The Great Planner Debate!

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

I'll admit it. I'm a planner junky. There's just something about putting a pen to paper that I LOVE. And one thing that I love more than anything is a paper planner and a good notebook to make to-do lists. Call me weird or call me crazy, but I love it. I just feel so much more organized when I write something down. Plus, I kinda sorta love all the pretty pens too!

Although it's only August and 2016 is still a few months away, I've already started to think about what kind of planner I want for next year. But, problem is, I have no idea which one to choose... which is where you come in :) Help!

I'm debating between 3 different kinds (but am totally open to suggestions!)

Erin Condren Life Planner


all images from ErinCondren.com

I love love love my current Life Planner, but I kinda don't love how big and bulky it is and how the page layout is vertical. And then, one day I was perusing Instagram and I saw Erin Condren's post that the planner now comes in the horizontal page set up. Game changer!!! I love that layout so much more, so it totally threw me when I thought I knew what I wanted in a planner for next year.

I know this probably sounds totally stupid to most people but I really like the big tabs, I really like the big 2-page monthly calendar layout, and I really love the stickers, page marker, and zipper pouch that come with it.

But I also feel like the only part of the planner I've been utilizing lately is the monthly page view, and surely I don't need a $50 planner for a monthly page view. But is it because I don't like the vertical page layout? I don't know.

Emily Ley Weekly Simplified Planner




 all photos from EmilyLey.com

According to the website, it seems to be small and lighter, at least compared to last year. Now I don't know what size it was or what it weighed last year since I didn't have one, but it's looking like it might be lighter than my current EC one. It also has the monthly view that I love, it has tips and reminders like "Mother's Day is next week!" and has protective corner covers on the cover.

I like that it already has the hours laid out for you so you know exactly how much room you have to write and then things don't get jumbled together or out of time order.

I also kinda love the accessories you can buy for it!


Small, cheapy planner from Target

I don't have a specific one in mind for this and I think that's the problem. Compared to the planner I have now, they all seem so... boring and small. And I know one of my complaints was that the EC one is too big, but the space to write on the little 5ish x 7ish planners is, well, small! And I don't write small so I'm afraid I'll buy one and hate how little space I have to write. The weekly pages seem like they have a decent amount of room, but I'm more worried about the monthly view, especially since that's what I've been utilizing the most recently.

So, help! Thoughts? Opinions? Recommendations? I'm hoping maybe I can make a decision by my birthday next month and can encourage someone *cough Seth cough* to get me a new one for my birthday but I need your help!

Thank you in advance!


27 comments:

  1. I really liked my Emily ley one. Maybe look into the weekly one instead of the daily. You get the monthly pages but instead of a page per day you get the week on 2 pages... Makes it even thinner. I've been using my phone since I often forget to bring my planner places ;). But when I was in school and college, my planner was my life! I had a coach planner who used Filofax inserts... I remember when Filofax had a whole store in the mall! What in the world happened to that company?

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    1. I bought myself a coach planner when I graduated and started working. I used it up until about 2-3 years ago, bc I was so sick of ordering the annual inserts.

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  2. I am IN LOVE with the horizontal Erin Condren layout. I just got a new one for my birthday and it is the best. The little box on the side is perfect for the stickers, but the horizontal space is awesome for to-do lists and notes. I would HIGHLY recommend it. Plus, I can give you a $10 off code if you want it. :) Just let me know!

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  3. I bought a Plum Paper one for this year, and while I really really loved it, it was too big for me to carry around all the time. If it stayed at home all the time, it would've been perfect, but then that kind of defeats the purpose of a planner :) I ended up switching to one from Target (Blue Sky) brand, and it fits my needs perfectly! Maybe I'll do a post on it soon. Something I noticed the other day at that red store too- Emily Ley and Blue Sky teamed up and they sell planners at Target price point, but with Emily Ley type layouts. I would check those out, because those might be perfect!

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    1. Apparently I was thinking of Whitney English, not Emily Ley. Whitney has a Day Designer design with Target. Sorry about the wrong info!

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  4. I'm in the same boat! I love my EC but it's huge. But I love all the accessories... Like the sticky things to attach invitations into it. Because I'm lame and save all invitations. Meaning my planner is GIANT RIGHT NOW. It doesn't even close. Maybe I need to simplify with the other one? But I do love the times. But I love the EC stickers.

    Decisions, decisions.

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  5. The Emily Ley one two years ago at least was gigantic. The EC one is much lighter. So I don't know how it will compare with the newer lighter one, which I didn't know about - fun! Now that I've had the Ley and the EC...I like the Emily Ley one better. Did you see May Designs? I think it looks kind of like the simple ones you can get at Target but much cuter.

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  6. Girlfriend, I totally feel ya with everrrrrythibg you touched on. Honestly, I just can't justify shelling out more than 10 bucks on a planner. lol I'm cheap. I LOVE the "mint green" brand from Target. It has tabs, tons of space to write. Notes pages for each month, addresses, special dates, an entire notes section in the back as well. Both month & week view. Plus it's large enough to write normally but small (and light) enough to carry around all the time. Good luck!

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  7. I couldn't pick so I'm making my own. I just have a binder and find free printables to put in it. It's nice to only have what I use in my planner. I also keep my blog planner, holiday planner, and address book all in the same binder.

    I have some info on all of this on my blog if you are interested.

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  8. So I am currently on my third (maybe fourth) Emily Ley Simpliflied Planner and plan on ordering my next one when they are released in September! I've never used an EC so I can't really compare, but I really really LOVE all of my simplified planners. And I think the changes that Emily made for this coming years look great and it's supposed to be a bit smaller. Now I don't travel with mine (I work at home so it stays on my desk) so I can't say much about throwing it in a bag, but I just love the layout and design of it all. If you do decide on it make sure to set your calendar for the day they are released because they will sell out!

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  9. I loved my EC planner as well, but found it to be too bulky and too pricey. I'm currently using the Mambi happy planner. It has the same layout as EC, but at the fraction of the price. It's pages are also removable, so if you wont have to worry about bulk. What I love most about it is all the accessories that come with it--stickers, pocket folders, etc... The possibilities are endless! I'm glad I found your post on Tuesday Talk. I'm a planner junkie as well and have trouble choosing a practical planner to use (although I think I've found it with my happy planner at this point). Thank you for sharing, Elizabeth!

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  10. I love seeing all these cute planners. Though I haven't taken the plunge and purchased one for myself. I did go out to Target and buy one that is about the size of a standard notebook. It's a little bigger than I'd like, but the small ones were just too little -- how does anyone write all the stuff they need in those tiny little spaces?! If you find a really good planner that you love be sure to share! And let's be honest, one of the best parts of a planner is color coding everything with fun pens. :)

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  11. Oh planners..!! So pretty and so fun to write it out and be organized. I'm right there with ya, except I go in spurts of actually using it. I've been using the Sugar Paper for Target ones, they're good size (maybe a little small, but then I can throw in my purse), good layout, pretty but simple designs, very inexpensive (which is the selling point for me); this would have to go on your Christmas list because I think they only come out at the end of the year. Either of those would make a such a great gift for you (dang, they essssspensive though..?!) and I hear so many people rave about them. Can't wait to see if you get one..!! :)

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  12. Since I tradgecially had my planner stolen in May, I have yet to find one worthy to replace it. It was perfect and they dont make the refilleable ones as good as they used to :( So, Im in the same boat as you. I think Ill have to actually go into stores for the product I have in mind, which Im being lazy in doing at the moment lol. I like the vertical monthly layout and could care less about weekly (I know Im in the minority on that one) but I like to see my whole month laid out for me with no page flipping. Im wishing us both good luck!

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  13. I just ordered myself a planner from Minted. Super simple. I don't know if it would work for you if you think you write to big but they have fun covers and you can personalize your planner of choice. Maybe check them out. I think they run less than $20.

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  14. I love the fancier nicer planners, but in the end I don't want to spend the money. I've had the $7 spiral planners from Target the past 2 years and love them. Since i only use my planner for blog stuff (and phone for everything else), I just can't justify spending so much.

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  15. ME too! I'm addicted to planners. I finally stopped at the Ban.do one and love it. It's not a spiral though, so I don't know if that's a must. And mine just started in August and goes to till next December.

    liz jo @ sundays with sophie

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  16. I love my EC planner. I reference it daily! It is definitely bulky but I rarely carry it with me. Typically it stays on my desk.

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  17. I think I might be getting the Shop Ban.do planner or one from papersource. This year I did a bullet journal with a moleskin and I like it, but I think I want a planner again for next year. I love the Rifle Paper planners, but I really don't want to spend >$30 which I why I dont even consider EC or EL, plus I feel like they have so many features I wouldnt even end up using. I need a calendar layout with ample space to actually write in appts/events, which is something that is hard to find.

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  18. I'm completely in the minority here, but I am a digital girl. I haven't had a planner in 5+ years and I love it! I have different calendars on my iPhone and they're all color coded. Craig and I share calendars so we each know what's going on and we can each add things! It's the best of all words--except for the pretty patterns and pens, but I can totally get past that for the convenience factor!

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  19. I am all about the month view. And so I don't use planners. Because you can't get a planner with just 12 pages! So I have this larger wall calender hanging in my cubicle at work and basically everything is written down there -- colour coded and all!

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  20. I had an EC life planner and liked it - but never wanted to carry it with me because it was so bulky! I recently went to Target, spent $13.99, and grabbed a Whitney English for Blue Sky planner and LOVE it! It's full sized with a monthly tab as well as daily ones. And it's narrow enough to stick in a bag easily!

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  21. I have a small cheapsy Target planner, lol! So funny you added it in there. I think I got it out of the dollar bins last year and love it. The only thing I keep track of in a planner is blog stuff though. I have never gotten into using one for the family we usually write that stuff on a displayed calendar so Russ knows what is going on too.

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  22. I am right there with you! I am a planner, pens, markers, washi tape, stationary, etc junkie! I love it all. I’ve never had an EC Life Planner, but have always coveted them. I could just never justify the $50+ to spend on one. I am using a Day Designer planner from Target and the layout is much like the Emily Ley planner. I think I spent $12 bucks on it and I really love it.

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  23. I love planners too but have yet to find the perfect one! I have one this year that's the PERFECT size, but it's just black and gray and so boring!!

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  24. I have the Emily Ley Simplified planner & LOVE IT but it is big & bulky. I'm thinking I may go to Taget and get a smaller one for next year! :)

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  25. Oh my goodness this is my daily debate that I have with myself- I am so glad to find another planner junkie. Haha! Seriously, though, I have the Erin Condren Vertical Layout. I do like it. BUT it kind of stresses me out having the whole week on 2 pages. I think I may be more of a daily planner kind of girl. I want to find the Whitney English ones at Target but our Target has been out of them so far. And the Emily Ley ones look really good too. I do love that Erin Condren has all of the blank pages in the back for planning. Thanks for sharing at Tues Talk! Featuring this tomorrow.

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