A reader recently asked me about the capacity of the Slimline Filofax -- the same paper size as Personal but with a smaller ring size (7/16") for a thinner, flatter shape. I've never used a Slimline -- I don't think I've ever bought a smaller ring size of anything!Has anyone who has used a Slimline fill us in (sorry) on his or her experience? Did you come up with any tricks to deal with the reduced capacity, or did you find it simply inadequate for a daily organizer? How many leaves does it hold compared to the usual Personal 7/8" rings? Does it come with tabs?
I have been using a slimline Filofax as my main daily organizer for the past 25 years. My present model is a 10-year-old Kensington. Today it has in it diary inserts for May to September (2 weeks to a page), ruler/placemarker, sheet of blotting paper (I’m a fan of fountain pens), 30 sheets of ruled cotton cream notepaper, fold-out Filofax maps of central Glasgow and a credit-card insert (to take library and donor cards) – more than enough for day-to-day use.
ReplyDeleteI have a 7/8" Filofax as well, but that tends to live on my desk. It is simply too big to carry around conveniently (by which I mean you can’t put in a jacket pocket without doing permanent damage to the jacker).
Hi. I am new to this site and I think it is great. I have used a slimline filofax in the past, but i used it mostly for recording events that had happened or were upcoming. I lived in the UK at the time and worked as a live in nanny so my time didn't need a lot of planning. I found it great to have a small organizer i could slip into my bag and use while on the tube or waiting in the car. My handwriting can be on the large side so I had to make it a bit smaller to fit the pages. I kept a two-week to an opening diary format that was easy to view. I also had an address section and a section for notes/journal/ideas. A slim line filo uses the same size as the personal filo so there are plenty of pages to choose from. My slim line came with address tabs that don't protrude past the edge of the page. I don't think I used tabs, just diff coloured paper to show different sections. I had around 80 - 100 pages plus 8 address tabs. You could fit more pages in as the filofax paper is thinner that the Debden pages, some of which i used for notes etc. I now use an A5 filo as I seem to need more info with me!
ReplyDeleteHi. I have never responded to anything on line before but just had to comment on this. I have a lovely orange personal Dorset Filofax which contains not only my life but my family's as well. So in case I leave it somewhere, drop it out of my bag etc. I took to carrying a red Belgrave pocket Filofax which quickly also filled up with my entire life's passwords etc., and I had the hassle of remembering to transfer it all into my trusty Dorset, so now I carry a classic slimline with about six weeks of diary and a year planner, together with sheets for notes, expenses and the address sheets, once a month or so I take out the used week to view and add in the future six weeks, I don't have to duplicate and my overflowing Dorset sits on my desk, safe at home. At the moment this is working really well - until I'm tempted to reorganise......!
ReplyDeleteIt’s so great to find like minded people out there – love the site.
I use my slimline Filofax mostly for travel. I keep notes of restaurants, reviews, city maps, etc in the slimline for the city I'm in. It fits conveniently in the outer pocket of my briefcase or I just carry it around with me. I'm always on the road; so this makes more sense that carrying the larger one.
ReplyDeleteI use a slimline Kensington Filofax to carry business cards and telephone numbers; it also carries a foldout filofax maps of London and about 10 sheets of white paper.
ReplyDeleteI also have a slimline Finsbury which I use to transfer my diary to if I'm going somewhere that needs something a little smarter than my day to day filofax.
Since 1993, I have used a black slimline Filofax for daily life. I love the slimline version because I can slip it into a jacket or back trouser pocket as well as into any day bag. It goes with me everywhere-it's even a veteran of the conflict in Bosnia and a few other places from my Army days- and has proved light and durable enough to live in my backpack (enclosed in a re-sealable waterproof sandwich bag) during some lengthy recreational 'walks'. (Interestingly, I read that Filofax field cases used to be issued to British Army staff officers pre-WWII.) Over the years, I've refined the contents of mine to a Horizontal Year Planner, 12 weeks of week-to-page diary notes, address pages, a daily to-do-list, a daily expenses list, an exercise logsheet and 3-4 lined note-pages, one of which is my daily 'mind map.' I keep a few business cards, blank index cards, first-class stamps and about ten sticky notes in the inside cover pocket. On a daily basis, I 'weed' the contents, transferring anything I want to keep permanently into a leather bound A5 journal I picked up for a song in Changmai, Thailand earlier this year. I find this great self-discipline: one of the advantages of the slimline to my thinking is that it almost forces me to 'house clean' my actions, thoughts and intentions on a daily basis. A glass of shiraz plus 15 minutes of reflection equals bliss. About once a month, I run some conditioner over its increasingly worn cover. One disadvantage is that my version does not have a pen holder. For Christmas this year, I will treat myself to a new Finsbury in brown grained leather plus a mini Barley pen and pencil. I may even put my monogram on the spine. I'll give the current one an honourable discharge and perhaps continue to use it as an ideas & fact index while researching my next book. By the way, I love this site!
ReplyDeleteRichard, This is a great post! Could you elaborate on what your "daily mindmap" is? This post was a big inspiration to me!
ReplyDeleteClaudia
Help! Please, please, please can anyone tell me if there is such a thing as a SLIMLINE A5 filofax/organiser. Thanks, Pippa
ReplyDeleteHi Pippa, I wish there were a slimline A5!! People have been asking Filofax to make one for awhile now. I don't know if other brands have an equivalent of what would be a slimline A5.
ReplyDeleteSorry!
Pippa,
ReplyDeleteYou can buy a leather binder with 1/2" rings (1/16" larger than a filofax personal slimline) at pledesigns.com for only $55. You will need to use plannerstore, Day Timer, Day Runner, or Franklin Covey fills because Filofax won't fit. I recommend the plannerstore refills because you can get them three hole punched (the binder is 3 ring, so it would look better). Hope this helps.
Richard, we are interested in your book! Title, please?
ReplyDeleteI am a newbie and cannot figure out which Filofax to stick with. Driving me nutzo! lol! Can any one help me? Also any suggestion on sites to buy planner and accessories ? Thanks a zillion.
ReplyDelete