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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think that there's nothing more exciting in life than choosing a new diary/planner for the new year?

209 replies

toomuchturmericinwatermelon · 26/12/2021 10:08

I don't think I spent this long choosing my childrens' pushchairs or even the family car!!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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SenecaFallsRedux · 28/12/2021 18:10

I've kept commonplace books since I was a child, something my grandmother started me on. They are primarily filled with quotations that I like. The current one even has a few from Mumsnet.

homealoneagain1 · 28/12/2021 20:17

Can anyone recommend a planner and Organization app you can use together?

hilariousnamehere · 28/12/2021 20:44

Falling down the commonplace book rabbit hole in 3,2,1... Thank you for the links!

Typecast · 28/12/2021 23:46

See my mention of the Amazon Japan website earlier. Honestly - I should be an ambassador for them because I buy all my Japanese planners from there. Even with delivery, cheaper than buying from the UK.

Hobonichi Weeks has 69 note pages in. The Mega version has about three times as many.

www.amazon.co.jp/

I agree with a previous poster about the additional pages of info in the Hobo weeks but I tape them together with some washi tape and they don't bother me.

toomuchturmericinwatermelon · 29/12/2021 07:40

What about pens? Can we talk about pens to use on our journals? And washi tape? Or does that belong in a different thread?

OP posts:
FlipFlops4Me · 29/12/2021 08:07

@Catflapkitkat

I still have a filofax. On Christmas Eve we watched Die Hard. At one point Alan Rickman whips out a filofax my teenagers were laughing at my 'they were very popular in the 80s'
I still use them. I have an A5 size for work, and personal size for me. I spent a while yesterday putting the 2022 diary pages in and choosing new dividers etc. I run my life with the thing, which is odd because I am totally computer based for work.
FlipFlops4Me · 29/12/2021 09:01

That is - I'm online all day but still - even for work - I run my office diary/stuff from a filofax. And my home from a cute personal filofax.

DazzlePaintedBattlePants · 29/12/2021 09:33

I use the hobonichi store, which ships direct from Japan. They should still have 2022 Weeks in stock.

Previously I have used Leuchtturm notebooks for bullet journal before moving to the day free Hobonichi as a half way house between bullet journal and a planner. I still use a Leuchtturm notebook for my work bullet journal but looking forward to seeing how I get on with the Cousin.

At school I always used a French Agenda, purchased every year on holiday. I do like the Clairefontaine and Rhodia notebooks.

I use a variety of pens - at the moment Carbon ink in a Platinum Preppy, or a Lamy fountain pen, especially on the Tomo River paper. I carry about a Zebra Sarasa or Lamy ballpoint, as I get paranoid about leaks with fountain pens.

xfgdhfgnhkk007 · 29/12/2021 10:00

I used to have a filofax but I stopped using it because I found the pages were far too narrow in relation to the covers, which meant if I wanted a decent page size I would have to go large like personal or A5, and I didn't want to lug around a heavy tomb! Anyone else find that? It's the only thing I found disappointing about the filo, otherwise it's a great system.

I currently use a Muji weekly diary for work only, it has a week down one side and graph paper on the other, perfect all my deadlines, meetings and to do lists. And I use a hobonichi A6 for personal, it has monthly and daily pages only (no weeks), perfect for light planning and everyday journalling. (NY resolution is to journal every day, I have too many thoughts ratting around in my head and it would be good to get them out and re-exercise whatever creative muscle I used to have!)

I can take my work planner into the office, and can also destroy it after a couple of years as it's just work crap. I could never take my personal planner into work as it's way too private!

Anyone else keep separate planners for work and personal, or combine all your life into one?

@toomuchturmericinwatermelon they belong in this thread! Smile I love the muji gel pens for the hobo as they don't 'ghost' over the page. I also love the Pilot G-2 pens as they are thick, black and inky - my favourite kind of pen! I'm a messy writer and have no inclination to change!

I'm not that big on stickers and washi but I do have loads and might use them lightly in my personal diary this year (haven't decided yet!) I very much like the one-black-pen-minimalist look.

KittenKong · 29/12/2021 10:08

So the big question of the day - do you hang your calendars up now (when it has tail ends of the year dates), or - as my grandma used to say - you will die?

MaggieCassidy · 29/12/2021 10:19

If Amazon jp or the Hobonichi store are out, I’ve bought them on Etsy from ttstore with amazingly fast shipping.

I love the Pilot G-2, Coleto multipens and more recently I’ve been trying out the sharpie S-gel, which is good too.

I add a little decoration if I’ve got time but can’t get too bothered about it as my main planner has to be very functional.

Commonplace books however will be fun to decorate and make pretty. I’ve always kept a running notebook but with no real format and interspersed with daily notes and lists, which make it unattractive to keep, so I’m going to start that in the new year.

NigellaLawdaughter · 29/12/2021 10:54

@AllLopsided

DH always gets me one for Christmas but with strict instructions - I've been using Paperblanks for a few years. The patterns are lovely. Next year's is my favourite but I don't repeat patterns in consecutive years so I don't get them mixed up Grin

I kind of wish I'd had it in November though - I have a lot of medical appointments and they're all written into the very small planner section in the back of this year's diary... need a magnifying glass to decipher them!

I take my stationery very seriously and don't think I'll ever change to an electronic diary! Thinking of getting a notebook from the same maker as a journal...

Thank you for posting that photo -- they're gorgeous! I looked them up and have just ordered £90 on several of their journals, and date books. (And I'm not finished ordering them yet!) Can't wait for them to arrive!
pinkgin85 · 29/12/2021 11:02

I love a good planner! Check out Martha Brook London, a small business with the cutest stationary Smile

Tittie · 29/12/2021 12:58

I wish I hadn't seen this thread, I now regret my moleskine diary that I've got on order!

baffledbunny · 29/12/2021 15:21

@toomuchturmericinwatermelon

What about pens? Can we talk about pens to use on our journals? And washi tape? Or does that belong in a different thread?
Oh god yes! I can talk about my favourite pens and supplies all day!! Just let me know where lol
baffledbunny · 29/12/2021 15:32

@Typecast

See my mention of the Amazon Japan website earlier. Honestly - I should be an ambassador for them because I buy all my Japanese planners from there. Even with delivery, cheaper than buying from the UK.

Hobonichi Weeks has 69 note pages in. The Mega version has about three times as many.

www.amazon.co.jp/

I agree with a previous poster about the additional pages of info in the Hobo weeks but I tape them together with some washi tape and they don't bother me.

Speaking about Amazon Japan I bought these pens from there recently - metallic dot markers! You can make loads of dotty patterns - I had one I used for my mental health spread but have been having fun with these metallic ones on the other pages of my commonplace book: www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B08DN9DGTK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They're so much fun to use! I want to get a full set of colours now.

I also love the Zebra Sarasa vintage pens, I bought a whole stash from cult pens - it's my new favourite stationery shop: www.cultpens.com/i/q/ZB53324/zebra-sarasa-clip-gel-rollerball-pen-05-vintage-colours?gclid=Cj0KCQiAq7COBhC2ARIsANsPATEDISLCFDDdDNeGpVZ87j6UG50AR36Ovjy-KHV_X-_EC3M6bFzLP5EaAsZQEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

The colours are gorge and they are so nice to write with!

HemanOrSheRa · 29/12/2021 15:52

@KittenKong

So the big question of the day - do you hang your calendars up now (when it has tail ends of the year dates), or - as my grandma used to say - you will die?
My boxpress calendar arrived today. I've started writing on it, adding birthdays on etc but won't hang it up until 1st Jan. Just in case Wink.
KittenKong · 29/12/2021 16:06

I hung it up. It came crashing down an hour later (same hook as before).

If you don’t hear from me again..

madisonbridges · 29/12/2021 16:42

[quote MollyScamp]Loving all the links!
I ordered mine in November...or was it October??

This year I created my own on this website and love it, so many options for customisation. Great inspiration on their Instagram page too.
It took 2 or 3 weeks to come though, but you can decide when it starts, you could get a cheap one in a pound shop for January and then start this in Feb.

sotypical.me/ie/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA5aWOBhDMARIsAIXLlkdl9WvHRg1w52ExghC8t-UXnlxnECvinLzkKtR4jHcern-3k_KiNPQaAunHEALw_wcB[/quote]
@MollyScamp, I ❤ you. I've been saying for ages that none of these diaries are exactly what I want and I need to design my own. And now... I'm in heaven! Thank you. 🥰

HemanOrSheRa · 29/12/2021 17:33

@KittenKong

I hung it up. It came crashing down an hour later (same hook as before).

If you don’t hear from me again..

Oooh 😱 😂.

I've bought a traveler's company pen and holder to go with my existing traveler's notebook. Can't wait for them to arrive, along with the refills I generally order, so I can get next years notebook set up. I now want zebra sarasa vintage pens too!

www.thejournalshop.com/brands/travelers-company/midori-brass-pen-brass

MollyScamp · 29/12/2021 18:22

MadisonBridges you're very welcome! Hope you like it. I spent ages on the website looking at all the options.

hilariousnamehere · 29/12/2021 18:32

Pens!! Here please @baffledbunny and @toomuchturmericinwatermelonGrin

I've got a rainbow of fountain pens, far too many fine liners, and hop between papermate inkjoy and zebra smooth for black biro. Can't beat a blue BIC 1.6mm (chunkier than the normal one) for smooth writing either.

The zebra glitter gel pens are epic and I am using them for everything too... I have stationery problems 😂

I cofounded a stationery subscription box and still run it and I still can't stop buying stationery for me arghhh

farendoftether · 29/12/2021 19:11

Does anyone use digital planners with an app like GoodNotes? I am finding myself falling down this rabbit hole after looking on Etsy.

baffledbunny · 29/12/2021 19:44

@hilariousnamehere

Pens!! Here please *@baffledbunny and @toomuchturmericinwatermelon*Grin

I've got a rainbow of fountain pens, far too many fine liners, and hop between papermate inkjoy and zebra smooth for black biro. Can't beat a blue BIC 1.6mm (chunkier than the normal one) for smooth writing either.

The zebra glitter gel pens are epic and I am using them for everything too... I have stationery problems 😂

I cofounded a stationery subscription box and still run it and I still can't stop buying stationery for me arghhh

ooh a stationery subscription box? that sounds amazing. What's it called please, if you don't mind me asking? I have a glossybox but have been thinking of giving it up in the new year for something more interesting. I never thought of stationery though! I used to have an artsnacks sub ages ago for art supplies but stopped when they kept sending me big fat markers in same colours in every box. I ended up giving them away to my friend's kids as what am I going to do with endless markers lol.

I've actually been downsizing my pens collection recently and now swear by these ones mainly and thoroughly recommend them:

-Staedtler Triplus fineliners 0.3 (loads of colours): www.amazon.co.uk/Staedtler-334-Fineliner-Superfine-Assorted/dp/B0007OEE7E/ref=sr_1_3?hvlocphy=9046003&hvnetw=g&keywords=staedtler+triplus+fineliner&hvadid=259067276847&qid=1640806190&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq7COBhC2ARIsANsPATEOV0zrXLDVr3DLvC9Ok5idamSZQkBe7q7Rp5-XNItSJdy3l6xIBXEaArJ3EALw_wcB&hydadcr=28183_1821137&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=kwd-298307238668&adgrpid=52590050789&hvrand=12716700035109548878&sr=8-3
-Pentel sign pens - loads of colours and great for trying to do italic type calligraphy (which I'm not good at btw): www.cultpens.com/i/q/PN02375/pentel-sign-pen-s520?gclid=Cj0KCQiAq7COBhC2ARIsANsPATEW4Q0YNkqA_DksmJLIbZCZ1J5BCfg0OiScMg5DTnSxfOitKp8mhkcaAj98EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
-Zebra sarasa vintage pens (link above)
-Zebra mildliners - love the muted colours of these highlighters - also very "instagrammy" if you're into that stuff! www.amazon.co.uk/Zebra-Mildliner-highlighter-Pastel-Color/dp/B07K7XZXTY/ref=asc_df_B07K7XZXTY/?hvlocphy=9046003&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1www.thejournalshop.com/kuretake-zig-clean-color-dot-twin-tip-marker&hvnetw=g&hvadid=214477646089&hvpone&hvlocint&hvpos&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-779093288133&hvrand=8291195794161043455
-Faber castell PITT calligraphy pens - looks like they come in other colours though only have the black one...(hmm feeling tempted now lol) www.amazon.co.uk/Faber-Castell-FC167598-Pitt-Calligraphy-Blister/dp/B003U6LERE/ref=sr_1_4?hvlocphy=9046003&hvnetw=g&keywords=faber+castell+calligraphy+pen&hvadid=259098069976&qid=1640806453&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq7COBhC2ARIsANsPATF8CE9rDyKm02TIj4SxKT49tNbgqtC02zdZGfVLeRSeg9XTmusG7RAaAh4VEALw_wcB&hydadcr=5338_1829746&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=kwd-308770465339&adgrpid=53323567876&hvrand=18441180510993032374&sr=8-4
-Jelly rolls (only tried a couple but they write really well and I mean to get some more sometime).
-Also love these Staedtler Pgiment Liners which are great for line drawings if you are putting a watercolour wash over them as they seem waterproof): www.amazon.co.uk/Staedtler-308-SB6P-Fineliner-Technical/dp/B004L87XRA/ref=asc_df_B004L87XRA/?hvlocphy=9046003&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=218085297059&hvpone&hvlocint&th=1&hvpos&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-370585108046&hvrand=16731809473516939273

Also love my small fountain pen collection (mostly lamys, kawecos and parkers) and the massive range of bottled inks you can get for them. On cult pens you can get these cute tiny Diamine ink bottles for around £2-3 which are great for experimenting! I always end up putting one or two in my basket whenever I'm ordering from there: www.cultpens.com/i/q/DM28425/diamine-ink-30ml-bottle

Hope these help if you're interested!

baffledbunny · 29/12/2021 19:46

hilariousnamehere btw I know what you mean about stationery problems..! Blush