Shopping Help needed: Dayplanner, pen and...

[tea4one]

I thought it would be a nice gift idea and right now it is just an idea, to get a dayplanner, address book and ink pen for someone. I would like for it to be reusable, ecspecially if I decide to buy one for myself and don't want it to be a one-time use gift. I found some at Levengers but thats the only place that I found all three of the things I mentioned. I also kind of like the notebook paper refills they have there too.

Where would you buy a dayplanner, ink pen and address book? Which one would you buy?

[1grl1by]

Originally Posted by tea4one

I thought it would be a nice gift idea and right now it is just an idea, to get a dayplanner, address book and ink pen for someone. I would like for it to be reusable, ecspecially if I decide to buy one for myself and don't want it to be a one-time use gift. I found some at Levengers but thats the only place that I found all three of the things I mentioned. U also kind of like the notebook paper refills they have there too.

Where would you buy a dayplanner, ink pen and address book? Which one would you buy?

My planner, address book, note papers and pen are all in a zippered portfolio. I purchased them at different times and put together the system I wanted. It's similar to this: http://www.dayrunner.com/webapp/wcs/...-1_false_10053 but in a smaller size. I bought it at an outlet store at least 12 years ago and paid very little.

I would love to switch to a Circa by Levenger system, but can't really justify the price of buying a new portfolio cover and all new pages (dividers, zip cases) for everything, especially when I have a system that works.

Daytimer.com has similar ones to the one I have, and so does FranklinCovey.com.

I don't buy fancy pens, because I have a tendancy to lose them, so I just have a pen I got free from somewhere in there.

I buy new calendar pages each year, but only buy new address book pages when my address book gets to messy or full to read.

[cchhbb]

Not to answer your question, but are you sure someone would want a paper calendar & address book. I received one last year and it went straight to donation. I use Outlook and my phone as my calendar and contact manager.

[Trishinomaha]

Originally Posted by cchhbb

Not to answer your question, but are you sure someone would want a paper calendar & address book. I received one last year and it went straight to donation. I use Outlook and my phone as my calendar and contact manager.

I hate to say this, because I love beautiful Dayrunners and pens and used that type of system for several years but most business people use the type of system cchhbb describes. I am well over 50 but Blackberries, Outlook and Smart Phones seem to be in the majority at our office. I use Outlook myself - I love how it can pop up a reminder 15 or 20 minutes before your appointment time. It's saved me several times when I've completely forgotten I had set something up.

[Shugness]

I've had a planner for going on 4 years now and it's my lifeline! Mine looks like this....

http://www.dayrunner.com/webapp/wcs/...-1_false_10053

But it's getting slightly raggy looking since it gets used so much - I'm going to replace it probably within the next year but will go with the same size, brand and style but mine is currently black and I think I would like a red or pink one - just to be cute

I use mine not just as a planner, but it's my wallet too so it goes everywhere with me in my purse. I have to buy purses that are big enough for the planner and all of my other junk, but it hasn't been a big deal.

I recommend going with a well known brand so finding replacement paper, calendars, address inserts, etc isn't difficult. I think I bought mine at Staples or Office Depot, but both of those sell Day Runner stuff.

I prefer one that is a snap closure as opposed to zip up - mainly since mine goes with me in my bag, I can actually crack it open in my purse and fish out my debit card and put it back without having to pull it out of my purse completely, like I would if it was zip up. NOW, on the other hand, if I carried this planner alone I would probably want a zip up so everything stayed secure in there.

One thing to add though - my day planner is my calendar, address book, note pad, and wallet all in one - so when you said day planner and address book, I'd recommend getting one like I have that has both of those features.

I'm probably the exception for my age group, but I like having all my addresses/phone numbers/calendar in black and white on paper. I have a blackberry but don't make use of it as my planner ((I do have phone numbers programmed in but just frequently dialed ones)).

As for a pen - I can't keep up with them so someone buying me a really nice pen would probably be a lost cause

[LaraW]

I was going to suggest that the person you are buying for really WANTS a dayplanner. I am in the minority of people who use paper and pen; I know a lot of people do theirs electronically. I use the Franklin pages for mine, it has worked well for me, and I have never found anything that I like as well.

[SusanMac]

I'm also one of those who switched from paper to electronic several years back.

But...to answer your question... Staples & OfficeMax are great places to shop for the planners you want. Try Target, as well.

[tea4one]

Ok to be fair I was also thinking of asking about something electronically that everyone is using, so anyone that wants to can start adding their suggestions for the electronic ones as well.

If I buy one for myself it will be used as a backup to all of my addresses that are in my address book on my computer and the phone numbers that are in my cell phone. I have all of this on another hard drive that I can not get the information off of right now because it has a device error. It would also be used for menu planning for me.
I am also thinking about going back to school, I thought this would be useful for that as well.

Thank you for all of the suggestions so far.

[Robyn1007]

I put it all on my iPhone because I don't want something separate from my phone as it just wouldn't come with me.

[leightx]

I love the *idea* of a planner, because they are so pretty, and organized, and papery, and full of places to put notes and appointments. But I have never, ever used one. I just did without before computers were invented. I got the occasional one for birthdays and Christmas (hint, hint), used them for a week or so, and then they collected dust in the office closet. I still have a beautiful leather Franklin Covey planner up there somewhere, with detailed appointments from Jan. 1 - Jan. 22, 1998.

So, while I would appreciate the sentiment of a planner, I personally wouldn't want one as a gift. Even if I did use a paper one, I'd want to pick out the size and style and system (daily / weekly / monthly) myself - but I'm pretty particular about things like that.

I now have everything on my iphone, and use it for appointments and contacts (as well as everything else, obviously). I don't use paper calendars anymore at all - not even the wall ones. I don't always carry a purse, but I do always have my phone.