Talk to me about filofaxes

[Weatherwaxed]

I need a better way to organise my life. Currently i have a diary and a notebook for craft projects, moods, periods, school stuff etc. And endless post its for food lists and meal planning. And a few notes on my phone. I would prefer to have just one thing to lug around and check. I want to be able to organise things by sections.
Is a filofax for me? Is there a better paper alternative? How easy is it find/print out different inserts? Do the inserts fall out after prolonged use?
Help me mumsnet... Or tell me I'm stuck in the 80s..

A section for books to read would be good too.

I stopped using my Filofax three years ago. It was basically a duplicate of stuff that was on my phone and I couldn’t justify the weight (a lovely zip-around calfskin Pocket size) for a glorified address book and notepad.

It was good while it lasted and I keep all my diaries because a lot of my work comes round on 3/4 year cycles so the contacts would be in there. Or to look up when DC had the measles!

Now I use a Moleskine 18month diary with a vertical week on the left and a blank page on the right. I have my own way of filling in information for me, the family, work and hobbies, it has pockets and a pen holder so I’ve got used to it.

I couldn’t go completely paperless, though!

You can print out special Moleskine pages on their website, or they do specific topic books, like Cities, Films, Wines, Restaurants. So probably Books too .

Google bullet journals.

Bullet journal.

I love a nice Filofax as an object, but they're just too bulky and heavy to carry everywhere.

Book Journal
The Moleskine paper quality is good so this would last a long time.

Does it have to be paper. I adore my Trello organiser. Can do it on my phone.

I've got a Mum's Office diary. Shit name, but I really like the grid layout, various planners and notes pages. I picked it up in John Lewis, I think.

I don't want a bullet journal because i want pre-printed calendars. I also want to be able to section things and take out/put in pages, so a bound notebook wouldn't work.
Aren't moleskines bound notebooks? Or are they folders/ring binders?
I do not want anything digital.

I'm thinking that i would mostly use blank pages and folder dividers to separate each section. I wouldn't use the addresses, finances or to-do section.
Maybe i should get a second hand one and add in my own pages to see how i like it. I'm hoping i can prevent it being bulky by chucking pages once they are no longer relevant.

Have a look at Boxcleverpress. They have pre-printed diaries but with sections including shopping lists. You can also have a zip up cover with pockets. Might suit you?

www.thehappyplanner.com/ This planner is recommended by a virtual assistant I know - you can get it on eBay. You can add pages etc. I’m thinking about getting one.

I think if you can ditch the paper on the go and just use the notes on your phone/other electronic things you'll find it easier. The one thing you always have with you is your phone.

I just use the standard notes facility. I tried a few fancy apps but found them too time consuming. I title notes accordingly eg for school thing I might put permission slip school trip and then the date.

You don't say if you work or not but I find I forget less if I put it in my work email diary! I also email myself stuff to my work account to deal with next working day.

This is my "system":

Family organiser type wall calendar: I use this to track school terms, I'll put play dates school trips etc on there. It's in the kitchen so I'll see it every day.

Whiteboard stuck on the fridge : I use this to remind me to do things like pick up prescription/change broadband/collect parcel, and to quickly note down things that need to go on the shopping list as I find I'm running out of something

Notes on phone - always used for things that come up on the go. Also to make shopping lists.

Work email diary - I enter school hols or special events on there eg a hosp appt that would mean I need to wfh when I normally wouldn't be

Work email - if something needs to be dealt with in working hours I'll email myself at work so I remember to do it at lunchtime (eg changing a hosp appt).

@Sgtmajormummy please can I have a link to the one you use, I think this is exactly what I’m after!

What size do you want? I have a red leather A5 one gathering dust, I’d be happy to post it to you?

WH Smith (so presumably other newsagents as well) sell the Filofax inserts.

@atowelandapotato - that is a very kind offer but i think i need the personal not a5 size. A5 just looks too big.

@isleepinahedgefund - i really really dislike using my phone for stuff like this. I definitely want a paper thing.

Thanks all for the other suggestions. I will look at them all.

I do everything on my phone. We have a shared on-line calendar (we use iCal but google is just as good). It's very easy to put repeating dates in, and if you need to, you can easily print off a week or a month.

Like a PP I use the 'notes' on my phone for everything. I have an iPhone and a MacBook and the notes are shared in the cloud meaning I can easily take the information from one of my nasty phone notes and use it somewhere else.

No probs!

I use one of these: www.thejournalshop.com/a5-hobonichi-techo-cousin-book-2019

No bulkier than a standard notebook but loads of space each day for notes etc. It has monthly, weekly and daily pages.

I use the Filofax Compact Saffiano Zip Organiser as calender/purse and really like it. It's a bit big, but I carry all my cards etc in there. It comes with a calendar and a ring system.

Have a look at personal-planner.com, customisable and not as bulky as a filofax.

I've got an A5 Filofax. I create and print out my own inserts (you can buy a hole puncher that works for a Filofax). I use it mostly as a teacher planner but it's really useful in all sorts of ways and looks very nice!

I have a personal Filofax, use the inserts from WH Smith own brand, works really well for me, dairy, notes pages etc, dividers. Wouldn’t be without it

Wedded to my filofax. I’m someone who struggles to keep track of things on a phone - I need it written down. The inserts are a bit pricey and, yes, a filofax is a chunky monkey but well designed IMO.