Suggest Me a Planner

[rickboone1]

Mid to full size, not too expensive. Can be a toss away or refillable. I need a good planner. I would like each day to have a page and leave me planning room and journaling room.

[soapbox]

For years my parents and I were all members of the Cult of Franklin Planners, (later Franklin Covey). Especially in the age before decent PDAs, they were outstanding and supremely well thought out. Now, much of their advantage has been eroded by smart phones/excellent PDAs, and tablet/laptop PCs. And it's impossible to easily share calendars, contacts, and meeting notes with a Franklin.

However, if pressed (say, by a new employer!), I'd go back to a Franklin planner without many complaints. I'd like to see better integration with Macintosh, and I almost certainly wouldn't use their paper address sheets (favoring my iPhone for that).

One parting thought: I think the advantage of not relying on batteries for your calendar cannot be overstated, and you can't carry a transcript or a resume in an iPhone.

[DavyRay]

DayTimer, or Franklin Covey.

[global_dev]

I took a Franklin covey class integrating the paper with electronic tools but I use the circa system from levenger. The class was definitely worth taking. There is a way to use online synch tools to help, but I 50/50 paper electronic

[agavemountain]

Mid to full size, not too expensive. Can be a toss away or refillable. I need a good planner. I would like each day to have a page and leave me planning room and journaling room.

What are you going to need it for? Do you prefer wire bound or a binder? Size?

I can't tell you what I think you need, but I will tell you what I prefer most in a planner.

I've gone all electronic in the past and have come back to a paper planner again and again. I've tried everything from moleskin (gtd) to Franklin to a day runner.

I'm currently using the Day Timer wire bound journal edition (5-1/2" x 8-1/2"), 2 page per day, without any binder or accessories. It will run you about $39. The filler set comes in 4 books, and has appointment hours from 7am to 11pm.

I've used the loose leaf planners on and off and they are just too bulky for me; I now prefer a "naked" wire bound edition. I have found that I prefer the half-sheet of paper size.

I use post-it notes for quick notes and to-do lists and staple boarding passes and receipts to the pages. By the end of the quarter, it looks like a kinder garden craft project gone horribly wrong but it works for me.

[rickboone1]

What are you going to need it for? Do you prefer wire bound or a binder? Size?

I can't tell you what I think you need, but I will tell you what I prefer most in a planner.

I've gone all electronic in the past and have come back to a paper planner again and again. I've tried everything from moleskin (gtd) to Franklin to a day runner.

I'm currently using the Day Timer wire bound journal edition (5-1/2" x 8-1/2"), 2 page per day, without any binder or accessories. It will run you about $39. The filler set comes in 4 books, and has appointment hours from 7am to 11pm.

I've used the loose leaf planners on and off and they are just too bulky for me; I now prefer a "naked" wire bound edition. I have found that I prefer the half-sheet of paper size.

I use post-it notes for quick notes and to-do lists and staple boarding passes and receipts to the pages. By the end of the quarter, it looks like a kinder garden craft project gone horribly wrong but it works for me.


Sounds like my cup of tea. DO you have a link? I want to use it to schedule events, make notations of things and have a little space each day to journal a few thoughts. Just 3 to 5 lines, nothing major.

[vintage69]

I cannot stand to carry items such a planners in my hands and I do not carry a brief case. For quality and price I used Letts planners which fit very nicely into either my jacket pocket or during the summer my pants pocket.:thumbup1::thumbup:

[Uncle Erik]

I mostly use the iPhone and iPad these days. I've been with the iPhone for three years now and it's second nature to me now. I still use some handwritten notes, but don't see any reason not to be electronic.

Before the iPhone, however, I used a spiral-bound calendar, usually around a 5x7" size. I could never get used to a system like the Franklin, so I just scribbled notes into the calendar. Worked fine and I'd go back to it if I needed to.

[NavyLaw]

If i may...I would suggest the 5 x 8 Day Runner. You can customize it it pretty much any way you wish and it is totally refillable so you can invest in a quality leather, zippered cover or something and take care of business. The cover I purchased actually set me back about $60.00 but I have had it for 3 years now and it still looks brand new. Hope this helps. Steve

[pal]

Well Rick, a good plumber is hard to come by...Oh, you said planner! Sorry, I just could not pass that one up. I usually go to Office Max and get the best one I can.

[mark the shoeshine boy]

i presently using Planner pads (https://plannerpads.com/) they work for me for my daly tasks, but i revert to my Maximizer software for CRM (http://www.maximizer.com/). Maiximizer can be used with my Blackberry and I can also print a daily planner page

[RazorPete]

If I did not use iphone calendar/notes, I would use a moleskine planner, they are simple and well made.

http://www.moleskine.com/catalogue/diariesplanners/

[rickboone1]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I found one I liked today, a thin spiral bound, for like $10. It was at FedEx/ Kinko's/ Office. Whatever they call themselves now. I later found one for $4 cheaper at the Wal-mart. Oh, well. I like what I have. Think it will work just fine.

[KnoxPhil]

May I suggest anyone with a DIY interest might wish to peruse http://diyplanner.com

[StillShaving]

Anyone tried making their own Hipster PDA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipster_PDA)? There are many variants (http://wiki.43folders.com/index.php/Hipster_Variants)of the concept and templates to help get started. I have not tried any of them myself.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3581/3846447077_88776e8f67.jpg

[SRock]

How about something from Saddleback Leather (http://www.saddlebackleather.com/categories/103)?

[hicksdm]

I use the moleskin and like it alot.

[azmark]

Been a Franklin Covey cult member for 12 years now and life would literally stand still if I was without it. But the product would be pointless IMO unless you know how to use it and apply their method. There are also very nice binders in a large variety.

[mikey369]

Mid to full size, not too expensive. Can be a toss away or refillable. I need a good planner. I would like each day to have a page and leave me planning room and journaling room.
Try Day Timers. They have a website, and a 50+ page catalogue. Good Luck

[causalfault]

I'm quite fond of my Day Timer. My wife got one from the firm she worked for a few years ago, and turned me onto them about a year ago. They're small enough to fit in the back pocket in my blue jeans or the inside pocket of a jacket, yet have plenty of space for notes, expenses, and appointments. Really great product for a reasonable price.

[ryand]

I just order a Quo Vadis planner from Brian Goulet of Goulet Pens. I'm not a fan of the bigger Covey-style planners so I found a nice week planner. Hopefully it should come in this weekend and I can give my impressions but for the price (under $40) it looks darn good. Below is a review of the one I ordered.

http://quovadisblog.com/2010/06/14/the-note-27-my-big-fat-luxurious-planner/