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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To spend £300 on a calendar?

58 replies

PearTreeSally · 14/11/2025 22:16

I would really like a digital family calendar for our home - mainly to stop all the arguing about who planned what first and who definitely didn't forget to tell the other about an important event. I like the idea of a physical, in-the-kitchen display, as I don't think a shared app on our phones would work. Having meal planning and joint shopping lists would be useful too.

I've come across the Skylight, which looks perfect, but nearly £300!! Cheaper alternatives don't have great reviews, and if I was techy I suppose I could buy a tablet and put a calendar app on it, then wall mount it, find a way to switch off the screensaver etc, but that seems a faff.

YABU - don't be daft, you must have more money than sense
YANBU - it's the best purchase you'll ever buy, it saved my marriage and sanity

OP posts:
angerelle · 14/11/2025 23:15

Not sure if it's helpful, but we use Google calendar and to get round the notification blindness I've got calendar notifications set to buzz on my Garmin watch / Fitbit. These are the only notifications I allow on my watch (apart from BeReal Blush) so I always notice them.

pastaandpesto · 14/11/2025 23:12

Cheesecrunch · 14/11/2025 23:03

We use a normal digital calendar, then once a week I sit down and transfer that week to a weekly fridge planner. That then gets photographed and pinned in the group chat. If it’s not on the digital version then that person misses out. Eg they can’t expect a lift/ to not have the kids.

It does mean we have to be fairly strict about actually keeping up with it but we’re a large busy family. There isn’t any quick and easy solution.

https://amzn.eu/d/0COxQpf

Genuine question, what is the advantage of copying it on to a physical planner and photographing it vs everyone just having a calendar widget on their phone?

And what happens if plans change midweek?

pastaandpesto · 14/11/2025 23:08

SabrinaThwaite · 14/11/2025 22:59

You write it on the physical calendar when you get home?

Show quote history

But how do you know if the date is even free? A good friend of mine uses one of those wall family calendar things and I silently scream when we're out together, hatch a plan for meeting up again, and inevitably she goes home, realises she's fucked the dates up and her husband is already booked to go out that night, and we have to go through the scheduling all over again. JUST PUT IT IN YOUR BLOODY PHONE!!

AutumnClouds · 14/11/2025 23:06

I looked at Skylight longingly once but it looked as if a lot of the functions are only available with an ongoing subscription which pisses me off as a concept so much that now i’ll never get one!

FrostOnWindows · 14/11/2025 23:05

I really want this too OP!

DelphiniumBlue · 14/11/2025 23:04

Google Keep is good for shared lists; we have a shopping list on it that the whole family can access, and you can see it when you are at the shops.

Cheesecrunch · 14/11/2025 23:03

We use a normal digital calendar, then once a week I sit down and transfer that week to a weekly fridge planner. That then gets photographed and pinned in the group chat. If it’s not on the digital version then that person misses out. Eg they can’t expect a lift/ to not have the kids.

It does mean we have to be fairly strict about actually keeping up with it but we’re a large busy family. There isn’t any quick and easy solution.

https://amzn.eu/d/0COxQpf

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.co.uk

https://amzn.eu/d/0COxQpf?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-am-i-being-unreasonable-5444432-to-spend-ps300-on-a-calendar

Redpeach · 14/11/2025 23:03

How about a cheaper version of skylight

SabrinaThwaite · 14/11/2025 22:59

pastaandpesto · 14/11/2025 22:55

I'm struggling to understand why a shared Google calendar wouldn't work.

When you need to schedule something, you add it to the family calendar. Put name/s in the title to show who is involved.

Whenever you need to know what's going on, check the calendar.

That's literally it. We broadly have a rule that if it's in the calendar, you're expected to know about it - including if that means that you're the parent at home when the other one is going out. Now the kids are older they add their own events too.

We've run on this for well over a decade I think.

I am boggled by people who use a pen and paper calendar that exists only in their house. How the hell do you make plans when you're out?!

You write it on the physical calendar when you get home?

Okiedokie123 · 14/11/2025 22:57

I carry a small week to view diary and a matching sized notebook in my bag. I write stuff in both. Couldn’t you just extend that idea by transferring stuff from those (or a piece of paper stuffed in your bag each morning) to the family calendar each teatime/breakfast time.
Problem solved imho for much much less than £300!

pastaandpesto · 14/11/2025 22:55

I'm struggling to understand why a shared Google calendar wouldn't work.

When you need to schedule something, you add it to the family calendar. Put name/s in the title to show who is involved.

Whenever you need to know what's going on, check the calendar.

That's literally it. We broadly have a rule that if it's in the calendar, you're expected to know about it - including if that means that you're the parent at home when the other one is going out. Now the kids are older they add their own events too.

We've run on this for well over a decade I think.

I am boggled by people who use a pen and paper calendar that exists only in their house. How the hell do you make plans when you're out?!

Chinsupmeloves · 14/11/2025 22:54

A wall calendar with everything added on works for us, dates which we add to our phone calendar.

NuffSaidSam · 14/11/2025 22:52

It sounds like the problem is poor organisation and communication and I don't think a digital calendar will solve that. There will just be another excuse...I forgot...I didn't have my phone...there must have been a power cut....I forgot to look.

You'd be better placed both making a commitment to stand in front of the paper calendar for two mins every morning and night and write down anything you need to write and read anything you need to read. Take a photo so you have to with you through the day.

niailwwn · 14/11/2025 22:52

PearTreeSally · 14/11/2025 22:44

I obviously tried that first! The paper calendar works great, when we remember to fill it in. When one of us remembers an event, while we're in the kitchen and has a pen! The problem is that doesn't always happen. Similar to the shopping list hanging in the kitchen that's still there when I've gone to the shops and forgotten to rip it off. Would be nice to have it all with me at all times, but I'm not managing to justify the stupid price tag

Show quote history

What makes you think everyone will use the digital calendar if they can't manage to use a paper one?

Original poster
PearTreeSally · 14/11/2025 22:47

BoxOfCats · 14/11/2025 22:39

What about one of the larger Echo Show devices? There are some that have big screens and you can set them to show your shared calendar.

Off to research now! Thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
PearTreeSally · 14/11/2025 22:44

Okiedokie123 · 14/11/2025 22:38

In what sense would a paper family wall Callander not work? One of those ones with a column for mum, dad, each child, the dog etc.

I obviously tried that first! The paper calendar works great, when we remember to fill it in. When one of us remembers an event, while we're in the kitchen and has a pen! The problem is that doesn't always happen. Similar to the shopping list hanging in the kitchen that's still there when I've gone to the shops and forgotten to rip it off. Would be nice to have it all with me at all times, but I'm not managing to justify the stupid price tag

OP posts:
Specialfatfurrycat · 14/11/2025 22:42

So you need to pay £300 to ‘prove’ to your husband that he’s being a dick? It won’t work. He’ll just find some other excuse

BoxOfCats · 14/11/2025 22:40

Oh and added bonus, you can set it up to do audio reminders for things as well 🙂

BoxOfCats · 14/11/2025 22:39

What about one of the larger Echo Show devices? There are some that have big screens and you can set them to show your shared calendar.

Okiedokie123 · 14/11/2025 22:38

In what sense would a paper family wall Callander not work? One of those ones with a column for mum, dad, each child, the dog etc.

tigger1bounce · 14/11/2025 22:37

I agree, if it would make your life easier, go for it. However as you say you don't have it spare, would this make your family struggle to afford to purchase it, then it would be a No. If it may dip into a larger savings pot, then yes.

Original poster
PearTreeSally · 14/11/2025 22:36

JustOnePersonNotAnOctopus · 14/11/2025 22:34

Yes I thought so too.

Show quote history

Ha, I promise not, but if they wanna sneak me a freebie or some commission, I wouldn't say no!

OP posts:
Original poster
PearTreeSally · 14/11/2025 22:35

JudgeBread · 14/11/2025 22:30

I wouldn't but just using a shared Google calendar works for us.

But if you've got £300 to spare and you think it'll make your lives easier, why not?

I do think it would make our lives easier, and I do think it would stop arguments. I do NOT have a spare £300 though, this would be an extravagent xmas present!

It is a bonkers amount though, you're all right...

OP posts:
JustOnePersonNotAnOctopus · 14/11/2025 22:34

DallasMajor · 14/11/2025 22:30

This has got to be a sneaky advert.

Yes I thought so too.

SabrinaThwaite · 14/11/2025 22:32

LifeBeginsToday · 14/11/2025 22:30

Just get a family calendar with a column per person for £15.

Sometimes you just can’t beat pen and paper.

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