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Being a Planner Girl for Less

Planning on a Budget

By Hillari HunterPublished 6 years ago 2 min read
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My planner

After my umpteenth trip up to an arts and craft store to buy planner supplies, I realized that I had become a planner girl. I also realized that I was throwing my budget off balance. Depending on the brand and other features, the planners themselves can be a huge cost. Add in the accessories, and there goes money flying out of the wallet. However, there are ways to indulge this hobby like the numerous planner girls who have channels on YouTube without breaking the bank.

1. Know what you want in a planner and compare.

Do you want a basic planner to write down what you have to do every day? Or would you like one to track the progress of your yearly goals? Would a standard size planner do, or do you need a smaller planner? How much room do you need in the planner to write in it and decorate it? Research different types of planners online. When you’re ready to buy, go to the store so you can actually see and touch the planners. After all, you’ll be using it for a year, so make sure that the planner is one that will work well for you.

2. Wait awhile to buy.

It’s nice to start off in January with a brand-new planner. But if you don’t mind starting your planner year off in February or later, you’ll catch a lot of planners on sale.

3. Don’t get hung up on brand names.

I heard there were some planners starting at $200 — shudder! The most popular planners are usually also the most expensive. Plenty of other planners will work just as well as the well-known brands but for less money.

4. Consider using stencils instead of stickers.

Stickers are nice and they add pizzazz to planners. But one’s budget can easily go off the rails buying stickers, especially custom-made ones from independent vendors. A pack of stencils specifically made for planners (and journals) can cost less than 12 dollars. They have numerous designs and can be used over and over again to decorate planner pages.

5. Arts and crafts stores and stationery stores aren’t the only game in town.

Planner supplies often cost more at those places as those stores usually carry the well-known brands. General merchandise stores, as well as dollar stores, often have supplies such as stickers, gel pens, and washi tape, for example, at reasonable prices.

6. Join a local planner group and swap supplies.

People will show up to meetings with tons of accessories they are willing to swap with others. These meetings also serve as a good resource to learn about other inexpensive planners and supplies that are available.

7. You know those mailing labels with your address that charities send you in the hopes they’ll receive a donation?

Many times, decorative stickers are also included with the mailing labels. Those may be used to brighten up a planner.

8. Make your own stickers.

Get some gel pens or colored pencils. Buy a packet of mailing labels. Draw your own designs and slogans on the labels, trim them to size, and place them in your planner.

9. Buy a smaller planner.

Instead of purchasing a 7.5” x 9.25” planner, buy a 5.12” x 7.13” of the same kind. The mini-planners are less money than the standard size ones. Also, they are easier to carry around.

10. Use sticker books.

Having books with pages of a few hundred stickers or more saves more money in the long run than buying a few sheets of stickers at a time.

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About the Creator

Hillari Hunter

I likes to write about many topics. In a past life, I was an unappreciated office support employee, and I was a boxing coach. I have sung in church choirs and in nightclubs. I'm speaking up and out more and using my age as an excuse.

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