do you want to try and organize a little your life (bc you need it or you just want it) and end up seeing lot of planners, notebooks, binders and filofaxes?
guess what: you dont need "a filofax"
or at least, you dont need to buy a brand new from amazon and pay more than hundred bucks. specially if you are afraid of not using it
budget planner binder + original bullet journal system
okay, the planner could be the more tricky part. in spain we call this agenda archivador or agenda organizador. but agenda is the format of the planner, that could be a notebook or a binder or a lot of stuff
anyway: i would recommend to thrift it. you can find filofax's format binder on thrift stores, flea market, charity, probably lots of them from 80s and 90s executives who tossed them to use computer solutions (🥴) vinted has stuff, ebay has stuff, and i bet facebook marketplace could work. this could be different in each city or region, so take it with a grain of salt.
mine's come from my partner; it was from someone else on their family and way far of the style they use. it's from a jewelry/wristwatch brand (probably a fancy planner for men) but it looked deliciously gay nineties and "darkacademia" for me
but ada! i cannot find it!! and i need it for (insert here reason) okay, ive been there and gotta say, thrift use to work better on a vintage/romantics/vampire gothic old stuff enjoyer vibe. if you need something less intense or its super important for you the dopamine hit on seeing it in x color: search for 'budget binder' or 'budget planner'
normally they are a smaller binder of A6/B6 sizes (like, 1/4 of an A4 folio), six rings, pretty universal packs of paper. downside is you probably find it easier on aliexpress or amazon aaaand its not the best thing. but the information is here.
once you have your base, the world is YOURS to customize and decor your binder! i did put some stuff i had lying around (like the clips, the bracelet, the amber pendant) and i bought others (brooch and fancy corners). bird pin is a prize my father got long ago and he didnt want anymore.
why a binder? well, it allows you to change the order of your pages, specially. which is good if you stress out on how much space left you have to write. which leaves me to my second point
original bullet journal system
i cannot stress this enough. without slandering all the creativity and art put through creative journals, internet and social media has turnt the concept of bullet journal into a standard of high effort and high mainteinance colorful, pretty and elaborated planners which is exactly the oposite to the original concept. i knew this method back in 2016 and i leave it bc i couldnt follow the high level i thought it was the minimum bar. so, a reminder for everyone else that their brain tricked them: thats not the original bullet journal method.
the original bullet journal system required: a pen and a notebook. THATS FUCKING IT. NOTHING ELSE.
of course you can put extra spice, but its not mandatory not required and you dont have to feel pressured to make it like that.
but ada!!! no one is telling you to do it pretty!!! no and yes. nobody is saying it clearly except my own head when i search of 'bullet journal' and all that appears is the high effort version. which as a neurodivergent person i am, i cannot maintain.
however, i tried the original system for a month AND I DIDNT DROPPED IT YET!!! which is a big deal for me, gotta say.
you can check the channel of bullet journal bc theres a lot of videos to help you and in more ways that just with the notebook which is surprising
whenever you search into the web for inspiration and ideas on how you could manage your journal, planner, filofax, or whatever, remember: take everything with a grain of salt. not everything in internet is real, but performative and aesthetic. you can have ideas and parts of stuff you like, but doesnt mean you have to make it 1:1 as you are seeing. and if everybody knew it, i didnt, so its like a good reminder to myself.
you can create great things, you dont need to buy it prefabricated and you would enjoy way more.
also, for real, 100 bucks even if its leather is way A LOT.
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