Thursday, April 19, 2012

Organizer Fever

"I need a new planner."  It's not true, but I keep telling myself that it is.  Right now, I'm using a small binder to carry with me and a normal-sized binder to keep reference info.  Now that I'm rather largely pregnant, I don't carry more than my wallet and the small binder.  The bigger binder gets left in the car a lot, unless I'm sitting in a waiting room somewhere-- then I get it out and pay bills, plan menus, etc.  Honestly, even when I'm using the bigger binder, I still leave it in the car and just take what I need out of it.



In my small binder, I have:

  • membership cards
  • a pocket to keep my to-do's
  • a wish list
  • MPG tracking sheet for my car
  • packing lists
  • blank pages for recipes
  • reference prices for stock-pile shopping
  • pet info
  • monthly calendar
  • week-on-one-page calendar
  • address book
In the bigger binder, I have:

  • cleaning lists
  • master menu
  • freezer inventory
  • financial goals
  • gift ideas and gifts bought
  • schedules for schools, soccer, church, volunteering, hubby's sports, etc 
  • monthly calendar
  • list of pregnancy-approved meds

I want a better system.  I need a better system.  I end up moving stuff from the big binder to the smaller to make it more "handy", then my stuff is all over the place or cramped in my tiny binder.  I like the A5 size binder - because it is really easy to make your own pages, but it's half the size of a standard binder.  There's enough room to write, but it doesn't require a tote bag to carry it around.  It seems to be a nice hybrid of what I'm using now.

And, of course, I want a purple one.  It has to be pretty or I won't use it regularly.

This is my dream binder.   
The Filofax A5 Finchley in Imperial Purple.  It's the bigger, purple version of what I use as my small binder.  The leather is so soft and luxurious.  And, of course, it's purple.  But, it's ridiculously expensive and it's not available in the US --so, as much as I love it, I won't pay to have it shipped from Italy.


So these are the candidates:

                                                         






Both are, of course, purple.
Both are size A5.
Both have credit card pockets.
Both have a notepad spot in the back.
Both have a closure of some sort.


The Day Runner Terramo:
-is closer in design to the Filofax Finchley (pictured above)
-has a big pocket on the inside to keep loose papers or even a small notebook
-comes with a notepad
-is the exact planner Mom has, so I can actually hold it and see if I would like it
-doesn't have a "secure" closure (it seems like the tab would easily slide open if I stuffed the binder)  My mom confirms that the sliding tab stays shut and even allows for the binder to be stuffed fuller than a snap closure would.


The Filofax Domino:
-is a Filofax.. I'm partial to Filofaxes
-has two pockets on the inside to keep loose papers
-does not come with a notepad
-is not sold in stores, so I can't go see one before I buy it (though, there are many blog reviews of the A5 Domino)
-has a secure closure that would hold lose papers - even on the outside cover of the binder (ie. shopping lists).


I can find them for around the same price.  The Filofax seems to run a bit more expensive most of the time, unless a good deal appears on eBay.

Help me decide!!  Vote in the comments :o)

1 comment:

  1. I think the terramo looks classier, but if you know you like filofax, i would choose that one.

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