What's in my Filofax: Meet Mickey!

So, being the total planner nerd I am, I would be lying if I said that I haven’t imagined doing a “What’s in My Planner” of my own for years. Kes-Sativa and I have dreamed about our own videos on YouTube and being among other PlannerPeople who blog about our love for organization and stationary. So, today is the day that I finally get to check this off of my bucket list! Ladies and gentlemen of all ages and organization levels, I introduce you to my Filofax!

Hello Mickey!

I call him Mickey (you have a name for your planner right?) and he is an A5 Metropol in Black. I bought him as a Christmas present to myself last year for $27 and have been using him since he arrived in January of this year. I love him. My Filofax goes anywhere of importance such as blogging dates with Kes-Sativa and always to school. Some think the A5 is a tad big for an “on-the-go” planner but I typically carry large bags and the size has worked very well for me.

Lets open him up!

Inside the Front Cover

I can't help but smile when I open him up. :)

When you open my metropol up you are greeted with an array of post-its and memo pads in the front cover and my beautiful Mickey Mouse dashboard! Now, before we get too far, I must share a tiny secret with you guys… I am a HUGE Disney fan. Seriously, I am practically a four year old trapped in an eighteen year old body.  So, keep that in mind as we travel through my lovely agenda.

Anyways, back to business. My dashboard used to be the front of a notebook that a dear friend of mine brought me from Disneyland. After almost breaking my hole punch and bruising my hand, it is now a lovely dashboard that greets me every time I open Mickey up.

The front cover comes with five card slots on each side as well as a large pocket that you can slide bigger pieces of paper into. Some may use this section as a wallet but I utilize this space for sticky notes, stickers, and small papers (which I’ve pre-punched) that I use for lists and such within my weekly pages.

One can never have too many post-its.
Nor can somebody spend too much time at the
Target Dollar Spot.

My Calendars

The first page after my plastic dashboard is a piece of Mickey Mouse scrapbook paper. I recently ( as in this past week) added. I also made new dividers using Disney scrapbooking paper found at my local Joann’s Fabric. After that, there is the Filofax pages for personal information and registration number (so if somebody were to find my agenda, Filofax can send it back to me) and then we start my Month on Two Page spread.

As I have mentioned in my previous post on color coding, I love color and have an extensive color coding system within my agenda as I'm sure you can tell. The vibrant, almost marker-like, ink you see on my monthly calendar are Papermate Flair Pens in medium. They do bleed through a tad on the Filofax paper (especially the darker colors) however, I still use use them.

After my monthly view which I use for long-term planning and big events, there is my Week on Two Page spread which is where most of my day-to-day planning gets done. I dabbled in a bit of decorating as inspired by the many PlannerPeople of YouTube and Pinterest but going to school everyday and juggling with the events of senior year prevented me from doing anything too serious. However, I love the notes section in the beginning of the week to write an inspiring quote. I also like to fill the empty spaces with my random doodles. :)

On the weeks that had a lot going on or when I had a lot of things to do that didn’t have a specific date, I would write a weekly to-do list and attach it into my current week. The week pictured to the left was the week after I got home from a three week vacation and I had a LOT of catching up to do. It is also one of my more decorated weeks.

Divider One: School

So, one of the coolest perks of a binder planning system is the ability to hold everything you need within one book. Behind this adorable Mickey divider (I warned you that I had a problem), there lies many important papers related to my schooling. Papers such as contact information for my university next year, my intended schedule for the fall, and a running list of scholarships to apply for. In the fall, I also plan on holding my Roommate Agreement Plan, the university bus schedule, a grade tracker, as well as anything else I will need for my first year of college courses. Unfortunately, for privacy and safety reasons, I cannot show you anything behind this divider but… Trust me when I say that this is one of my more used sections.  

Divider Two: Blogging (as of today)

 
This divider has held many different things behind it throughout the past few months. Most recently, it was a Health section where I tracked my meals and copied down the many exercise routines that I’ve found on Pinterest. However, due to the fact that I don’t meal plan outside of school and that my Health section was painfully neglected… I decided to make it my blogging section.

I hope that as our blog grows in popularity, this section will grow as well. As of now, behind this lovely divider, there is a running list of future post ideas, tips and tricks on writing better posts, “Filofax photo-a-day” challenges which may find their way onto this blog, and a bit of blank paper for when inspiration strikes. :)

Divider Three: Lists

As many PlannerPeople do, I love lists. So much that I have an entire section for the endless supply of checklists that I have. In this section, I have a master to-do list for things I need to complete eventually, a bucket list written in rainbow colors, a list of books to read (I want to read all of the Nicholas Sparks books and I may add John Green to that list too), a wish list that I use for when people ask me what I want for my birthday or Christmas, and a very short list of quotes which I need to add more to. There are also writing prompts for each day of the year which I am thinking about implementing into my planner after the new year and lastly, a running list of Disney movies (written on Disney paper no less) to keep track of all of the movies that I own on Bluray, DVD, and/or have a digital copy.

Divider Four: Finances

This is another section that has been left terribly untouched. I bought the expense tracker from the Filofax website and labeled each one by month. This was my first mistake, as there is no way that I could fill an entire page with purchases in one month. So, I am hoping to get back into using this section within the next couple of months, I am thinking about adding an envelope to hold receipts that I still need to enter but… we will see what I can come up with. Feel free to leave any suggestions or tips about how you track your finances. :)

Divider 5: Etc.

This is the divider that catches everything that doesn’t really have a place right now. It also holds a bit of my extra paper for other sections. First thing behind this glovely divider (haha because it’s Mickey’s gloves? No? ...okay) is the many address sheets that came with my Filofax. Now… I don’t understand how these are supposed to be functional which is probably why I haven’t used them. I may be taking them out or giving them away or something because they haven’t done me much good.

After the address sheets are assorted colors of Filofax paper that came with the planner. I also took all of the paper out of the notepad that came with the planner and inserted them here as well. The jot pad in the back wasn’t used as much as the loose leaf paper has been. I also have more Disney paper that is lined, gridded, as well as blank, and these came from the same notebook that is used as my dashboard now.

In this section, I also carry all of the information pages that Filofax supplies you with when you get an agenda. I have actually used these randomly in school among other places and either way, I tend to be one of those people who would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.  

The last thing in my Filo is a top loading envelope that came with the Metropol. Inside, I hold an assortment of stickers ranging from Disney to Lilly Pulitzer, as well as some calendar stickers from a previous agenda.

Inside the Back Cover

As we come to the end of Mickey, we are greeted with the back of the notebook. The notebook had an elastic band attached and it is useful when I put things in the planner without actually punching them in. Rarely, if ever, does anything fall out of my agenda even though I throw it in my backpack, purse, and take it from class to class.

Lastly is the mesh pocket on the back of the agenda. This originally held a jot pad however, I rarely used it other than to tear papers off of it and the edges of the notepad began to curl due to its location. Now, this holds the things that I need to refer to often or perhaps need to be filed away somewhere other than my planner.

Currently, there is further information about my classes which I have had to pull out enough times to not want to punch it into the planner, a list of general education classes for my school, a NASA sticker gifted to me by a friend, and a few of the weekly notes found in the Target Dollar Spot (one of my most loved places).

Well, that is the end of my planner tour. Now, I am among the many PlannerPeople with blog posts displaying their love of agendas and how they organize theirs. If requested, perhaps I can make a video going into more detail of my weekly spread as well as my bullet journaling. Feel free to leave question or comments down below and I will be sure to respond to them as best as possible! Also, keep an eye out for "Whats in our pencil cases" as well as our stationary essentials! Keep planning PlannerPeople!

P.S: How do you organize your agenda?

Kaylee's Bullet Journaling Adventure

  Hi Plannerpeople! Today isn't going to be a tips and tricks type of post but rather, more of a personal  ramble about my most recent change in my planner. I would love to hear your feedback, comments, and suggestions on this post and also, I would love to read your posts on the subject. :) 

   So, most intense Plannerpeople or anybody else who is always hunting for new organization methods, have probably heard of bullet journaling. A man named Ryder Carroll posted a video on youtube with his idea of a system that he could use to track everything (meals, exercise, events, etc.) in one place without it becoming terrible chaos. I'll link his video at the bottom of this post, as he explains the method beautifully but to sum it up quickly for this post's sake, he created a system of different bullets and symbols as a key to separate notes from events from appointments on his daily planner. 

  After a few hours (or perhaps a little more) of watching Youtube videos and searching through the endless pictures and posts on Pinterest, I decided that I

could apply the technique into my daily planning in my Filofax. So I sat down and made my own bullet journaling key! Most of the key terms I used were adapted from other systems but this is what I came up with. :) 

  Some of these I have used since the beginning of my planning life, such as checkboxes for tasks and an asterisk to mark important notes, but now having a symbol to mark a quote or idea has me writing them down more often and the migrate arrow gives me something to write in on the tasks that I haven't completed. (Am I the only one who hates an unchecked box left in my day?) 

This week's theme is classic Mickey Mouse :)

 I just created the key last week so it is very new to me, however this is what my week so far looks like applying the bullet journaling method and my already set color code! I love it, it has caused me to write down more notes throughout the day and I've started to keep track of my finances a little better. Due dates and expirations have popped out more and paired with my color code, it has been easier to read and sort through my day. 

 I know that my planner as of now looks very dull for somebody who brags about her extensive color code and her collection of pens however, as you will see in an upcoming "What's in my Planner" post and perhaps a video? (!), my color code is used much more when I am in school. Currently, I only have work, blogging, and social events so much of my to-do's and such fall under black which is like "other/personal".  My planner has been more of a journal these past few days however, I kind of like it and hope to continue writing down cool things and inspirations even as my schedule becomes more busy and hectic. 

Well there is my short post on my bullet journaling adventure. If you guys would like, I would love to post an updated post (and maybe a video?) after a few months of use to let you know what I think of the system as my planning needs change come school time. Until then, keep planning PlannerPeople and remember, organization can lead to a less stressed you! :) 

Links to Bullet Journaling Videos that Inspired Me

Original Video - Ryder Carroll: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfRf43JTqY4 
www.bulletjournal.com

Bullet Journal Setup - My Planner: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHdMg_nV6IQ

How I Set Up my Bullet Journal - Haley Cairo: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS58hEKNZtc

Picking Your Perfect Planner

So you want to start using a planner. From the iPhone apps to the binder style, or from the huge thick planners to the monthly pages, it is easy to get confused and overwhelmed by all of the choices and prices available. But don’t lose sight of what’s important. Ultimately, a planner should serve as a tool and work for your life. It doesn’t have to look pretty or super organized or decorated; it’s purpose is to help organize your priorities, with whichever method that works best for you.

When picking a planner there are a few questions you must answer in order to find a planning system that works well for you.

• What are you using a planner for? (School, work, home,etc)
• What type of format do you need? (time slots for appointments, check boxes for todo lists, etc)
• How much space and customization do you need? (Consider what you are using the planner for as well as how big your handwriting is.)
• What is your planner budget? (You would be surprised as to how pricey some systems can get.)

These are the main things that you want to think about when you are picking your planner. There are so many different systems out there, how are you to know which one to use? Fret not, here is a giant list (with lots of pictures) of different sorts of planners out there.  

Academic Planners
Academic planners typically run from August to July (there are also 18 month planners which run from August to December of the next year) and are perfect for the studious (or any other) student. They typically will have a monthly view for “big picture planning” (test dates, vacations, etc.) and weekly views to track all of those assignments and readings.

The price of these sorts of planners can range from free to $40 if you want a fancy one. If you are looking for just an average planner, check and see if your school offers one for free. If you don’t want your school mascot plastered onto the front of your planner, check out your local Walmart, Target, or even your local dollar store!

If you want a planner that is very cute or colorful, there are plenty out there. Lilly Pulitzer, Victoria’s Secret, and Vera Bradley are just a few who offer very adorable and a bit pricey planners. Is the price worth it? That is up to you but keep in mind that you should LIKE your planner, and if a cute floral print is what you need to get organized, then get it!

Plannerpeople Rating:

Price: $ - $$  

Pros: Very easy to use, runs for the school year, low priced, easy to find, great first planner.

Cons: Typically spiral bound = no adding or removing pages (unless you get REALLY creative)

Overall: If you aren’t looking for anything more than a place to write down homework and test dates, this is perfect for you!

 Binder Planners
Binder planners are exactly what they sound like. They are typically 6-ringed binders which you buy inserts for. These are good because you can decide what sort of format you want and you can add different things such as meal plans, exercise trackers, quotes, photos, printables, and endless other sections. There are plenty of ideas on Pinterest, Youtube, and countless blogs about how people utilize their binder systems.  

Price wise, this system can be expensive. There are name brands such as Coach, LV, Michael Kors, and all of them have their own binder planner. There are also leather agendas and others that are made of very nice material. These have a wide range of about $20 - $600 dollars.

Brands such as Filofax, Kikki K, and Kate Spade can be found online (unless you are lucky enough to have stores in your area) but if you go to office supplies store or even your local Target or Walmart, brands such as Dayrunner and Daytimer can be found for cheaper prices. Also, check out your local bookstore! Barnes and Nobles has their own brand of planner (Punctuate) which can be very well priced as well as cute.

Plannerpeople Rating

Price: $$ - $$$$$

Pros: Very customizable! Professional, can be as plain or decorated as you want, multiple uses.

Cons: Can be expensive, have to purchase inserts, perhaps too customizable?

Overall: This is a great planner if you know what you want and need in a planner but it isn’t found in a typical spiral bound agenda. For some, too much freedom is a bad thing, and they may dislike the lack of structure and amount of options there are for this system in particular. If this is a system you would like to try but are unsure if you will like it, we recommend buying a cheap version before splurging on a leather agenda.  

DIY Planners

DIY planners are exactly what they sound like. Anything from using a spiral notebook or buying a binder and making your own planning system to making your own printables for your binder system. These are the highest on the customizable level. You can add anything you need and make it completely your own.

There is no exact pricing on this type of planning system. It could be the price of a notebook and post it notes, or perhaps printing a planner and having it bound. There are endless possibilities for this system. And perhaps you want to use a system that somebody else has DIY’ed? Etsy.com is full of different types of printables and bound agendas to choose from.

Plannerpeople Rating

Price: $-$$$$$

Pros: Completely customizable, can be as simple or complex as you wish

Cons:  Making a planner can be time consuming and overwhelming if you don’t know exactly what you want.

Overall: Simular to the binder method, this can be great for somebody who needs something that isn’t offered in other planners. If you have tried other systems and they haven’t been the right fit for you, then maybe you should try to make your own.

Electronic Planners
Maybe paper and pencil just don’t do it for you? Well, if you are more of a technological kind of person, then there are plenty of planners found online or even included on nearly all smart phones. We won’t get into too much detail about this until a future post but there are many calendar applications and websites that are easily found online or on your application store.

Price wise, these are usually very cheap. If you are hesitant on spending $10 or more on an app, we suggest that you look for a “lite” version or perhaps a similar app for a cheaper price before committing to the app. There are plenty of free resources to take advantage of online though.

Some apps we can mention now? All Apple products come with a calendar app installed which can be used and color coded as much as you want. Google also has a calendar system which will email you to remind you about upcoming events. For the student, iStudiez is a great app which syncs with all of your devices. There are endless amounts of online planners to use, what’s your favorite?

PlannerPeople Rating

Price: $- $$

Pros: Most people nowadays always have their phone with them. With electronic apps, there is no hassle of finding the right pen or lugging around a heavy book around. Electronic planners allow for syncing between people which is probably the easiest way to share your plans.

Cons: Phones die! Also, sometimes writing something down is just the simplest way to do things.

Overall: This method works for some and not for others, we personally prefer the old pen and paper but sometimes, it is easier to just rely on your phone. A word of advice, always back up your planner!

Non Planner Planners
Well, we have touched base on almost every type of planner out there but maybe none of them suit you. Perhaps there is more than one person is using the planning system or you just don’t need a full blown binder. There are many “non-planner” planning methods such as white boards, wall calendars, or even loose sticky notes and to-do lists. These are easy to apply to your home and can be used with children as well.

PlannerPeople Rating

Price: $-$$$

Pros: Can be very simple! Sticky notes left on the fridge or a white board with lots of colors! The possibilities are endless!

Cons: Can be difficult to organize when everything is all over the place. If a system works for you, then make sure you stick to it and keep it up to date.

Overall: This is great for those people who don't have an ideal planner or just need a few reminders here and there.

If you are confused as to what kind of planning style you prefer, we encourage you to test out different ones for each month, week, or day. Every so often, you can switch up to a different style until you find one that best fits your personality and lifestyle. Perhaps you need a hybrid method that is a mixture of the planners listed above, or maybe you use something completely different. What is your perfect planner and how do you plan?