Let’s talk aesthetic restocking videos.

How much restocking is too much? || Get your first purchase from Blueland for 15% off by clicking my link www.blueland.com/caranicole!
🎥 More about this video:
Let's talk about the rise of aesthetic restocking videos, the psychology behind our obsession with watching and making these videos, and the tension between utility and appearances.
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🔍 Resources mentioned:
The Handbook of Behavior Change: www.cambridge.org/core/books/...
Food Waste and the Climate: ed.ted.com/best_of_web/food-w...
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🎥 Check out some of my other videos! 🎥
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Time Stamps:
00:00 What is aesthetic restocking?
01:58 The Psychology
05:20 All Consumption is NOT Created Equal
09:22 Grocery aesthetic restocks
11:11 Makeup and bathroom restocks
12:59 Stanley cup restocks
14:06 Culture of Excess
17:04 Restocking as self-soothing
Keywords for some sweet, sweet metadata:
Personal finance, money management, deinfluence, deinfluencing, budgeting, budget, credit card, culture, hauls, video essay, video analysis, social media, materialism, investments, overconsumption, consumerism, climate change, shopping, spending money, cara nicole

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

Get your first purchase from Blueland for 15% off by clicking my link www.blueland.com/caranicole! Thanks so much for watching! :)

[@hannahboebanna]

Your discount code didn’t work for me :( I’m in Australia for reference

[@annaczgli2983]

I like watching organizing videos while my room remains a mess.

[@Yazminsingleton]

& that’s exactly why you shouldn’t watch them, How are they helping you?

[@cloverisblue]

Lmao real

[@Likelyfairy]

@@Yazminsingletontbh I think most people watch it as very specific niche of asmr. lol I know I never clicked one expecting it to help me clean my room 😂

[@emerybayblues]

Sometimes things are fun to watch even if it’s not something you’d do. I like watching what sun my bag videos or luxury handbag videos even though I don’t buy lux buys. It’s just fun brainless way to veg out for me.

[@Yazminsingleton]

@@emerybayblues I totally agree! But I want my reality to match the ease/luxury that I watch that’s just me though

[@dominique8655]

the thing with makeup and bathroom restocks is a lot of them are buying multiples of the less price efficient travel sized products. i’m sure the brands are loving this trend 😂

[@NoName-dx1no]

Doesn’t makeup get dirtier when placed in the bathroom too? Cuz when you flush toilet particles basically go everywhere and it tends to be a wet place, like I feel like it’d either make the makeup go bad faster or you to break out

[@lynninfinite]

@@NoName-dx1noyes and heat & humidity from showers and bath is not good for makeup!!

[@justahugenerd1278]

I'd imagine the brands are paying the influencers to show their product but then making the money back and more on all the average people that buy into the trend

[@vtheory7531]

I feel like this is for people who like the idea of restocking shelves in stores or hotels but don't actually want to work in retail or hospitality XD

[@rewdskwid]

​@@NoName-dx1nodo yall not close the toilet lid after youre done...? Never understood this point. If you close the lid before you flush that shouldnt be a concern.

[@mayhem875]

I have a red-string theory that a lot of them are reusing the same bulk products. Especially the non-food items. Like they put all the stuff in the drawers, leave it for a few works, take it all out and record it all again. Cause a lot of them restock the same kinds of things! No one is using that many dish soaps!

[@futuristicgirl14]

I second this, most videos on social media are fake, why wouldn’t someone fake a restock? A lot of those channels recycle footage as well

[@t_ylr]

I think that's exactly right. Like even with food unless you have 6-7+ kids, you're not eating all that on a regular basis. Ironically I'm sure they're "recycling" a lot of the same items for multiple videos.

[@ytknits4892]

A lot of the opaque containers may even be used up and empty.

[@briannaobrien4419]

I forget who did it, but there was a content creator (maybe the blonde anti mlm creator?) that analyzed one creators videos and was able to confirm that some of them do indeed do this. They'll crop and edit the video together slightly differently but use the same video several times. Which made me feel better about it. Like lying isn't cool but it was nice to get a little confirmation that some of the stuff isn't bought, restocked, and trashed.

[@montetiger866]

@@briannaobrien4419 I think you're talking about Hannah Alonzo

[@phthalojohan]

Makeup restocks often stress me out because these videos all go RIDICULOUSLY overboard - one entire shelf full off LIQUID foundation, every colour in the fenty lipstick collection...etc. And because makeup has an expiry date, its like having a storeroom full of ticking timebombs.

[@teresamckeown5594]

Yes!!! During Covid, my adult daughter and I really got into makeup and we had a lot of fun with it. But eventually, we had so much that we couldn’t put it away. So we started in with the vanity organizers… to the point there was no room on the vanity to “work”!! So then the next step (of course) was getting Alex drawers from IKEA! And…. Once you start putting things out of sight in drawers…. You know. Out of sight out of mind. We were able to start to get control when we went back to work and stopped taking up to an hour doing our makeup. 😂 Collectively, we still have too much… but admitting there is a problem is the first step, right? I think these videos can also be a tool to get yourself to stop and think. It is fine to want to (aesthetically) organize your stuff. BUT if you find yourself LOOKING for tiny things to put in the smallest squares (that had to go in to fill the drawer) there is the problem. ❤️

[@therobotdevil2284]

Totally, and not only do makeup products expire, but the industry and makeup tiktok is constantly pushing new viral products on us that we HAVE to try out because they changed so-and-so's life and lucky us, they AREN'T going to gatekeep them from us. How many of these overboard restockers are resisting these carrots dangling over their heads until their existing stock is used up? Few, I'd guess.

[@JesusLightsYourPath]

I love watching it. Of course some things are more important to stock up on than others.

[@fishtank39]

girl, don't you know that all these restocking videos are just stealth ads. the point is to entice people with as many products as possible in a short space of time, and then they give an affiliate link when people inevitably ask "where did you get that?"

[@hallucinatrix9341]

i was thinking this... i love her vids but she seems a little naive and gives influencers too much credit. they are doing all this basically for shock value to get more views in order to sell more stuff and make more money

[@Jose04537]

I understand doing placement product with make up and similar products, but with groceries? ​@@hallucinatrix9341

[@tammystiletto]

I think she’s talking to the people being influenced; not the content creators. Most people do not watch these videos and go “oh it’s a stealth ad. I know I do not need this.” Smh

[@christineh86]

Yes people keep forgetting that of course not many people would buy all the new color pop palettes that just came out.. they are from a PR package of course ! Did people forget about influencers getting free products or even getting paid to show free products ?? Products samples to influencers are often the majority of these companies advertising budget. To be fair I did fall in the makeup buying trap myself when I was in my 20s about 10 years ago and being an influencer was pretty new back then. I got envious and didn’t really know they got ALL of those products for free because back then they were not obligated to tell. I think KZbin and Instagram has a policy that you need to disclose that it’s paid content now right ? Maybe TikTok does not, I’m too old to use that 😂

[@DavidCruickshank]

@@hallucinatrix9341 I'm glad someone else agrees that she can be a little too forgiving of influencers etc. I think she wants to be impartial but does it by trying to not make anyone the bad guy regardless of whether there is one of not.

[@Dancinglemon]

Ngl, these scratch the itch in my brain for organisation but it’s so wasteful it kind of ruins it. Edit: I forgot the thing that ruins it most for me, which is how visually overwhelming these can be. No one knows how to actually video edit in these things, a cut every half second to the next new thing gives me such a headache and makes it unwatchable. It’s like they don’t care if you can absorb and understand what you’re seeing, they just want to rapid fire products at you.

[@jessica23claire]

Agreeeeeed. My toxic trait is how much I love these videos even though they're so wasteful.

[@nicolenotizieeamici]

Agree

[@giuliar7944]

Same. To see it all packed and put neatly makes my serotonin spike. However this works only if I feel like the restock makes sense. If you start restocking a bunch of wasteful, useless item I will be just too distracted to focus on the order

[@purpleypenguins]

My mom is obsessed with this kind of content but I understand why. We live in a developing country and insecurity around things like food, personal care items like soap and even clothing was constant when I was growing up. So she's developed a sort of hoarding habit over the years because you never know if we'll be too broke to buy something again or stuff gets held up at the port so you won't see it on the shelf for weeks, so she buys several of the same item at a time when it's avaliable. Which wouldn't be too bad except she buys stuff we realistically can't use up before it all expires and it puts a big dent in our budget.

[@raissammo89]

Where you from?

[@purpleypenguins]

​@@raissammo89 I live in the Caribbean

[@christineh86]

@@purpleypenguinsthat sucks! I also grew up poor and my mom is scared to use up fancy soap i give her as a gift because its ”too expensive to use” she says so she just keeps it to feel the scent from it sometimes, and then it goes bad and never gets used.. even if I say I got it on after Christmas sale (her birthday is right after Christmas) she still can’t use it up! My partner grew up in a middle class family but they were still not getting enough food for the whole family! That’s kind of insane and abuse I think.. this weekend he bought three big bottles of olive oil on sale that we won’t even use up until they expire.. ahh.. but trauma is not easy! I hoard clothes instead and I’m trying to stop 😢 the Caribbean sounds like it’s so beautiful there , I know it is! I hope you live a comfortable life now in that beautiful part of the world!

[@purpleypenguins]

​@@christineh86the way your mom is with soap is the same as mine lol. I have some tendencies myself I've been trying to stop. Unlearning these behaviors is hard but with time we'll be able to overcome them. Thank you and I wish you your partner the best as well ❤

[@prophetessoftroy]

I grew up with my grandparents who were children during WW2, and they did the same thing. I’ve found I’ve learned a lot of those habits subconsciously, so trying to actively not engage in them can be really hard! But it IS nice to know, oh, if I lose my job or we’re all suddenly locked in our houses for months, I still have soap and deodorant that I can use; or I can give somebody visiting a toothbrush or whatever out of the cabinet because we have a few on hand. Finding the balance between comfortable, reasonable backstock and hoarding can be really hard though. I can only imagine that the stress of natural disasters and port issues compounds on that for your mom!

[@juliettebacon1457]

I highly recommend Hannah Alonzo's "Influencer Insanity" series here on KZbin, she has a video on restocking content and dives deep into it, including how a lot is probably not even real (including influencers re-using the same "restock" video with different captions months later).

[@elizamartin4263]

Her videos are amazing!

[@gentle_skeleton_2416]

Yes!!

[@s.r6331]

Yes‼️‼️‼️ freaking love her videos and I also mention her when I see those crazy ass videos.

[@mari_3kyu]

Seeing that scrub daddy collection reminded me that I stole a sponge from work this week to clean the mold off the rental wall I'm moving out from, because I didn't have money to buy a 5€ pack of sponges.

[@sillyoldliz]

Is there a Buy Nothing group or Freecycle group near you?

[@Ostkupa]

I think what people like about these videos is mostly about the asmr aspect. The clicking noises and also the fact that everything always fits ✨perfectly✨ in containers and drawers. I for example HATE the asmr-whisper but things satisfyingly fitting into place? Yessss. A space being in perfect, unrealistic order? Yessss.

[@dragonflower17]

That's what I've liked about them! The satisfying little clicks and snaps of the containers. Also some minor wish fulfillment since I have a LOT of stuff to get through with organizing... seeing how neatly and easily everything seems to fit in on the video is nice. (Though buying too much of one thing kinda weirds me out even as a bulk shopper)

[@SorrySoup]

About a year ago, I was really inspired to clean up and organize my house. This was probably brought on by the rise in content such as this exact style of videos. I had this long list of different organizers and containers I was going to get when I had a realization. How was buying a bunch more shit going to help me with my issue of owning too much shit?? It's like I convinced myself I could use my problem as a solution to itself.

[@chloecrawford5426]

Same 😂 so I just ruthlessly went through my stuff and got rid of so much. Then I could use containers I already had to organise what was left.

[@prophetessoftroy]

There’s one of the organizing/declutter YT people whose main philosophy is very much this. Dana K? I think? Her whole thing is to think of your house/room/cupboard/whatever as a container. It only has so much room in it, so you have to be selective about what stays. If something doesn’t fit, you’ve gotta give something up so it does. Cas from Clutterbug does a related thing where you worry about storage that fits your space, not your stuff. One of those things can be modified, one can’t (easily). Stupidly simple but it’s crazy how hard those concepts can be to internalize sometimes when you’re so inundated with consumer culture all the time.

[@SingerPanda-ur4tl]

Same but thank God, i am still a broke student so wanting it or not, i didn't have money for all of that 😂😂😂

[@kathoward2845]

the stanley cup food holder thing is just modern day snackiez

[@guyinalighthouse]

I really dislike how everything just needs to be aestheticised. Not everything can be perfectly neat and have the same aesthetics, most people just have whatever they like in their house, and that's fine. There's no need to make everything perfect for the camera. If that's what makes you happy, that's great, but if you're only making this for social media, please know that it's fine to just do something for yourself, even if it's not aesthetically pleasing.

[@kikic95]

People out here living in the houses I make for my Sims 😂

[@maliuuum]

I looove restocking videos but, as I've been cutting down on short form content consumption, I found that reorganising my own room gives me that same sense of calmness, cleanliness and satisfaction as restocking videos, and I'd say more so. A big plus is that it makes life just a teeny bit easier

[@intuitive_duck]

You may like Decluttering videos if cleaning and organizing calms you. I like restocking videos too, but I’m not about wasting stuff if I can help it. Clutterbug and TheMinimalMom on YT have longer videos to listen to that always motivate me.

[@RaeC5280]

😂😅 I work for the DMV and I often wonder how many serial killers I come in contact with, but I never considered how many serial killers I'm unknowingly watching on KZbin.

[@Andrea-tf1le]

I had the same thought. Ironically, I worked in a treatment center for a while with clients who had killed people, let me tell you there's a certain comfort in already knowing. It's the unknown that's freaky.

[@FortifiedEarth]

That doesn’t make any sense.

[@thewhistlingdemigod6570]

One thing i taught myself and subsequently my mom is the "Where you gonna put it?" rule. I'm rather anti-stuff but mom loves event decorations, especially all sorts of Christmas shenanigans. So whenever she saw something and went to put it in the basket, usually with the excuse of it being discounted, I simply asked where is she going to put it. If she didn't find a good spot within a beat or two or her arguments were weak/vague, we both knew we didn't need it. Nowadays she reasons with herself even alone and I am rather proud of that one (we already have boxes of that stuff, in the end)

[@smokeybandit9145]

oh these piss me off! lmao like girl they're already in a box and then you buy a $20 acrylic container that takes up more space than the original cardboard packaging I just can't with these people. I know it's their job to do it, but I hate it. Wealthy people estheticizing to the most unnecessary max. I used to be slightly brainrotted by similar videos thinking I needed to organize things in a more ✨aesthetic✨ way, but thankfully I realized this is bullshit and you could literally make organizing containers from cardboard, let alone just use the cardboard that item already comes in.... I hate this type of over consumption influencer

[@goldensloth7]

right??? i don't get it. but then i like bit of mess.

[@bleuumscarlett7977]

For me, it's just that if i don't see the snack, i will forget the snack exists 😂 not the liquids tho, that i also don't get lol it's pretty, but the hassle is totally not worth it

[@lalailm]

I also get pissed watching these people do the absolute MOST just for ✨aesthetic ✨ but buying a bunch of things they are just going to throw away later as if the enormous amount of trash they generatedis just not their problem💅🏻

[@floralia05]

From my own experiences Acrylic is incredibly useful. Cardboard packaging can be easily damaged, impossible to clean, and mice can chew through it along with other pests. Depending on what issues you have it's can be a lifesaver to have a clean place to store things.

[@hw7003]

​​@@floralia05 I agree that there are some items the acrylic packaging is good for. I had a problem with roaches and ants (still do kind of my apartment complex is right by a wood) and getting the water tight sealing containers to hold my cereals, flour, sugar, etc instead of just clipping the cardboard and plastic containers shut made a difference. But for a lot of this stuff especially in the more egregious videos it really is just a waste of space. Typical case of people taking a good idea and ruining it with excess. Edit: fixed a typo

[@terig8974]

"If I put a bowl on the kitchen counter, I know I'll just want to fill it with stuff." You could use this to your advantage. Fill it with fresh produce and it'll always be in plain sight to remind you to eat it. It's good to eat before a meal to prevent over eating and/or at the end of a meal to give you a sense of completion to your eating session.

[@prophetessoftroy]

My grandma did this when I was growing up! Especially in the summer, she’d put veggies in cold water and fruit in a bowl on the counter that we could just grab a bit of if we wanted a snack. Great way to get kids to be more autonomous AND eating better snacks. Didn’t even realize til I was older that it was mostly a tactic for us not to bug her every 20 minutes for something to eat 😂

[@practicallymedieval2027]

This is the reason to have bowls on the counter. Fresh produce. I look at the package food in these video clips and I'm honestly horrified. No one should be drinking or eating all that. I mean, I assume they actually aren't but someone out there is...

[@djs2182]

Difficulty with executive functioning is a common symptom of ADHD and depression, and I think that’s a reason these videos are so popular. They can be a helpful visualization of aspects of organization and routine but they’re completely unrealistic and manipulated for monetization. They’re marketing ads for products, so just take it with a grain of salt. Love your videos!

[@elluuurs]

Hoarders gotta love these restocking videos 😅

[@a_r_l14]

Speaking as someone with hoarding tendencies… we do

[@_bebeboudeur_]

my thoughts exactly looking at all my stuff : if i could find a way to organize my clothes, i would still have a ton, but at least i could style them better

[@isysslepore72]

Gesh I’m trying to clutter and resale things from hoarding stuff.. It’s overwhelming honestly

[@Jose04537]

It's not recommended to open the sealed packages of liquids until you're about to consume them, specially milk, because after opening, the shelf life is greatly reduced.

[@melusine826]

As someone with depression and difficulty doing basic selfcare (healthy eating), some of these do give me ideas on creating reduced friction/ behavioural hacks to make things easier for myself

[@sillyoldliz]

Ooh, do you have any favorite hacks? Or one you used recently?

[@drkhushbooraikar]

I like watching organizing/restocking videos especially when I'm cleaning stuff. Ultimately we need to understand that most of these organizing videos are a way for influencers to push their links and coupon codes. Influencers aren't organizing or restocking, they are making content.

[@gibbygibbygibby7237]

the more alternative containers you have, the more you need to clean.

[@VanTilburger]

Fun thing about the milk! The date on it is often a bit arbitrary and even when the taste is a little off, it's still safe to eat assuming it's pasteurized. I still use it in baking and cooking with no problem. Most food dates in general aren't actually when it's not safe to eat and that leads to a lot of food waste and people spending a lot more on food then they need to. From what I understand, doing a bit of inspection and sniff test on foods you're not sure of works just fine especially if you're someone with a decent immune system like most grownups.

[@VanTilburger]

Also, food can go bad even way before it expires sometimes, so looking for signs of spoilage is much more important than just the date

[@prophetessoftroy]

This. Also, glass containers keep dairy colder and at a more constant, even temperature than the other types of packaging, so it actually stays good longer. Especially if you don’t keep it in the door of your fridge (which is the least insulated and most temperature-variable area in it).

[@InsoIence]

@@prophetessoftroy Unfortunately one of the factors for milk (or really any product) to spoil quicker is exposure to air, which nobody seems to mention.

[@myra0224]

People should really use their senses more. Look and smell, and if possible you can give it a little taste as well. If it doesn't look, smell or taste like it's supposed to, then toss it out 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@SaheeliRai]

​@@prophetessoftroybut opening the milk container and pouring it into something that was probably not sterilized, does decrease the lifespan. The glass won't counter that, unless you let it sit outside of the fridge

[@keelyquinn2374]

I’m working on getting over a need to be aesthetic to focus on sustainability. I’m keeping the sour cream container, the yogurt container, the take out container so I can store leftovers, give food to friends etc. it doesn’t have to look nice.

[@ardansh7745]

Thank you for saying this! My mom and I have been trading the same recycled pasta jar filled with different homemade soups for months.

[@alexu8708]

This warms my heart! In my house, that's called "The Family Tupperware". ​@ardansh7745

[@lianazombieone2584]

I love watching organizing videos, they're incredibly calming. But I won't spend that amount of money to do it myself, I just don't need that amount of stuff. Maybe someone who has a huuuge family can do this just to have fun and take a nice video.

[@alwaysemilia]

I also think there’s a big difference between organizing and restocking. I like the organizing content but more along the lines of average people cleaning and tidying their current stuff. Sometimes it still upsets me how much people throw away in certain types of moving or declutterring videos.

[@lianazombieone2584]

@@alwaysemilia You're right. If there's just a bunch of different spoons, jars and stuff like that, it's OK, the owner can just use it later or give it away but sometimes there's a loads of food that just got rotten. It's painful to watch.

[@liz_violet]

the MOST i do, is thrift parts that have already worn out. I got a pencil case i cannot clean the ink out of...might as well give my family my pencil case and get a cheap one at mercari. i need a metal mug, because my old cup used to have problems with spilling and i lost the cap? again, secondhand and dirt cheap.

[@prophetessoftroy]

I like them too, but for me the edge of the cliff is the cost in TIME. I just cannot rationalize how much time people spend decanting every freaking thing and constantly facing/zoning the shelves in their own houses. No thank you. If it’s a habit to face as you use it, okay, but actively setting aside time to make your kitchen look like retail? Nah. I have too many other things going on to worry about that.

[@lianazombieone2584]

@@liz_violet I only care about my unique, old stuff. Not even antique, just some things that I won't be able to buy tomorrow. Anything else is not that important.

[@waridi9]

There is a youtuber who is a perfume youtuber. she announced her hubby left her and her girls and she is worried about making ends meet. I was shocked because in my mind if someone has excess funds to indulge in perume collection, an expensive hobby, why come out and say they are worried about money so soon after a breakup? Like didn't they have a financial cushion of at least 6months to tide them over before purchasing all these expensive perfumes? Social media is not always what it seems like

[@Buff19]

I assume it makes us feel like we have total control over some aspect of our environment. I’m a large family Momma and have naturally done so many of the organizational routines I enjoy watching. My frugal mindset has allowed me to watch for enjoyment with feeling jealousy about what I can’t have.

[@practicallymedieval2027]

My obsession is using stuff till its gone before I buy more. I want to use up every last skin cream, lotion, ounce of shampoo. I don't want multiples. I have the I don't need that mentality. So these videos give me some serious ick. I did not in fact even know this was a thing. I have seriously limited space for stuff right now and practicality takes a back seat to aesthetics. I'm not saying I don't have stuff, I would argue that I probably still have too much stuff from when I had space and would purchase consumables like toothpaste in bulk. Maybe it's because I spend most of my time in the middle of nowhere, but wow, the videos on this channel make me really wonder if I'm an alien.

[@daisoelderdragon9264]

The industry that make those acrylic containers are the real winners.And they are pricier than the cheap & less aesthetic containers that is made out of wood or cheap plastic.

[@lawliet6910]

I don’t even like going to the store, no chance I would deliberately make my house, my safe space, look like a damn store 🤣🤣😂😂☠️

[@vaelia1203]

For the cleaning products it's even worse because there is a reason they're in a certain package. A lot of the products we see them transfer to another container are not supposed to be transferred. Their container is made with the material, transparency, air tightness, etc... that the product need in mind. Basically by leaving your laudry detergent in a glass jar on the counter it's losing all of its proprieties and is not gonna do its properly. Toothpaste too. So it's even worse waste and they're encouraging other people to do that too. 💀

[@jessica23claire]

These videos don't influence me to buy anything, I just enjoy how relaxing they are. I'm fully aware how wasteful they are and I'll often yell stuff like "but you already had a perfectly good container why did you need to put it in this one?!" at my phone. I also can't stand the nail tapping so if one of these videos includes that I scroll away. I know that me continuing to watch is part of the problem but ugh it's my guilty pleasure.

[@ambiarock590]

I'm glad I'm naturally a skeptic when it comes to consumption. Yes there are things I like taking part in, but every time I see an ad or a video showcasing a product I cannot help but dive in to see issues with what's being presented. Video showcasing all the products they're buying? I cannot help but think "Who needs that much of this?" I'm thankful for my skeptic mind.

[@monsterous6152]

I watch these videos for several reasons: it scratches the itch when I feel the compulsion to mindlessly shop; after watching restocking content, it seems to satisfy my urge. Another is that sometimes they inspire me to get up and clean my own stuff, and lastly, sometimes I'm looking for organizational ideas (but literally haven't seen any good ones b/c they ALL use the same ideas).

[@teresamckeown5594]

Everyone has different needs. But having brought scrub daddy’s for life is a problem - because the drawer only looks great when filled. 😂 Of items we use, I like to have 1) The one “in play” that is being used. It can be shampoo, toothpaste, window spray, etc. 2) The back up for when you run out. (Then replace the backup when it moves into play.) Some items I have 2 backups because they are used super quickly, or are vital (contact lens solutions) and sometimes I am slow to get to the store.

[@9an13l]

I'm paraphrasing here but jean baudrillard said something along the lines of : "From informative communication, advertising turned to persuasion and then to "seduction" to include the regulation of consumption" and i think it's kinda fitting

[@Jaebirdsing]

I like watching organizing videos because it helps give me ideas on how I might be able to use the same concepts to organize my own life.

[@bigboldsoul]

Cara, you are so talented. Love how you write and your delivery. Really, really good.

[@behappydaily]

I really loved that you addressed self soothing at the end. I think that’s a huge part of our procrastination and not knowing how to self soothe effectively can really hamper daily functioning ❤ love your videos

[@willcookmakeup]

Thank you for addressing this. These drive me genuinely crazy. Literally absolutely NO ones house looks like this for more than a few days. The ice ones especially make me so mad. Like, what are you doing? All of these people have no other food in their freezers or fridge other than what their filming being restocked. What the hell....where is your food?!... It's so stupid. And most of these content creators are just throwing out the food they show restocking so they can film the next video idea

[@cocobeanzzzzz]

Restock videos are satisfying but I see so many impractical ones. Why do we have a whole hot chocolate bomb drawer? The uncovered sprinkles, candy canes, marshmallows are all gonna be stale/off by the time you use it. Let's not even mention how that's a paradise for bugs... 😟

[@chloecrawford5426]

Often I think "doesn't that attract ants??"

[@floraidh4097]

It would attract ants if it wasn't likely a staged home that they work from and then send all the stuff they've tried to sell people home with one of the PAs. I sincerely believe that it's all fake and existing just to make us feel insecure about our (supposedly) lame lives and dig out our credit cards.

[@ShamelessWriter]

Amazing video, Cara! Thank you so much for posting it. Honestly, I can listen to you talk about restocking for hours, your voice is so calming! The thing about makeup is so true-- the people around me buy way too much makeup they don't need, my grandmother has hundreds of lipsticks that have gone bad because she never used them! Anyhow, I loved this video. I hope you have a good day :)

[@VictoriaBrz]

And then they complain they can't pay the bills with their salaries, these people have no shame

[@nastiameow5670]

thank you so much for this video! I really like your reviews and I was thinking about this restocking culture for a while, so it's actually so nice to hear your opinion on it. love 💕

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

thank you so much for watching!! :)

[@krisztidavid7725]

I love these organizing and restocking videos. They are like asmr content for me. And I believe your video is truly essential for a more conscious consumption of such content. Thank you! ❤

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

thank you so much ❤️

[@islingmimi]

I’m a messy person. When my stuff are not organized it’s easier for me to find them😂 when they’re well organized I forget about them 😅

[@EmL-kg5gn]

This was me as a kid!!! It’s an ✨organised mess✨

[@user-bi8ko7kc6h]

That’s me. My stuff just disappeared every time after I have a big clean up or organise but when my room is messy I know exactly where they are. 😂😂😂

[@cheryltamelcoff2557]

No one needs to make their kitchen look like a 7-11.

[@trtlduv07]

Excellent video, as always! 💙As a therapist I want to say that I think you really hit the nail on the head about this entire topic! GREAT analysis! 💙

[@bryannabanana]

Your videos are incredible Cara! Thank you!

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

thank you!! so glad you like them!

[@veronikap9641]

I watch these sometimes for aesthetic ideas of how to organize my 1 bottle of foundation, 1 powder compact, the tube of sunblock, a couple of lip products, and a shadow palette... you get the idea. These videos are fine if you use them for inspiration to organize, not to buy more multiples of bleep we don't need, and holy bleep, how many travel-sized products that will expire do these people need? All that unnecessary packaging, ugh. I have zero issue with having pretty clear containers in your fridge to see how many onions you have left (I own those and love them). There are even some that help your veg stay fresher longer with vents and drains and such which are A+ for reducing food waste, but... ... as a food scientist - PLEASE do not decant your milk into aesthetic bottles. Not because you may not remember when it expires (smell is a fine way to check that tbh), but because milk is packaged in sterile containers to extend its life. It is difficult to sterilize bottles and funnels and lids and whatever that you use to decant it with /into. It will introduce bacteria not native to dairy into it, which will make milk go bad sooner, and maybe even cause food poisoning. But even if it won't make you sick, it's going to go bad faster creating food waste. That's just not necessary.

[@leenanorms]

Just found your channel, love this!

[@rita2506]

I honestly think most of these types of videos are ads and purely for views/content creation. I only back stock a couple items in my house and those items sometimes change: bar soap, sponges (ie 3-4 packs), toilet paper (bulk subscription), and some food. On the food - like rice - I’m only buying one small-to-medium package and we go thru it over a couple weeks or months.

[@corvusastrum2982]

If the milk doesn't smell sour, it's not off, you don't need the packaging. Packaging lies most of the time anyway, so many products are still good way past the expiry date. Relying on your nose and eyes also helps saving a ton of food, I don't want to imagine how many people throw out food that's still perfectly fine just because the date says otherwise. Only thing where I'd really be careful is meat/fish.

[@tashamoulton]

I love your content! Thank you for all the work you put into them :)

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

thank you!! so glad you like them :)

[@beautifulrecovery2337]

Girl i think you rode the line crazy well. You werent offensive more like lovingly wise while also sneaking suggestions in . Well done. Also i cant help but gig at some of these...they call them "restock" but they are stocking for the first time . Id love to hear your perspectives on the undertones of loneliness like they are creating a whole narrative they have friends over all the time imagine they dont

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

thank you so much for your kind comment on the line I was trying to maintain! I really appreciate it

[@emilyking9558]

You are so right that we fill up any storage we have

[@tiffanybaby13]

Omg your video just reminded me of the itch I had to collect mini versions of every luxury perfume and position them perfectly on a spinning acrylic stand bc I’ve seen that so many times

[@margotmartin-ck7qr]

Great video as always. You had me laughing out loud, and yes I like to watch the restocking videos. I try to not overbuy anything because of the expire dates. Years ago we used to watch the extreme coupon people with their stockpiles. Meanwhile I’ve had the same bottle of laundry soap for two years, I use very little with each wash. I guess if someone has a large family they’ll use all of the products, but if not I hope the restockers are returning or donating their stuff.

[@crowboggs]

Thanks for making a great video-essay that is well balanced in its perspectives, which you are quite good at in general (imo). Towards the end you make an interesting statement where you reject the "incessant desire for this false dichotomy of everything." I definitely appreciate this stance as, depending on context, it may be either/or, but it is frequently a union and intersection of both in some sort of Venn diagram conceptualizing "this" and "that" (or maybe also including "these" and "those")... and I don't want to come across as flippant with abstract word play, because I do admire the insight and find it accurate and important. What it makes me wonder is if this desire you highlight about dichotomies and the restocking aesthetic are directly related. Part of the attractiveness (I am speculating) of the aesthetic is that each item is neatly and homogenously compartmentalized in its own transparent containers, which have their own designated places (and, honestly, I have not seen any of this video content besides what you show here, but all the containers do seem to be transparent). I guess this could be unconsciously or affectively appealing in many of our lives that are often "messy" and entangled in a variety of ways that elude our control... though, personally, in many contexts, I like mix-ups and entanglements. I guess my concern here is that the personal desire for this aesthetic of orderedness could be realigned (or maybe misaligned) towards the social and implicate identities, which are by no means as compartmentalized and transparent as consumer items... but this concern is likely an overreach, as people, in most contexts, are rational and sy/e-mpathetic enough to recognize each other as people and not consumer items. That's the hope anyway. Best of luck and skill to you, and thanks again

[@christinap.8539]

I love when you talk psychology in these videos!

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

yay i'm glad to hear you like the psychology parts!!

[@mayrimbas]

Just to point out - regarding your comment about the milk in a jar preventing you from seeing the expiration date, those dates are simply an estimate and can lead to food waste by missing the mark considerably. food can expire earlier or later than it says on the package, and, at my local grocery stores, restockers actually go around printing new expiration dates on items that look fresh still. so, as a rule of thumb: if it looks fine, smells fine, and tastes fine... it's probably fine.

[@Savescreen]

Love your videos so much Cara, I am glad I found your channel! Removing things from my amazon cart as we speak 😂

[@ADHDqueenB]

I've hosted family and visited family /friends. We all bring our own basics because allergies and preferences. I make sure the bathroom has hand soap, towels and tp. They are welcome to use anything in the bathroom, and vice versa. We have no problem with sharing or asking for whatever if someone runs out. I can't tell if these people just don't understand this because they don't have guests often or they are just friends with people who expect this. Then again, I don't own a Mansion with a separate guest house either. I've never, nor have anyone I known have products in the bathrooms just for guests. It's a home, not a hotel.

[@msSweeTae]

They made it possible that my brain has a positive association with organizing and restocking now - just overall having fun keeping my space nice. Hearing the sound of wrapping became a positive trigger. It's pretty interesting. But I luckily already had a overconsumption phase before finding those videos or else I would've one now. And I know that they do all of it for content and not to show reality...just like most things posted on social media.

[@deannajohnson3933]

I like watching these videos because it encourages me to get organized.

[@Touyube8811]

This was recommended to me after watching a video on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Impeccable timing 👌🏾

[@alexkass5548]

I know i personally love restock videos because i love the idea of everything being in clear containers where i can see the things inside. I am one of those people where if i put something in a box it doesn't exist anymore. I have to be able to see things to remember them because my object permanence is skewed. Maybe one day I'll either be better at that or find aa budget friendly happy medium.

[@_bebeboudeur_]

this!

[@rondalawson3311]

This is an incredibly intelligent video and I thoroughly enjoyed it! New subscriber!

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

yay i'm so glad to hear that, thank you!

[@beetl_3]

love to see a vid about this. i get these in my reccomendations but i don't understand them 😭 they look nice sure but i don't understand them, and i'm like. a hoarder myself lol

[@CAGChannel1]

Oooh, I have your answer, eight kids, and several very messy huge dogs and cats and birds. We could polish off the scrub daddy drawer, nooooo problem!! I would love to see that scrub daddy drawer full :)

[@MeaganSal96]

That sounds like an absolute nightmare honestly

[@Ziguly]

IMO it’s a vicarious enjoyment of extreme and unrealistic abundance

[@ciaram4645]

I love your videos omg

[@jellyfishgarden]

When I watch these restock vids I always notice when they completely fill up their nice container and the original one still very clearly has product still in it! Like where does that extra stuff go 😂

[@julienunnally8040]

For me, it's easier to see it all. Cause you know, out of sight out of mind. For my kids, it's easy for them to pick out the right snacks. If the container it comes in is more space saving it stays, like cereal. But I can fit juice pouches, yogurt tubes, and pudding cups all in the same drawer without their packaging, that's how we're gonna roll.

[@SusannSchulze]

couldn't agree more with this! my only tiny detail-difference to your point is the thing with the milk: even if you're filling it in another container, you can still make a separate list with the best before dates or just take a quick pic and look that up when needed. when you're investing the extra time to refill every milk / juice etc, then there should also be time for something like the mentioned list or so. I'd be more worried of the exposure to sunlight as I read somewhere that some containers for beverages aren't seethrough on purpose regarding the freshness of the product. anyways, hope my comment makes sense as english is not my first language!

[@Strawlighte]

Decanting milk into a glass jar is hilarious. You can buy it like that at at your locally owned food co-op (… or Whole Foods if you choose to go corporate)

[@vicoussoulja]

Great breakdown, good thing my version of this is watching restaurants make food. Question is there any video she may talk about? Microtransaction I would love to hear her take on it.

[@Mila28.06]

13:25 I hope the stanley cup backpacks and stuff make them happy but I just truly dont get it. Why do you need a cute cute snack to go to the grocery store? The preparation is more lenghty than the ride to the store. Its giving when I was a toddler and would prepare most random stuff to bring to the park or kindergarten 😭

[@JayKennedy101]

I would say that a snack before the grocery could prevent hangry shopping lol but other than that I don’t know why the Stanley backpack is needed

[@jaspersgrimoire]

I also find these comforting. Scratches the itch to arbitrarily sort and organize the sorted items. I don’t care if someone is even actually eating that candy and just uses the same shit and empties the bins, I just want to watch them stack neatly, kind of like slime videos. Sometimes I see a neat way to store an item though.

[@stephaniea5762]

Just found your channel. Great content!

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

Thank you!

[@Kuhreenuh13]

I love watching restocking videos. So mentally pleasing. But I notice while it looks beautiful, it’s not practical, at least for me. Also, I think it does shift what should be “normal” and if you don’t have those things something is wrong with you or your home. I saw a video the other day of a “realistic” fridge restocking and I was still so shocked like uh that’s not even close to my reality 😂

[@aepigeons9375]

If you want a clean, uniform aesthetic without specifically buying containers for that purpose, you can sometimes use acetone nail polish remover to remove printed-on labelling from things like yogurt containers. The quality admittedly isn't what you'd get from containers designed to be used more than once, but you get effectively free replacements anytime you buy more yogurt, and it also reduces waste. I don't know if high-end nail polish remover is a thing, but I just buy it from the dollar store.

[@anitas_tinkershop]

Loved the video ❤

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

thank you!!

[@nicolenotizieeamici]

Good job you nailed it

[@DDWGG1]

Always love your content!

[@songsforanna]

Really liked your video! :) I would love it if you do a videon on "decluttering"-videos. From the beginning I think it was a term from the minimalist movement - to declutter in the beginning of your journy with the intention to live with less. But it has really spiralled out of control - a lot of people online just "declutter" to be able to buy new stuff and consume more (for example a lot of beauty and fashion influencers). I even see this with people who call themselves "minimalists". They might have fewer things, but declutter none the less - and then they buy new things, or very expensive things, or rarely use an item to the end of it's lifetime. It is like they just have to have something new even if they call themselves minimalists. I think they all send the message to the viewers that "you should consume", but it is hidden behind words like "productivity" and "minimalism".

[@goldensloth7]

you should rely on milk smell. they arent expiry dates, they're best before. following the date contributes to food waste since they make them earlier than necessary.

[@goldensloth7]

they want you to buy more!!

[@anthropomorphicpeanut6160]

Smell and taste are the best ways to know if anything goes bad (unless it's visibly moldy). If it passes the sniff test, it's going straight to my stomach

[@nancyneyedly4587]

Hmm, I think part of the appeal is the calmness we feel when we see order from chaos. To see any matter of product organized neatly makes you feel an sense of "ahhh, nice and tidy, orderly clean" etc. Even if you aren't necessarily overly concerned about order in your daily life, watching it gives a sense of ease. Not everyone is watching for some deep aspirational goal.

[@yeeyeeyeeye]

These restocking tiktoks are also a subtle but insideous form of advertising. Notice how the brands and logos of the packaging are front and center? See how the containers are clear? It's not just for aesthetics. It's also to sell you the product they're restocking. Not just that, but they also use aesthetic and modern looking containers to catch attention and pique interest - that way, someone can ask in the comments, "Where did you get that?" and the influencer can provide a convenient affiliate link.

[@nomanejane5766]

The thing is those people arent even storing things correctly. For example putting tomatoes in the refrigerator, not putting a paper towel in the clear drawer to absorb humidity, washing certain fruits before storing,.. buying a drawer to store lemons and peppers when u could just wrap them in foil so they last longer.

[@eponymouscharacter]

Great video as always, Cara! My question is - are these restocking videos actually influencing people to do the same? People’s bathroom cupboards and fridges etc are insanely private spaces and there’s no real way to show them off except other than social media or literally dragging your guests to your fridge to show them 😂I haven’t seen any “amateur” restockers on social media- rather only people who make this as their primary form of content or to supplement related content (e.g a recipe channel restocking ice) (as well as a healthy dose of reaction channels reacting to the restocks). So unlike clothing or makeup influencers who really have the potential to inspire people to consume, I wonder of restockers are there primarily as soothing ASMR content that make people go “huh. Nice” and move on with their days, meaning that the overconsumption comes from the restock content creatorso(a small group) rather than those influenced by them (a potentially much larger group). So maybe they might be a more benign type of influencer? That’s just my theory which I have no way of proving :)

[@lucilock713]

i like restocking videos because it gives me little dopamine hits which allow my deficient brain to let me get ready for school without stressing too hard (adhd)

[@aduckofsomesort]

For me these kind of videos will trigger one of two responses in me. Either it’s motivation to clean/organize my own space or, anxiety, which could be for a number of reasons depending on the video. And I hate that I can’t tell which a video will be until I’ve already watched it.

[@HotaruMimiuchi]

I briefly went through a phase of using containers to organize single serving foods in my fridge because I was so influenced by fridge restocking videos. It lasted maybe a month before I decided to stop buying these single serving foods. It made me realize that I don't actually consume all that much food and that I really didn't like how much trash all that packaging made. The bins that I bought for it have been really useful in helping me find the food items that I do consume before they spoil. I also utilize the bins in lots of other areas of my home that I often had issues with finding items in. I mainly watch these videos because I find them peaceful and they often inspire me to clean when I have no motivation to. Sometimes they help me discover products that are really good or helpful (like the sodas that make you poop). I do have a problem with how samey all these videos look with their aesthetic of white/beige and the only acceptable 3rd color is pink and all the homes are minimalistic. I get that it looks clean and certain people like that but where is the variety in these creators? I can't be the only maximalist who decorates with colors that enjoys these videos.

[@jennysparrow]

Hi Im new here, great channel. Im a person with very high Belief talent and every time I see so ridiculous thing like restocking stupid nail polishes or so, I think - if only ppl will dedicate the same amound of time to do something that REALY matters (education, fighting for their rights, saving others) this world will be totally a better place.

[@wa11ie]

the ones that always get me are fridge restocks. my family always buys food depending on what we need for meals for the next couple of days and these girlies are out there buying 10 bottles or cans of the same beverage for 15 variations of beverages and then some eggs and that‘s their whole fridge. what do you eat? maybe it‘s also that i‘m a water only person but where do you put produce? do you have a second fridge in the garage where all the normal items a family actually needs go that‘s a lot less aesthetic because it‘s actually getting used?

[@AKbaby89]

I do collect lipgloss from my favorite brand, but im constantly using them up, and its the only product i do that with. I havent even bought an eyeshadow palette for way over a year now, and bronzers, highlighters, foundations, powders, and primers for over 2 years.