I like the idea of switching out the phone background with different Smiskis :]

[@heavenjelic]

Also, for those who struggle with a mini trinket obsession but also want a new hobby, I highly suggest picking up clay art! It lets you make your own mini things while doing something crafty without the gambling aspect that comes with mini blind boxes

[@pinboy-lh4qv]

​​This! I have a Pinterest board of every cute thing under the sun that I want to refer to when I make them out of clay in the future. I currently satisfy my cute craving with crochet. I plan on getting into clay art next year when I have more disposable income to spend on supplies. Both these hobbies are not dirt cheap or whatever, but you gain skills, praise, satisfaction and have full control over what the end product looks like, feels like etc. That freedom and power is pretty addicting too! Just note that you should do good research to prep and choose absolute beginner projects to start off and manage expectations. Otherwise you will give up right after starting.

[@21cormorants]

I agree on so much - except the winter gear. 😂 the cold weather will go away, sure, but where I’m at, it’s COLD from November to April. No way am I skimping on winter gear! And sadly most pairs of secondhand winter boots I’ve given a go have been blister apocalypses, leaky, or just uncomfortable in unpredictable ways; you were left pretty certain why they were donated in the first place. I ended up having to cry twice, buy twice. (If I’d just bought a good pair for the same amount as two cheap pairs, things would have gone better.) I’m sure that in many warmer climates winter is just a moment, an excuse for a shift in the wardrobe, but for many it’s a constant struggle against the elements that truly requires investing in good gear. Knowing your non-negotiables on winter gear can be a huge help, but you only come to know them through experience. (Ie fora coat: inner sleeve cuffs to block the wind/snow from going up your sleeves, a hood, coat long enough to cover bum if sitting at a bus stop, inner pockets, outer pockets at an angle and deep enough to stash gloves and possibly your hat, placket over zipper, good loft, lightweight. For boots, it might be minimal heel, excellent treads, zipper access, knee-high, and easy to waterproof and maintain, double stitched soles, etc.) Once you know what you won’t compromise on, even if you pay more for the item you get, you know it’ll serve you well through the season for multiple years, and you won’t be buying repeatedly trying to figure out what is/isn’t working. But overall I agree with most other points! Just the winter one - if you’re in a winter climate, I think it’s a good move to invest wisely. If you’ve ever been stranded at a bus stop in a blizzard, or even in a car, it’s truly a safety concern.

[@lischiAK]

You should really look into the whole Honey thing that has been discovered and maybe make a video on it. Not sure if they sponsored you once and you can't talk about it but if you can its insane! I would love your opinion on the whole issue of "if a product is free - you are the product"-thing.

[@TripleBcraftsandcrochet]

same thing with pie (the adblocker) that is in youtube ads everywhere, it's by the same dude that helped make honey, also a scam.

[@manipulativebunny3373]

As someone who both asked for and received miniverse things for Christmas, I love all types of crafts and I so find these especially worth it! I loved the spa collection especially because everything is usable and I’d rather receive these super fun and cute easy and quick bite size crafts than spend so much more on larger craft supplies and never use them!

[@heavenjelic]

I recall from a video that people's obsession with miniature things or toy-likes comes from the concept of "healing your inner child"! I'd love to see you talk about it. EDIT: I think it was Answer in Progress' video that mentioned this! They covered blind boxes in general but mini trinkets like Smiski has been mentioned.

[@AHulst]

My favourite advent calendar is the Exit Escape Room calendar. It has become a fun tradition that my husband and I enjoy together. For about $60 CDN, we get to do a little puzzle together each day and follow a fun story. We still talk about our advent calendar from 2 years ago.

[@JohnTohme]

The Aisan skin care is a thing that is something I have been noticing for a while especially with Korean thing ( no offense to Korean people or the country I think that they have some amazing products but not everything is perfect). Like it sometimes feels like influencer just add Korean to a skincare product and it goes viral.

[@Brianna58321]

Yup. ‘Hallyu wave’ has created this odd association between ‘Korean’ness and perfection, particularly for diet and skincare products. Eg Wonyoungism which has been connected to disordered eating and colourist forums. The same has been ongoing for Japanese media and consequently Japanese day-to-day consumerism since the early 2000s. I think it’s sad. We seem to never get over glorifying certain identities and seem to never realise how it always comes back to consumerism. It’s not the £50 serum, it’s genetics and a lifetime of UV protection and outright avoidance.

[@JohnTohme]

@Brianna58321 that's a really good way to put it. Better than me 😅. But my only question is if its like a trend were in like in 10 years we r gonna talk about Vietnam (example) the same way we talk about Korea

[@shouyume]

I think a miniature things segment would be great, I almost bought a mini version of a get a hug bear a bit ago! But also, there is a market for the Miniverse items because there are doll house hobbyists who appreciate the fact that there exists finally a wide selection of miniature items to complete their dioramas. It used to be they would have to find doll hobby specialists to either make the items for them or try to make them themselves, and while I do think it’s important to support small businesses, I can also understand that this brings the hobby into a more affordable price range for them.

[@JustAlex1795]

The fact that there's a $100,000 advent calendar (basically a random loot box) should surprise me... but it doesn't. I just wonder how many sales they actually generated on that

[@wendyamsterdam8482]

There are plenty of extremely rich chinese, russians, arabs that would like that to show off

[@janisceline]

Yeah I can't believe anyone would buy that

[@MartynaMatyszczyk]

For a couple of years now, my kid has been getting a regular advent calendar with mini chocolates, and my husband and I have been buying each other tea and coffee calendars (tea for him, coffee for me). I absolutely LOVE the thrill of trying a new flavour of coffee every day for nearly a month! Plus there's absolutely nothing left over after Christmas to collect dust and annoy me (visual chaos brings out the worst in me).

[@graceelizabeth130]

18:02 My mum has it. I've used it on the dog and it's honestly just a hairdryer. I have a shark one - does the same thing. I have a £20 hairdryer also and it does the same thing. No difference in time or style of my hair

[@KimandKamJam]

I actually did get an advant calendar for my son this year because he was so excited for Christmas. It's a disney story advant, and i got it from 5 below for $5 👍

[@kristaw206]

As a fan of mini makeup, I'm ok with little samples and such, especially if the box is cute enough to reuse! That being said 1 would be enough for me.

[@thepainteduniverse3648]

I just heard that Lindt dark chocolate has lead and other heavy metals in it (per Consumer Reports). Apparently a lot of chocolate brands do. Won’t be buying any until I look into that a little more. 😬😱🍫

[@lrm1218]

yey just in time for breakfast

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

enjoy breakfast :)

[@sarina.soulrr]

Amazing video! And yes, I would love to see a video of you talking about and dissecting deeper meanings of trinkets.

[@coryascott]

Leather isn’t produced for the fashion industry, it’s always a byproduct of the food product the animal is mostly being raised for. Demand for leather has actually gone down in recent years, but demand for meat has not. So that just means more material is wasted since they aren’t growing the animal for the leather

[@skoda9635]

That's a weird economy. Shouldn't it cause the leather price to decrease (low demand) since the supply is high enough to boost the demand? Or is it not worth it for them to manufacture the leather products for a lower price?

[@Dancinglemon]

That’s a really good point, not using leather for clothing is in itself a form of waste. I find it much more insulting to an animal to waste parts of it if it’s still going to be killed. My other problem with removing leather from the fashion industry is that it’s replacement is basically just plastic. It’s not better for the environment.

[@fletch2117]

That is NOT accurate. Leather is a coproduct and leather production is not about minimizing waste-it’s about profit. Buying leather contributes to horrific torture and abuse; many cows are skin and bones and killed specifically to be made into jackets, bags, and shoes. A lot leather comes from China so you may also be unknowingly getting mislabeled dog skin. If you can tolerate knowing that calves are sometimes cut from their mother's wombs for your calfskin bag, consider the damage to our earth caused by animal agriculture. There are multiple vegan leathers that are cruelty-free and nearly indistinguishable from animal leather (pineapple, mushroom, cactus, corn, flower, apple peal.) The world is waking up to the horrors inflicted on sentient beings and alternatives are growing more common every day.

[@fletch2117]

@@Dancinglemon There are multiple vegan leathers that are cruelty-free and nearly indistinguishable from animal leather (pineapple, mushroom, cactus, corn, flower, apple peal.) Buying leather is directly contributing to horrific violence and suffering.

[@this_is_valeria]

i want a video about miniatures and collections in general. ive been strugling with it sooo much and sometimes now have craving to start a collection (stamps, pokemon cards, books, tshirts with rock bands, funko pop, miniatures, jewellery, coins, tickeets and so on). i just listed my personal collections some times ago. than time pasts and it all lay in the boxes and collect dust :(

[@spokenwordpoetries]

Just a note to everyone: I grew up shopping secondhand, and I know that it is necessary for some and a deliberate choice for others. That said, buying shoes secondhand can be bad for your feet because the shoes have molded to the other person's foot. Do some research for yourself to be sure. Saving money isn't worth it if it leads to greater issues down the line. Of course, some things are given away without ever being worn, and it depends on if someone is willing to trade the time for the savings.

[@emilyking9558]

LOVE the message to consider the impact animal products. ❤❤

[@fletch2117]

Wish more people would consider this! Representatives for animal agriculture are out in full force trying to sway the narrative. There is NO humane animal agriculture/slaughter.

[@judasdubois]

Thankfully you left my coffee addiction alone. And I agree with you on chocolate and your choices. Though I like the peppermint bark more than the mint.

[@nothankyou7979]

Omg i‘m here within the first hour? Heck yeah! ✨ Thanks for making this video just in time for Xmas and happy holidays, Cara! 🤗

[@bibop7645]

Omg, I had a smiskis addiction. I recently just sold my collection and kept only 1 out of 20. Those little guys are so expensive too and they are all blind boxes. So I was paying $$$ for some figures that I didn't even like. It felt like a gambling addiction opening those boxes.

[@witchko]

as a doll collector, i thought the miniatures were perfect as accessories for my dolls. but i had no ideas that they would get this popular with like normal people?? its kind of insane? like, what are you doing with those tiny things if you dont have a little doll to use them... ???

[@alexandbao]

After Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, hundreds of stuffed Paddington Bears were donated by the public to commemorate her. A PSA had to be put out for ppl to stop donating the bears because stuffed animals are a big environmental baggage. Most (if not all) are made of polyester plastic. It’s a shame because of the cute and desirable nature of stuffed animals.

[@BeautyfromNature]

"More than 1,000 Paddington bears which had been left as tributes to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II have been donated to children supported by Barnardo’s. Each of the bears which were left in memory of the Queen earlier this year has been professionally cleaned and given its own label detailing the special journey it has been on."

[@alexandbao]

@ aw that was sweet of them!

[@christinedavis7462]

I bought a kids' trinket advent calendar a couple years ago (mini Thomas trains), and every year, I cram the toys back in and we bring it out again next year! It's been a fun tradition and you don't have to buy a new one each year!

[@TheMork]

Hey Cara, +1 for a video on the mini figurines - I'm absolutely baffled by them and would be interested in a longer video from you.

[@katie-allen]

It would be interesting if she interviewed a few different people who like them about what the appeal is. Because I’m like you and I don’t get it at all. Why would I want some piece of plastic junk in my living space? No appeal to me. But I know so many love them

[@TheMork]

@@katie-allen Answer In Progress did a video on them recently that went into the psychology behind them, but I'd still be interested in Cara's perspective. I find them super weird!

[@katie-allen]

@@TheMork ooh I’ll have to check that out, thanks!

[@iTzDritte]

I thought that was Cara on the red carpet for a second in the intro lol 😂 one day

[@jerseygurl63]

Make the mini video, please! Help me understand why do I like miniature versions of every day objects 😳

[@AyaaAcademia]

I also think the entire concept of waiting until a certain time of the year to purchase or ask for things on your wishlist contributed to overconsumption. i found that I do less impulse-buying when I buy things as I go. I no longer wait for occasion like birthdays or christmas to buy what I want/need. It gives me more time to mull over those decisions. Holiday wishlists are often built months before Christmas and the anticipation built up so much that often when there's a huge sale, people overconsume because a)they've been waiting so long and b)they didn't want to miss out on the sale

[@BlueBobbin]

Please talk about the Honey scam 😮

[@horusthreesixteen3843]

WOW did not know Advent calendars have gotton that crazy! Mind U the best one I've ever seen was last month at a pot shop in the Six Nations on the Grand River - a 420 Advent Calendar...🤪🤣

[@nymeriawulf2247]

that's why my mom used reusable advent calendars and filled them up with Bible verses and chocolate

[@MiaNWC]

Hahaha I did not expect to see JaackMaate and the Zoella advent calendar in this video

[@WeirdSnakeGal]

My nieces wanted miniverse harry potter stuff. So I got them that even I raised my concern to my sister in law that I thought those looked cheap and that there wasn't much to them. So on top of that I crocheted them one amigurumi each. One gets a panda and the other gets a snowy owl. There was no way I was gonna give them just a tiny ball of plastic crap.

[@isabella0903]

As a person that loves getting miniatures, a video about them would definitely be quite interesting to watch. Love your channel.

[@bhsprinkle]

Small items in an advent calendar is an excellent point. Reusable ones exist that you fill yourself. I don't get people getting huge book hauls & have 5 different "special" editions of the same book. I'd settle for one copy of a book each that I'm genuinely interested in to reread often.

[@becksdex]

i would love to watch a video on the minis craze!! the way ive deinfluences myself in that space is transitioning my desire into a creative one. making minis or toys out of clay, yarn, or fabric is way cheaper and way more fulfilling and if well done can be genuine toys for kids some day. or dollhouse figures!

[@stanlevi2927]

please do a vid on the whole mystery boxes trend!

[@myjams3370]

Yes pls have an in depth video on blindbox trinkets of pppmart, sonny angels, smiskis etc

[@barron204]

Agree. Interesting video. My mindset changed this year to only invest in (buy for the house) museum quality items. This means items that will hold their value.

[@claida339]

I've been passionate about miniatures since I was 14 and I keep making some myself but I've also gotten some Miniverse and Minibrands. But for me it is truly a passion. I've gotten maybe 5 balls, which I look at everyday because looking at miniature things makes my brain go "owiii". Like you said, there is a component of insecurity, in my case, knowing I probably won't ever be able to afford buying a home, I make it in miniature. Most of the time it's from scratch, but these Miniverses are nice because they allow me to add very realistic elements which makes my fantasy so much more vivid. Also my homemade ones are very fragile and I have a hella clumsy boyfriend, so sadly those have become my best option.

[@kiczcock]

That Zoella calendar clip was such a throwback

[@debl9765]

I’d love a video about miniatures because I do think the phenomenon is quite interesting. I am also right there with you on chocolate. I do try to be conscientious about the brands I buy and stick to more ethical brands, and I try to savor it. But for me it’s totally worth it.

[@kuruptflip21]

Cara Nicole and Lauren Tsai are my internet crushes 😻

[@sternum_bones]

YES im so excited!! ! I'd love for this series to be an annual thing. They're so helpful and so refreshing to watch. Also that purple sweater looks so stunning on you! 💜

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

thank you so much!! yes, I want to make this a regular thing since these videos are so fun to make!

[@kirrb-dot-exe]

The only advent calendars i got are stickers, and the “box” is also useful! They used to be envelopes, but now they’re envelopes in a 6 ring mini binder!

[@AskMiko]

The advent calendar craze started with Sephora used to post their Holiday sale items and mentioned advent calendars.

[@Clarissa-qm6oe]

PLEASE do a video on the psychology of the mini items. I really need to know why this is a thing.

[@eaglefoot23]

Ever since I was a child, my favorite toys have been miniatures! Littlest Pet Shop, Polly Pocket, Mimi and the Goo Goos, even McDonalds toys, etc! I still have all my favorites! I think 90% of it is that humans are naturally hardwired to think small things are cute, so that we will protect our babies and continue the human race. We probably get a similar dose of dopamine from interacting with miniature figurines as we do when we interact with a human baby.

[@70lux]

I too associate the advent calendar transformation with Zoella LOLLL

[@chimchilla404]

I don't buy mystery figures because 1) I've never bought collectibles 2) each box is expensive in itself and 3) i don't like all of the options 99% of the time. I'll only buy one if it's of something I really like (not just a smiski or sonny angel) and if I love all the options. The appeal for me is definitely all of the different designs, especially for sanrio ones. I'll look at every mystery box with sanrio figures eating a snack, themed after drinks, etc. because they're cute to imagine. TLDR, i just like looking at mystery boxes 😊

[@Brianna58321]

I loved Cara’s idea of setting it as a background for this reason. I had the blue smiski series as my wallpaper for months, which helped satisfy that urge to consume. Ultimately, I usually can be satisfied by just looking, I just realise I don’t really want to add to the volume of items I have. Moving out days or trips to my parent’s drive this home!

[@NoVideosHere00]

Something I dislike with a passion (to put it nicely) are those Kinda Joy chocolate eggs with the crappy plastic toy. UGGGGHHHHHHH 😤😁

[@alovero]

love christina mychas! happy to see her in your vid

[@arghjayem]

One of my favourite gifts to give that I would consider reasonably consciously consumptive is gift vouchers for restaurants, but only local restaurants to the person I’m giving and that aren’t chains. Lots of independent restaurants in the U.K. do this these days. It’s great as prices can be customised (give a little or give a lot) so the voucher can cover the whole bill or just part of it. It means that the receiver is going somewhere local for a night out and even if the voucher isn’t used within the time (they usually expire after 12 months) the restaurant still has the cash and hasn’t lost anything. Margins are remarkably tight on restaurants despite the perception and things like covid hit them hard so it’s a win all round IMHO. Plus like a bottle of booze it’s an easy gift to regift if the receiver isn’t interested in it, something I also think about now when it comes to gift giving. What if they don’t like it? Could it be regifted without worry? The gift doesn’t go to waste and the receiver doesn’t have to fork out for a gift to someone else. 🤔🤷🤣

[@valentinagomezrondon2233]

I'm always avoiding the consuming bullets in your videos until you came for the Bath&Body works candles 😭 guiltly

[@Gandy2]

Can you make a video about dealing with gifts when you’re already trying to de-overconsume. For example, I’ve been trying to not collecting stuffed animals cause I have enough imo, but I got given one as a gift and it made me feel like I’m taking steps backwards, but I feel too guilty to give it away or anything.

[@throughthethicket]

+1, and generally dealing with gifts as a form of social pressure to (over)consume. Yes, there are many alternatives - vouchers, experiences (though still consumerism in a way) - but there is often an unspoken materialistic expectation.

[@alariel85]

I just got a yearend bonus for the first time in 8 years and I really needed this video to calm me down and NOT splurge quickly haha

[@MissMEhere]

Yes to the miniature video please! Love your videos btw

[@marielmackintosh6766]

Miniature convo is needed! I think that it's not about the object, it's opening up something and the dopamine rush of the reveal.

[@itskindofemily]

11:53 I've never understood the miniverse toys, it's such a waste of plastic

[@janistransbian]

um, no. the only goal i have for 2025 is staying alive. anything else is pure luck.

[@deeechwita]

real talk: the smiski obsession is a form of gambling. that's why it's so addicting

[@ChristianLemon]

Books are definitely something I've 'deinfluenced' over the passed few years. As someone who does read a lot I have tons of books that I will never read again. Also, I find the 'Trophy book' collection pretentious, so I keep all of my books in the closet. Library first, then used online, and if I kind I really like it and see myself reading it again I will buy after that.

[@Bakerygo]

That woman claiming she's late thirties but she's mistaken for 18 years old is lying for everything. She's not late thirties and she doesn't look 18 neither. She's probably mid to late twenties. There's one thing that no amount of skincare and procedures can't fake or cover and that's behaviour. 20 years of adulthood leave a trace on everything we do.

[@EditioCastigata]

17:07 I’m only surprised you didn’t go for a green pullover, with a nod to the Grinch. 🙂

[@onlooker8719]

the funny thing about the advent calendar is, its suppose to be opened per day. but influencers be opening it all in one go and ruining the suprise for thise who bought it 😅

[@djtoxicdhg]

Next video you need to disect warhamer 40k

[@disartster]

As a former hardcore makeup & skincare enthusiast, I look in the direction of those advent calendars each year... yet I never bought one. Expensive ones are too un-curated and cheap ones are full of unnecessary cr*p like mini nail files and hair ties I will never use. This year I got a Kinder chocolate one for myself and made a more advanced curated one for my partner. Flying Tiger store had various options of diy kits, so I bought one that had 24 house-shaped boxes (can be reused next year) and filled them with various products I knew he wood enjoy. Mostly snacks & sweets, a few skincare items, a few self-made Christmas ornaments & a perfume mini version for the last day. He liked it a lot. And though it was over 10 buck/quid/euro, it was something I knew he'll use every piece of.

[@japanesecinema6736]

Bring back the chocolate advent calendars.

[@coollizard2]

agreed, shop local and utilize the library!!!

[@erinlee920]

100% yes on the miniature video 👌

[@janisceline]

I've seen expensive Advent calendars before, but I assumed the most expensive ones were between $500 and $1,000. I can't believe someone would pay thousands of dollars for any Advent calendar! I get one from my mom every year. The packaging is reusable. It includes chocolate and small items. She doesn't spent a lot of money on the items, and since she knows me well, she only gets things I actually like and use.

[@dorisskowronska1330]

and now I want Smiski. Thank you, Cara...