Well it's Tuesday, time to ask those niggling questions that you have been looking for the answers to...those 'now where did I see xyz in A5 size' or any other Filofax related questions.
Hello there, As I have been on my quest to find a good setup to use, I got stuck on the best size that suits me and now I am very conflicted on how many to actively use at the same time. I have been using an A5 for the past few weeks and I have to say that it is great. Two sets of tabs, one for personal stuff and one for work stuff. I like to use a month view for appointments and deadlines for both work and personal so I know the best time for vacation, long night studies,predictable extra-hours at work, etcetc. My only problem is carrying around all that work stuff when I am not at work. Although I like the extra room to write on I know I don't actually need A5 size for my personal stuff. A Personal size would do. But then I need an A5 for work. So here are my tones of questions for those of you that use separate FF for work and personal: Do you have (at least at work) two Filofaxes open all the time on your desk? Do you carry both with you all the time? (I don't really want to leave mine at work, but again carrying around defeats the purpose of having two separate ones, right?) How do you synchronize appointments and other scheduling stuff between both? Any insight will be helpful. :) Thanks!
Lime Tree, I run 2 filofax's. A5 for work which I have open on my desk and a Personal which is also open on my desk.
A5 houses my quotes, notes, other details, and my personal houses all my personal things, PLUS work to do's and any things I need to remember for work. I use FC 2ppd inserts so have LOADS of writing room every day!
Would it be possible for you to use your Personal size as your diary for work and personal, and your A5 for work contacts, notes, projects and other work-only things? That way you don't need your A5 outside of work, and you don't have to worry about synching two diary systems. What do you think?
That's a good idea Laurie. A filofax does not have to have a diary in it of course.
I'm a stay at home, work(ish) at home Mum, and have everything in an A5. This stays at home. But I wanted to be able to make notes, check info when out and about, but not wanting to carry another full diary. So I got the Compact Pennybridge. I keep a Month on Two Pages in there as well as info and notepaper, so I have a note of commitments (parties, dentist) but I'm not carting my meal plans etc, around.
@ Sharon, do you carry both of them back-and-forth from work? @Laurie, that is a very good idea! The only thing is that I use month on 2p for appointments, reminders and deadlines. A personal month on 2p is a little tight for both combined. @industrious housewife, that's what I was thinking. On the weekends when I don't want to carry all that weight I was thinking of just having a small moleskine or a pocket size FF just to have something to write on. Thank for you all for the ideas! I'll keep experimenting and posting! :)
I was just wondering if anyone else has had any problems with the rings not clasping shut properly? I am devastated as I only got my Malden a few weeks ago and the top rings have quite a gap between them. It's now back in the box waiting for me too send it back. ( I'm so miserable without it, I have even contemplating buying another just in case I ever have to be without it again!)
Hi Ashleigh, yes this is quite a common problem :( Most binders are fine, but then some do have this problem. I find that it's a permanent gap with some of my filofaxes, but there are some where it seems it is only a temporary problem, that it gets worse when I open the rings, and then eases up after a few days. I found a solution to this: if I close the rings by pushing together the outside ones (the top and the bottom) it leaves a big gap, BUT if I push the rings together using the middle 2 sets of rings, it leaves a tiny gap or none at all!
Hi just wanted to say I love your videos! It was your video on the Malden that inspired me to buy one! :) I'm kind of pleased its not just me as I was worrying that it was something I had done but I always open it using the clips but now I think back I have always closed it using the top and bottom ring! :( I will make sure I try your way when I get my replacement. Thanks for the advice xx
I have a theory that I wondered if anyone else agreed with. Filofax UK sold a load of purple Maldens to City Organiser weeks ago, but didn't launch them on the Filofax website until 3 weeks later. City Organiser sold them at a heavily discounted price, and everyone quickly ran over to the City Organiser website and snapped them up. Filofax realised their mistake, because now most people who wanted one already got one, and Filofax didn't make any money from this, and now fewer people would buy them from the Filofax website/shops. They realised they should have sold the new purple Maldens on the Filofax website exclusively for a while from the launch, so those people who were desperate for one of the long-awaited purple Maldens could buy it from them, and they would make the profit. But they didn't, and lost out on the profits because City Organiser sold them first. Now Filofax has realised their mistake, and have delayed sending more purple Malden stock to City Organiser (which was expected a couple of weeks ago), because they want an opportunity to sell the Maldens exclusively, to get the profits. What do you think? I can't wait until City Organiser get more purple Maldens in stock!!
Not sure about the theory in general, but I will say Filofax seem to be pretty rubbish at getting their website updated generally. You can't find compacts unless you search for them (so if you didn't know about them, nothing would tell you otherwise), they hide the TM inserts away and there are numerous other examples. Speaking with my marketing hat on they seem to have forgotten the customer and have put too much focus on the product. You can have the best product in the world, but if you don't position it, focus on it's benefits and make it available in the right places you will not sell as many. Another example is that all binders should have diagrams or photo's of their interior - and quite a few don't have this. This is a crucial bit of information for many buyers.
I've just spotted that City Organiser are selling a grey A5 Finsbury for £39.95! Try as I might I can't quite justify the purchase myself, so hopefully someone else can make use of the deal! :)
That's not the only new saving CO is offering - 30% off Holborn Zips (personal and A5)...don't forget the andy15 15% additional discount. I really want to get one....but I have no need for it whatsoever. My bank account is sighing a breath of relief ;)
I know we've discussed this before and it ties in a bit with the earlier posts today, but I need additional advice. I work at home as a copywriter. I have been using two Filofaxes - one for home/everything/personal, etc and another for work. But keeping two calendars straight is becoming more of a problem as my business grows and my children get busier. Any suggestions? Do I continue to use two? Do I use just one? Do I have a main Filo and then use a different kind of planner/calendar for work appts? Does anyone have a great system that works for home-based workers?
@Kelly I work from home doing very similar work to you - however I don't have kids (although my OH has enough appointments to make up for it!). I use the time management style inserts because I try to have details and plans for each day (otherwise I fire fight and drift). Not sure how much detail you like to keep, but could you use something like the A5 Dodo diary for your main appointment diary? It has (I think) 5 columns for each day, and a week to view, so you could have one column for work, one for personal and even assign a column for each child or your partner, and be able to see this all for each week.
You could possibly then use a day-per-page or two-pages-per-day if you want to do some heavy planning and add in all your time specific todos/projects - possibly just write up these each week from your main calendar so you are not keeping masses of blank diary pages in your binder.
Hi Kelly - a day late in replying but we're at The London Book Fair and it is a bit all consuming...currently we don't have any US retail outlets but you can buy any Dodo Pad diary direct from our website or for you via Amazon might be even easier. Here is a link to the page on our site especially for Filofax diary refill formats: http://www.dodopad.com/shop/calendar-year-diaries-calendars/filofax-compatible-organisers
I used to have 2 calendars.... but I got fed up with synching them. So I am now a 1 diary, 1 life person. Much easier and less likely that I can make mistakes or double book appointments.....my biggest worry when I had 2 diaries. Colour coding and using an A5 Time Management Diary from Ray and Steve's downloads has solved many problems for me as An A5 can hold so much information.
I have a main A5 that houses all my stuff, calendar, notes, info, what-have-you, and I have a pocket domino in my purse that has some of the same info, a calendar, and notes and stuff for writing on the go. So far this system works pretty good for me. I love my A5 but find it way to heavy to use outside of the house on a regular basis, I like the size of the personal, but for me the paper is too narrow, so I went to the pocket and can get all I need on the pages and more.
I have an A5 that is the 'family diary'. It contains things that the family can reference.
I use a Dodo insert so we each have our own column (the first one is used as 'other' -birthdays, family events etc.)I only write things in there in my column if it affects the rest of the family. On the left hand side I write the weeks meals and any other info related to the week such as contact details for anything going on in the week, phone messages and family to dos. This is my 'communication with family' filo.
My pocket is also my wallet and contains my personal diary where I write everything that affects me. They don't actually overlap very much so I don't often need to write things twice. This is my 'mind your own business this is mine' filo.
I love your system Sydney - sounds perfect! Do you use the Personal size Dodo Pad in your own 'mind your own business this is mine' filo? From next year's edition (that will be on sale in late June) it will be a new improved version - thanks to the collaboration of some of the Philofaxy readers - with a bigger more practical grid.
I do not know if it is acceptable to post here, but there is a FC planner on ebay US that I would really like to buy, but the seller will not send outside US. Is there anyone here who would be willing to consider buying on my behalf, and sending to France. I can pay via paypal in advance of you sending. Sorry Steve is this post is inappropriate, bur I have wanted a zipped, dark green planner for the longest time, and this one has big rings too!!!! Kind regards, Nikki
Does anyone have a new yellow finsbury? I'm thinking about getting one when they become available in the US, but its hard to tell what shade of yellow they actually are based on the photos online. I would love to see photos if anyone has one!
No photos. But I'll try to remember to take a photo (sneakily) next time I "accidentally" walk by the filofax store. It's a happy yellow, though. I only glanced at it so I can't say for certain how it compares to, say, the Finchley. :)
haha - this is helpful. I'm hoping its more of a gold/saffron and less of an Apex neon yellow. I wish I had access to the full range of colors that are available through the Asian online stores...although I suppose I don't need the temptation :)
can some one please tell me if there you have to pay duties in Canada when you order from the filofax uk site? I really want the pocket london games filo and I need to know if I will have to pay duties or just what the website tells me the total is.
Try checking with your local postal service website. Over here it's all listed on the Royal Mail website. If we were to order something from Canada we'd have to pay import duties and post office fees.
Hello there,
ReplyDeleteAs I have been on my quest to find a good setup to use, I got stuck on the best size that suits me and now I am very conflicted on how many to actively use at the same time.
I have been using an A5 for the past few weeks and I have to say that it is great. Two sets of tabs, one for personal stuff and one for work stuff. I like to use a month view for appointments and deadlines for both work and personal so I know the best time for vacation, long night studies,predictable extra-hours at work, etcetc. My only problem is carrying around all that work stuff when I am not at work. Although I like the extra room to write on I know I don't actually need A5 size for my personal stuff. A Personal size would do. But then I need an A5 for work. So here are my tones of questions for those of you that use separate FF for work and personal: Do you have (at least at work) two Filofaxes open all the time on your desk? Do you carry both with you all the time? (I don't really want to leave mine at work, but again carrying around defeats the purpose of having two separate ones, right?) How do you synchronize appointments and other scheduling stuff between both? Any insight will be helpful. :) Thanks!
Lime Tree, I run 2 filofax's. A5 for work which I have open on my desk and a Personal which is also open on my desk.
DeleteA5 houses my quotes, notes, other details, and my personal houses all my personal things, PLUS work to do's and any things I need to remember for work. I use FC 2ppd inserts so have LOADS of writing room every day!
It seems to work well for me.
Would it be possible for you to use your Personal size as your diary for work and personal, and your A5 for work contacts, notes, projects and other work-only things? That way you don't need your A5 outside of work, and you don't have to worry about synching two diary systems. What do you think?
DeleteThat's a good idea Laurie. A filofax does not have to have a diary in it of course.
DeleteI'm a stay at home, work(ish) at home Mum, and have everything in an A5. This stays at home.
But I wanted to be able to make notes, check info when out and about, but not wanting to carry another full diary.
So I got the Compact Pennybridge. I keep a Month on Two Pages in there as well as info and notepaper, so I have a note of commitments (parties, dentist) but I'm not carting my meal plans etc, around.
This is genius. What she said.
Delete:)
@Laurie- That's how I'm planning to use mine when my A5 Kendal gets here :D
Delete:-)
DeleteI just love finding new ways to use Filofaxes.
@ Sharon, do you carry both of them back-and-forth from work?
Delete@Laurie, that is a very good idea! The only thing is that I use month on 2p for appointments, reminders and deadlines. A personal month on 2p is a little tight for both combined.
@industrious housewife, that's what I was thinking. On the weekends when I don't want to carry all that weight I was thinking of just having a small moleskine or a pocket size FF just to have something to write on.
Thank for you all for the ideas! I'll keep experimenting and posting! :)
Hi all,
ReplyDeleteI was just wondering if anyone else has had any problems with the rings not clasping shut properly? I am devastated as I only got my Malden a few weeks ago and the top rings have quite a gap between them. It's now back in the box waiting for me too send it back. ( I'm so miserable without it, I have even contemplating buying another just in case I ever have to be without it again!)
Hi Ashleigh, yes this is quite a common problem :( Most binders are fine, but then some do have this problem. I find that it's a permanent gap with some of my filofaxes, but there are some where it seems it is only a temporary problem, that it gets worse when I open the rings, and then eases up after a few days. I found a solution to this: if I close the rings by pushing together the outside ones (the top and the bottom) it leaves a big gap, BUT if I push the rings together using the middle 2 sets of rings, it leaves a tiny gap or none at all!
DeleteHi just wanted to say I love your videos! It was your video on the Malden that inspired me to buy one! :) I'm kind of pleased its not just me as I was worrying that it was something I had done but I always open it using the clips but now I think back I have always closed it using the top and bottom ring! :( I will make sure I try your way when I get my replacement. Thanks for the advice xx
DeleteI have a theory that I wondered if anyone else agreed with.
ReplyDeleteFilofax UK sold a load of purple Maldens to City Organiser weeks ago, but didn't launch them on the Filofax website until 3 weeks later. City Organiser sold them at a heavily discounted price, and everyone quickly ran over to the City Organiser website and snapped them up. Filofax realised their mistake, because now most people who wanted one already got one, and Filofax didn't make any money from this, and now fewer people would buy them from the Filofax website/shops. They realised they should have sold the new purple Maldens on the Filofax website exclusively for a while from the launch, so those people who were desperate for one of the long-awaited purple Maldens could buy it from them, and they would make the profit. But they didn't, and lost out on the profits because City Organiser sold them first.
Now Filofax has realised their mistake, and have delayed sending more purple Malden stock to City Organiser (which was expected a couple of weeks ago), because they want an opportunity to sell the Maldens exclusively, to get the profits.
What do you think? I can't wait until City Organiser get more purple Maldens in stock!!
Not sure about the theory in general, but I will say Filofax seem to be pretty rubbish at getting their website updated generally. You can't find compacts unless you search for them (so if you didn't know about them, nothing would tell you otherwise), they hide the TM inserts away and there are numerous other examples. Speaking with my marketing hat on they seem to have forgotten the customer and have put too much focus on the product. You can have the best product in the world, but if you don't position it, focus on it's benefits and make it available in the right places you will not sell as many. Another example is that all binders should have diagrams or photo's of their interior - and quite a few don't have this. This is a crucial bit of information for many buyers.
DeleteI've just spotted that City Organiser are selling a grey A5 Finsbury for £39.95! Try as I might I can't quite justify the purchase myself, so hopefully someone else can make use of the deal! :)
ReplyDeleteThat's not the only new saving CO is offering - 30% off Holborn Zips (personal and A5)...don't forget the andy15 15% additional discount. I really want to get one....but I have no need for it whatsoever. My bank account is sighing a breath of relief ;)
DeleteCan I use the "Andy"-code on an item that already has a discount?
ReplyDeleteYes you can, and many people have already... including me!
DeleteYay! *waits for more purple maldens*
DeleteI know we've discussed this before and it ties in a bit with the earlier posts today, but I need additional advice. I work at home as a copywriter. I have been using two Filofaxes - one for home/everything/personal, etc and another for work. But keeping two calendars straight is becoming more of a problem as my business grows and my children get busier. Any suggestions? Do I continue to use two? Do I use just one? Do I have a main Filo and then use a different kind of planner/calendar for work appts? Does anyone have a great system that works for home-based workers?
ReplyDelete@Kelly I work from home doing very similar work to you - however I don't have kids (although my OH has enough appointments to make up for it!). I use the time management style inserts because I try to have details and plans for each day (otherwise I fire fight and drift). Not sure how much detail you like to keep, but could you use something like the A5 Dodo diary for your main appointment diary? It has (I think) 5 columns for each day, and a week to view, so you could have one column for work, one for personal and even assign a column for each child or your partner, and be able to see this all for each week.
DeleteYou could possibly then use a day-per-page or two-pages-per-day if you want to do some heavy planning and add in all your time specific todos/projects - possibly just write up these each week from your main calendar so you are not keeping masses of blank diary pages in your binder.
Thanks Allison. I've seen the Dodo pad but is it available in the US? I like this idea! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly - a day late in replying but we're at The London Book Fair and it is a bit all consuming...currently we don't have any US retail outlets but you can buy any Dodo Pad diary direct from our website or for you via Amazon might be even easier. Here is a link to the page on our site especially for Filofax diary refill formats: http://www.dodopad.com/shop/calendar-year-diaries-calendars/filofax-compatible-organisers
DeleteToodlepip!
I used to have 2 calendars.... but I got fed up with synching them. So I am now a 1 diary, 1 life person. Much easier and less likely that I can make mistakes or double book appointments.....my biggest worry when I had 2 diaries. Colour coding and using an A5 Time Management Diary from Ray and Steve's downloads has solved many problems for me as An A5 can hold so much information.
ReplyDeleteI have a main A5 that houses all my stuff, calendar, notes, info, what-have-you, and I have a pocket domino in my purse that has some of the same info, a calendar, and notes and stuff for writing on the go. So far this system works pretty good for me. I love my A5 but find it way to heavy to use outside of the house on a regular basis, I like the size of the personal, but for me the paper is too narrow, so I went to the pocket and can get all I need on the pages and more.
ReplyDeleteI have an A5 that is the 'family diary'. It contains things that the family can reference.
ReplyDeleteI use a Dodo insert so we each have our own column (the first one is used as 'other' -birthdays, family events etc.)I only write things in there in my column if it affects the rest of the family. On the left hand side I write the weeks meals and any other info related to the week such as contact details for anything going on in the week, phone messages and family to dos. This is my 'communication with family' filo.
My pocket is also my wallet and contains my personal diary where I write everything that affects me. They don't actually overlap very much so I don't often need to write things twice. This is my 'mind your own business this is mine' filo.
I love your system Sydney - sounds perfect! Do you use the Personal size Dodo Pad in your own 'mind your own business this is mine' filo? From next year's edition (that will be on sale in late June) it will be a new improved version - thanks to the collaboration of some of the Philofaxy readers - with a bigger more practical grid.
DeleteI do not know if it is acceptable to post here, but there is a FC planner on ebay US that I would really like to buy, but the seller will not send outside US. Is there anyone here who would be willing to consider buying on my behalf, and sending to France. I can pay via paypal in advance of you sending.
ReplyDeleteSorry Steve is this post is inappropriate, bur I have wanted a zipped, dark green planner for the longest time, and this one has big rings too!!!! Kind regards, Nikki
Does anyone have a new yellow finsbury? I'm thinking about getting one when they become available in the US, but its hard to tell what shade of yellow they actually are based on the photos online. I would love to see photos if anyone has one!
ReplyDeleteLooks like Factor 15 yellow to me... and they don't come with a brightness control!! Dark glasses recommended!
DeleteBut that bit of humour said... I'm pleased to see some colourful shades in the collection this year and not just the dreaded Apex!
No photos. But I'll try to remember to take a photo (sneakily) next time I "accidentally" walk by the filofax store. It's a happy yellow, though. I only glanced at it so I can't say for certain how it compares to, say, the Finchley. :)
Deletehaha - this is helpful. I'm hoping its more of a gold/saffron and less of an Apex neon yellow. I wish I had access to the full range of colors that are available through the Asian online stores...although I suppose I don't need the temptation :)
Deletecan some one please tell me if there you have to pay duties in Canada when you order from the filofax uk site? I really want the pocket london games filo and I need to know if I will have to pay duties or just what the website tells me the total is.
ReplyDeleteTry checking with your local postal service website. Over here it's all listed on the Royal Mail website. If we were to order something from Canada we'd have to pay import duties and post office fees.
Delete