Filofax

[dapv]

Howdy Boys & Girls!

I need your thoughts, insights, answers re: Filofax (FF) for my own personal use as a calendar/planner and journal/notes). I have already done a fair amount of online research.

If you currently own a FF, then, which model, how do you use it, would you buy FF again if your's was lost/stolen/damaged, and would you recommend it to a friend?

If you have owned a FF, but don't currently use it, then, why, and which model?

Are you, like me, considering buying a FF for the first time, then, why and which model?

Open to all, please provide your thoughts, insights, perceptions, etc re: FF and particular models.

What FF alternatives have been considered, talked about, and or purchased by you, a family member, friend, etc, and why?

I lean towards the open models such as Slimline Finsbury, Slimline Cuban, Pocket Guildford Extra Slim (UK site). If the Personal size came open and with smaller rings, then I would like it as well. I must say, I cannot see how the very small rings of the Slimline hold over time. I also like the A4 version as it has only four rings. But, don't let this color your response to me.

Thank you for helping.

Edited September 17, 2012 by dapv

[Lorna Reed]

I have a Filofax. Mine is an A5 Kendal. I only use it at home. I don't need to carry it around with me.

I use it mainly as an address/phone number book. Keep my cheque book, stamps etc in the front pockets and receipts etc in the back.

I love the leather cover and would recommend it to anyone looking for a larger filofax. I would certainly buy another if mine were lost or stolen, though heaven forbid, as I keep bank details and passwords in it.

[AndyHayes]

I have an A4 Finsbury and a smaller Filofax that I can't lay my hands on at the moment.  I have also used 5x3" cards in a super-mini Filofax type system.  In fact I still use them in a Levenger briefcase, as much to hand out durable notes or directions to people as anything else.

 

A Filofax was a very popular tool to have in the 80's, but 30 years later it really has had it's day.  So much of what is available now is in a different league.  My Filofaxes just gather dust now and are kept as something to remind me how things were in another era. If they were stolen I would be sad to lose these oddities.

 

Filofaxes were expensive to fill with their own inserts, diaries, notes, etc.  Most had non-standard ring layouts.  At least www.diy-planner.com was a useful repository for the inserts that were made up by members, which you could download and print out yourself.  Generally you could avoid buying the expensive punches from Filofax and buy something on the OEM market.

 

The best solution these days is to buy an iPad or something similar and sign up for an account with Simplenote or better still Evernote.  The disadvantage of a Filofax is that it will take forever to find some notes that you have found, or when you had meeting with a particular person.  With Evernote or similar you can search much more easily.  If you left your Filofax on the bus, it's probably gone for good, as would your iPad, (ignoring Find my Phone for the moment), but at least you would have a back up of the iPad notes in the Evernote cloud.  You could take pictures with your iPad and upload them to Evernote.  If there was text in your picture then Evernote would do its best to OCR it.

 

If you still really must have one than please go for a standard size, in the Europe A4 or A5, so that you can easily print off your own inserts.

[Pen Nut]

I have and still use the FF Finsbury which is A$ in size. If I got an iPad I would have no need for my fountain pens so, well i think you can fill in the rest

[alexander_k]

I've still got a couple of old Filofax notebooks that I use for storing notes. They fit A6 paper, so I don't have to use anything special but an appropriate perforating machine. The only problem is that the rings are on the big side (I've always find that). Would I buy something similar today? No, I prefer an A6 Roterfaden at work or something slimmer like X17 on the go (both refillable but unfortunately X17 notebooks are slightly smaller than A sizes).

[bogiesan]

I have looked at Filofax very carefully but I return, year after year, to my Franklin Covey Dayplanner system. This is strictly personal decision but it was arrived at after trying Daytimer and Dayrunner products. I made my choice based on the utility of the page design and the availability of a specific size not on any other factor like brand or coolness of the binder.

After a year of dabbling with a Leuchtturm agenda, in 2013 I am reverting to my old friend, the compact Franklin Covey 2-page per day format.

 

I can only suggest you examine your diary and planner needs before you commit to Filofax. That can be difficult if you don't have experience with daily prioritzed task lists or project management or long-term goal setting and planning. There are many excellent books on the topic of time management at your local library. They can help you decide on the features you need. Then you can shop for those features. there are many sizes, formats, losselaf and wirebound, paper stocks and brands.

 

Try to have some fun with this decision.

[Stonerman33]

I've grown quite fond of my ARC notebook from Staples. Using page templates from diyplanner or other page templates online, in addition to ones I've made up myself, It is infinitely adjustable to my needs. I am also a fan of the significantly smaller footprint that it makes in my bag compared to small binders or day planners. Bought the punch so I can use any paper I want with it. It's worked out great for me for the month I've had it, but that's hardly enough to make a solid recommendation. Worth looking into if you're willing to try the circa-bound books.

Edited September 17, 2012 by Stonerman33

[gosudar]

Hi DAPV,

 

you might find it useful to look at

 

philofaxy.blogspot.co.uk

 

detailed reviews of binders, inserts, & downloadable files for diaries, &c.

 

All the best,

 

G

[celthana]

I use a pocket Chameleon, mainly as a wallet, but also as a short-term planner (long term calendar is handled by phone). Nice and flexible, and still pocketable. The paper size is small, but just large enough to be able to write things out in full without some kind of abbreviation system. I used to use a metropol mini, but found it too small to be useful and the fake leather was really stiff, so it was uncomfortable in the pocket. I find Personal size too big for me, since I need my filofax to be competitive with my phone for convenience, and getting something out of my bag is nowhere near as convenient as grabbing it out of my pocket.

[dapv]

Thank you all for jumping on this so quickly, and for providing your excellent thoughts, comparisons, and insights. You've been very kind and helpful. And, in the words of "Young Mr. Grace", " You've all done very well.". And, in the words of "Mrs Slocum", " I am unanimous in that.". My daughter and I here in Boston love watching BritComs (British situation comedy TV) as they are called here in the US. Actually, and thankfully, over the years our local PBS station has broadcasted, and continues to do so, several different kinds of British TV shows. So, one more from "Victor Mildrew" ... selecting a planner is "Bloody Hell".

[indigoskye]

I need your thoughts, insights, answers re: Filofax (FF) for my own personal use as a calendar/planner and journal/notes). I have already done a fair amount of online research.

If you currently own a FF, then, which model, how do you use it, would you buy FF again if your's was lost/stolen/damaged, and would you recommend it to a friend?

If you have owned a FF, but don't currently use it, then, why, and which model?

Are you, like me, considering buying a FF for the first time, then, why and which model?

Open to all, please provide your thoughts, insights, perceptions, etc re: FF and particular models.

What FF alternatives have been considered, talked about, and or purchased by you, a family member, friend, etc, and why?

 

I bought my first filofax in January 2012. I did not buy it to use as a planner since at the time I had my planner on my phone. I bought it to be a way to organize my novel's research notes so that when I was outside of my studio, all of my character sketches, object/location descriptions and the novel's outline would be at my fingertips and in a way that I could easily change the set up from time to time. I had been having problems with Evernote when I was at the coffeehouse and sometimes would arrive and not be able to access my notes on my ipod touch. After a few months of frustration, I decided to try keeping my notes on paper. I haven't looked back since. The binder is always "on", everything is neat and organized, and the filofax is a compact and portable system. When I go to a writing related meeting, I now use my Malden to take notes of the various lectures that I listen to. It has performed well in this use. My writing journal is a personal sized Crimson Malden. The leather is beautiful and has a tactile quality that I enjoy and the color is quite professional for when I'm at my society meetings. Due to the larger ring size, I have plenty of room for all my writing related needs and my favorite Zebra F-701 pen fits in the pen loop perfectly. I would not hesitate to buy another Malden. The purple ones are incredibly popular right now, but I have to say the red one I bought is a great match to the interior material of my writing tote. The Orche brown and the black would be wonderful professional colors to choose as well.

 

The personal size fits into my regular purse easily, but as a daily planner I think that it would prove to be too large to cart around each day. I recently purchased a Compact Holborn Filofax to use as a travel information book and while it takes the same personal sized inserts, the slimness would work as a day to day planner without a problem. The leather quality and pockets of the Holborn would make it an ideal planner FF or even serve as a large wallet.

 

As you research, consider the personal and pocket sized FF for daily planners. You should also invest in a Rescoe hole punch. It punches six holes at a time and can be set for either the pocket or personal sized Filofax. There is a middle notch that puts the rings to punch for Mulberry planners as well. It is not expensive, but it is a solid hole puncher and will make printing your own inserts very simple.

 

Finally, I will say that I have also used a dayrunner planner, but the plastic cover and stiff rings put me off to it and I no longer use it. I did move many of the inserts and dividers into my filofax however and they fit just fine. You will discover that there are still many different insert options for the filofax out there. I believe that the difference to me was the quality of the binder and that the filofax binder was leather. It felt "grown up" to me as compared to the cheesy dayrunner. It made all the difference to me in use even though it was more expensive than the dayrunner.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6810521179_d140501bed.jpg

[dapv]

Excellent insights and suggestions, indigoskye; thank you for sharing.

[jenna]

I currently use - and have used for nearly two years - a personal size finchley. I love the size, as it sits nicely in a purse or workbag. There's a decent argument for buying an A4, as I often find compatible paper that only needs a hole punch.

 

I like it because I can keep my work life (on the computer) separate from my personal life (filofax). I buy mostly filofax brand inserts, but MaudieMade on Etsy also makes custom inserts. I have in the past cut and punched holes in notebooks I found at Marshalls or TJMaxx to create custom inserts. I've also stamped and printed and used my typewriter to create anything custom I need.

 

It can get expensive, but it's a bit of a hobby too. There are some beautiful ones, and you can always get a used one on eBay to try it out.

 

Good luck!

[bogiesan]

So are we buying a cool leather binder or a planner system?

If you're just jonesing for a nice binder, shop carefully. The binder in the novelist's phot above has that closure tab on the right side. Those bastards drive me crazy. They really get in the way. A simple open binder may be your best choice, they're also the cheapest. I prefer zippered binders myself for two reasons Stuff stays in them and they make such a lovely sound.

Size is also a factor. Filos come in like ten different sizes, Franklins in four (more if you count he wire systems), Daytimers come in at least eight. You've got to choose the size you want to live with for a long time if you're investing in the filo.

[indigoskye]

So are we buying a cool leather binder or a planner system?

If you're just jonesing for a nice binder, shop carefully. The binder in the novelist's phot above has that closure tab on the right side. Those bastards drive me crazy. They really get in the way. A simple open binder may be your best choice, they're also the cheapest. I prefer zippered binders myself for two reasons Stuff stays in them and they make such a lovely sound.

Size is also a factor. Filos come in like ten different sizes, Franklins in four (more if you count he wire systems), Daytimers come in at least eight. You've got to choose the size you want to live with for a long time if you're investing in the filo.

 

I think it is a little of both, bogiesan. The little tab doesn't bother me, I simply tuck it in when I'm writing. My other filofax doesn't have a tab and I miss having a way to keep my filofax closed completely because of this. The zipper you like would drive me bananas. I like that the binder is leather and nice looking. I also like the inserts and organization that comes with it. Honestly, I don't use my planner as a diary, it serves a more specialized use for me. However, I will say that I like being back on paper again. I feel that my information is more secure than when it is out on a "cloud" or where ever. Call me old-fashioned.

Edited September 28, 2012 by indigoskye

[Lin M]

I sort of fell into using filofaxes in default of anything else when a friend of a friend got me a student McJob working for a short-lived filofax rival in the 1980s...

 

... and I've stayed with the system since. It wasn't exactly a rational, hardnosed consumer choice at the start, more happenstance: but I've not yet found anything that makes me want to start a new system.

 

The filofax system works for me as I can keep my personal life separate from my work life. So I have a Personal size Cuban-precursor (personal life) and an A5 Chameleon-precursor (for work).

 

Work encourages us to use electronic diaries, and we do, but at the same time the job is a heavy consumer of paper and rough books/note books. This is where the filo scores above the electronic media for me, as it enables me to weed the notes and keep only the essential stuff - as well as having diary and notes in one place. That has worked well when travelling for work, as have the little pockets and zippy things that enable me to keep bits of paper together.

 

I use manufacturers' diaries and address sections for both, and also a lot of colour-coded paper to keep stuff separate. A hole punch has helped keep costs down here. On the other hand, I'm using the same binders I got from the job, so they are really well made - the work one in particular has survived 30 years of being slung into a bike bag twice a day.

 

I'd be lying if I didn't say I liked the tactile experience of the leather and paper, and being able to use Pen and Ink of the Week for fun in them.

[dapv]

A couple of thoughts ... can you recommend some alternatives, and is Filo really more dough than FC or Daytimer? Appreciate the help.

So are we buying a cool leather binder or a planner system?

If you're just jonesing for a nice binder, shop carefully. The binder in the novelist's phot above has that closure tab on the right side. Those bastards drive me crazy. They really get in the way. A simple open binder may be your best choice, they're also the cheapest. I prefer zippered binders myself for two reasons Stuff stays in them and they make such a lovely sound.

Size is also a factor. Filos come in like ten different sizes, Franklins in four (more if you count he wire systems), Daytimers come in at least eight. You've got to choose the size you want to live with for a long time if you're investing in the filo.

[dapv]

Lin M, I agree ... I like the tactile experience of leather and paper (I still hangout in local book stores and actually read hardcopy books), and being able to write or doodle, etc with my hand and pen or pencil of choice at the time.

[Lin M]

A couple of thoughts ... can you recommend some alternatives, and is Filo really more dough than FC or Daytimer? Appreciate the help.

 

In the UK so no idea about US prices, but do factor in how much it costs to keep them fed - inserts, a hole punch if you haven't got one ...

 

In the next few weeks (assuming they aren't out there already) you may be able to get a deal on a new filo (or other manufacturer's product) with a 2013 diary included plus extras.

[Moynihan]

If you currently own a FF, then,

which model,

 

Portland Grand, no longer in production. Purchased in 1998. It is "Personal" size.

 

how do you use it,

 

Scheduling, note taking, etc.

 

would you buy FF again if your's was lost/stolen/damaged,

 

Yes

 

and would you recommend it to a friend?

 

Only if they were looking for a pen/paper calendar/notes, etc.

 

What FF alternatives ....

 

My primary calendar is on a network at work, and accessible via web access also. I keep the filofax as a second source & primary carry-around.

I also use an Ipod, Ipad, laptops, netbooks, etc.

 

I have used "computers" since 1980, and for calendaring since 1984. I will not only use digital tech without a paper backup though for calendars, contact info.

 

This year I subed the Letts 200th anniversary model for the FF as far as a carry around. Simple reason it was so cool (a replica of their 1812 diary, which was the first business calendar/diary ever commercially sold).

I already have my FF ready to roll on 01/01/2013

 

My nitpick:

The standard Filofax paper is not FP friendly. I use the "Cotton Cream" version of the calendar paper, which is better. For note paper, i have FP friendly paper cut and hole punched by a local print shop.