07 October 2014

Free For All Tuesday No 192

Tuesdays are your chance to ask any Filofax related questions you might have.

Even if it is not Tuesday, you can still post your questions here, just pick the most recent FFAT or FFAF.

So fire away and we will collectively try to answer your questions or offer opinions.

27 comments:

  1. I have my perfect Filofax set up for now. I use the MOTP, Month on two pages for my job hunting deadline. When I land that job, that page will then be used for something else. I use a week on two pages and a daily, plus the usual note paper and lists to a minimum. But it seems silly to duplicate my diary yet again across monthly pages. Being in teaching my diary does get full, so I've kept with WO2P, daily and task sheet. Just wondering how else folk with full on diaries use their monthly pages? Thanks in advance, TIA. xxxx

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    1. I use monthly inserts and daily inserts. The monthly I use as a reference tool in that I jot down appointments only here, just a notation ("dinner" or "car"). All details for those events are recorded on my daily sheets (so in the case of dinner, the time and where and with whom). The monthly sheets are really just a shell of what's on my daily sheets but it allows me to see at a glance how much and what I have going on for any day, which really helps with future and long-term planning.

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    2. I use my monthly sheets as a reference, so my work hours and notable events (appointments, trips, birthdays) go on there as well as my weekly pages, because I keep the monthly sheets in even after I've taken out the weekly sheets. It means that if I worked extra shifts I don't have to keep my weekly pages to do my time sheet. But then I also use my weekly pages to hold my daily to do lists so I don't really have that much going on.

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    3. I really love the monthly pages for a clear overview of the month and what is coming up. I record appointments, renewal dates, and note when high dollar coupons expire. I also log things that happen such as a spontaneous meet up with a friend, when my truck battery died, or when I gave the dog a bath. . . It is used as an index for the events of the month.

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    4. I use my Filofax just for work, I travel quite a bit and have to plan it myself (somewhere at least once a week) so I use my monthly pages to show me at a glance where I'm going to be. I usually try and plan this at the beginning of each month as I can't plan much further in advance than that for my job. I also put in my holidays so I can quickly see where I am if someone is asking me to do something!

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  2. My second question is, what do people generally carry in their pencil cases. I seem to have started to carry the whole kitchen sink, scissors, highlighters, colouring pencils, erasers, sharpeners, single hole punch, tippex roller, glue, you name it.... but my pencil case is massive!!! When I get back to teaching, do people have a pencil case at work and one at home to save on lugging?? Have managed to keep tabs, post its etc to a minimum though!! Thanks Philo peeps. xx

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    1. Wow, that is a lot to carry. I have a small pen case and it are two coleto pens (each with 4 colors), one Coleto refill per color, a mechanical pencil, a highlighter, my journaling pen, and a back up of my favorite pen just in case the one in my planner runs out of ink. So only writing instruments. I have never needed anything else while out and about.

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    2. I always start out with the basics in my pencil case and then it grows! Every once in awhile I honestly look at what I have actually used recently and thin it out. I currently could thin it out a bit but I have a small ruler, pencil, correction tape, Zig 2 way glue, 3 highlighters, 4 pens and a cleaning cloth for my ipad.

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    3. Am I weird in just carrying a single pen-pencil combo and nothing else? I don't carry a pencil case around with me at all. I have a Zebra diary pen/propelling pencil combo which is narrow enough to fit in small pen-loops and that's it.
      I have an entire stationery store on my desk however...

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  3. PS I already use annual pages, 2 of them, one to track birthdays and anniversaries, and another to track holidays, supply work and course training, So ok with that set up. Just thinking ahead really... what could those monthly pages be used for and how?

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  4. I have on my a5 Malden MO2P and it has different functions each in their respective colours and symbols. My functions would be my son´s therapies, timetables for nannies, paydays for my employees, timetable to give monthly tax reports and to pay them, school functions, meetings, doctor´s appointments, scheduled places to go. This way I can easily find from whichever month the desired information.

    I carry only one pen per notebook. Malden stays at home, pocket Finsfury comes with me and has same information on WO2P, I also carry with me an a6 TN that catches my brain dump, random notes etc. Information is bombarded from every direction these days, it´s important to keep the focus to not be distracted my the noise around. I also get ideas constantly and need to write them down that instant. I use and abuse my notebooks with fervor, they are my tools and however much value I give them, they are here to serve me and not the other way round.

    Last summer when it was less hectic during my son´s summer leave, I carried a small pouch with drawing pencils on occasion. There days there´s no use for them since I need to get swiftly from point A to B and there´s no time for doodling. I also don´t care with which pen I write, as long as I get my business done I´m happy and if it gets done with blue or black ink... who cares, really. I know I don´t.

    I´d like to say that do whatever makes you happy. Because when you are happy things get done more effortlessly and the better result you will get with everything. For some the happy is more reachable with 263325 different pens on their bags and I see absolutely no problem with that. It takes different music to get us dancing. You just find yours and then fly with that.

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  5. Thank you so much. A lot to think about here. I'm grateful for your thoughts. x

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  6. I noticed that Time Manager stuff for sale on Adspot, and it made me wonder--can anyone talk about the system, how they liked it, advantages and disadvantages etc. I'm totally unfamiliar with it.

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    1. Talk to David who is the seller, he's very friendly ;)

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    2. It's a brilliant system, yet almost totally overshadowed by Filofax and other brands these days. I've used it since 1986 and still follow the key principles to this day. The founder sold the business several years ago and it hasn't been sustained and developed since. http://shop.timemanager.com/shop/UK/frontpage.html
      Suggest you read the sections about the time manager philosophy and how it works.

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  7. Thanks everyone for your ideas. What a great community this is. I can see that with the pencil case a desk pencil case will be required fe a large tools only pencil case glue, scissors etc and a small long thin handbag one for when on the go, just with colettos and an eraser. Seems the sensible solution. Wonder if You Tube do any what's in my pencil case vids? Must go look. Would be as fascinating as the Filofax set up tips for me at the mo. xxxx

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  8. I am planning on buying a new planner for next year - does anyone know if FilofaxUSA generally have a sale or promotion (e.g., 20% off) towards the end of the year? I'm debating if I should wait for a sale or just go ahead and get one now. Thanks in advance.

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    1. FFUSA rarely has sales. Every once in a while they'll do free shipping or free inserts with the purchase of a binder, 50% off binder styles that are on their way out or something like that, but they don't tend to have end-of-the-year sales. You might be better off trying an online seller or an actual store for sales.

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    2. Depending on which style/color you want, Amazon usually has them discounted.

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    3. Thanks for the replies - I guess I'll go ahead and get my new planner now.

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  9. I just purchased my first filofax - the personal saffiano poppy. It comes with 2015 inserts. What does everyone recommend for 2014 inserts? Find something on sale? Print my own?
    Thank you! - Megan

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    1. I'd probably print my own inserts (from Philofaxy or Etsy) or ask in a Facebook group. Someone might sell their old inserts.

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  10. Decent Personal Size Hole Punch?

    Is this a decent size (i.e. not $50!) to punch 6 holes at the same time for personal pages in Filofax?
    Rapesco 6 Hole Diary 66-P Adjustable Punch, 8 Sheet Capacity, Black
    http://www.amazon.com/Rapesco-Diary-Adjustable-Capacity-PF66P0B1/dp/B000J6EXM6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412738676&sr=8-1&keywords=filofax+hole+punch

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    1. Good punch for pocket and personal. It will not do A5, but is very sturdy, I have had mine for years.

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  11. I have a Rapesco hole punch that needs a new home. (Not trying to break any rules by selling-if that is a rule). I purchased it because it was touted as being able to work on an A5, Personal and Pocket size agenda. I don't care for it for my A5 because one has to punch 3 holes then turn the paper or device around to punch the remaining 3 holes. Doing that is a headache. I just purchased another hole punch this morning which will correctly work for an A5.

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  12. I recently saw a picture online of the Temperley Filofax which looked to be alligator skin textured and leopard print... Oh my! That would start my engine for sure! Is that Filofax available anywhere in the US? Where does one find the unique Filofax systems? I don't have a Filofax binder yet but I seem to be drawn to the somewhat different ones ie. those with crystals, leopard print, metallic and of course the beautiful Baroque! Thanks in advance for help.

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