I almost never buy a Filofax until I actually need it. Or, more accurately, until I immediately need it!
When I first came back to Filofax after failing to organize my work life electronically, I darted into Bob Slate Stationers in Cambridge (the one in Massachuetts) at 5:55 p.m. (they close at 6:00) to buy the only A5 they had -- a boring black Finsbury!
That said, I now have 5 A5 Filos, 2 of which I've never used, even though I did have a use in mind when I purchased them. I own 4 Personals, all of which are well-used and becoming more so!
Do you ever buy a Filo with no plans for its use, just because you love it and may use it someday? Or are you collecting them instead of using them?
Oh how I remember my work time near Cambridge and how disappointed I was finding out that almost all local city shops closed when I needed them open (on my way from work back home) :-o But back to the subject. I usally start with an idea for which I'd need a flexible binder and after that make up my mind for which Filofax to go. Now I own quite a big number of named binders - many still needing a full set-up. I belief we all know how much time can go alone into ONE. Setting up The ONE essential time management binder - for me an ongoing subject in the pursuit of maintaining a busy work life plus the little spare time that shall accomodate so many desired hobbies and activities. But that didn't hinder the odd moment when I simply went for a binder of my fancy that now sits inactive on my book shelf waiting patiantly for it's purpose to come up.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, all of my A5 filofax are in use in one way or another, but they all stay at home. The personal/pocket size... I'm using a personal Holborn, which leaves about 10 others not in use at all. Then there is a mini Baroque (pink) which I know I will never use and yet can't quite bring myself to part with...
ReplyDeleteHmm. Yes. Guess I'm a collector.
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ReplyDelete"Do you ever buy a Filo with no plans for its use, just because you love it and may use it someday?"
ReplyDeleteNot really, I usually have a good idea of how I want to use it, and if that doesn't happen pretty fast it gets sold.
I've got a Mini as a wallet (but may give this up), two A5s with no purpose, but which are no longer being made so I'm holding onto them for now, and two Personals (ditto).
I have bought and sold several pocket Filos.
Is that a collection?
I'd call it a small collection.
DeleteMy small collection comprises an A5 Ascot in black, an A5 Pimlico in red, a personal Ascot in black, an M2 in black (still haven't worked out what I'm going to use it for), a very old Duplex and what I think is a Sherwood in tan leather from the late 80s. The only ones currently in active use are the A5 Pimlico (main binder) and the A5 Ascot (used as an archive binder currently).
That little collection pales into insignificance beside my collection of Oakley vintage sunglasses (16 pairs...) or my collection of vintage and modern fountain pens (more than 50)... However I am watching one or two items on eBay at the moment in the filofaxian vein... we shall see!
In terms of volume, my collection of sewing machines dwarfs ANY Filofax collection.
Delete2 treadles
1 handcrank
2 Singer Featherweights
1 prototype not in production
1 ordinary modern machine
1 overlocker
I feel better already!
Absolutely! I buy because I love a certain model and I want all the colors. Then I switch back and forth. I'm working on selling all my other filos. Then I will have Holborns and Astons only.
ReplyDeleteAny A5's you would sell?
DeleteI have no Filofax A5's at all. I stayed with the Franklin Coveys on those because of the incompatibility issue.
DeleteSusan, I have a pocket mushroom Aston (new in box, no inserts) that I would like to swap for a pocket Malden or Holborn if you happen to have one :)
DeleteI tend to buy a filofax if it is the kind I like - vintage, leather, usually tan in colour, but also for a purpose. I did buy several pocket filofaxes before I found the kind I liked - most were too bulky, these will go back on ebay, not kept. I did recently buy a TAM, military version of the personal filofax duplex just because I wanted to try out the duplex type rather than because I had a use for it. Very nice, even if heavy duty plastic, has all sorts of useful bits such as an insert for holding five pens. My daughter looked at right away and asked if she could have one, she will use one side for writing, the other side for sketching.
ReplyDeleteIt's my first month with FF and I've already bought two. I'm sorely tempted to buy more, and I think I may break down in the future for the sales etc. I have Personal Malden as my planner and a Finsbury Pocket as my wallet. I'm thinking of a Mini and an A5 too, but there doesn't seem to be a purpose for either of them. If the Filofaxes came with better quality paper and/or I had the means to make refills easily, I would get them in a heartbeat. I have enough stuff so I'm avoiding trying to collect more things at the moment.
ReplyDeleteBetween Filofax and other brands, I am pushing 20. No purpose in mind. I buy because I want what everyone else has. I read a blog/watch a video and, all of a sudden, I have to have that one! Even when it's one that didn't even interest me before. Y'all just make them look sooo good!
ReplyDeleteI don't always have a purpose for them but like a particular model or color. I'm a sucker for pink! Right now I am happily using an Erin Condren Life Planner because I find I don't mind if it gets roughed up,,,,,want to keep my Filos in good shape!
ReplyDeleteI don't have any "spare" Filofax brand binders that I have put away and don't use, but I do have two absolutely gorgeous, stunning, beautiful Scully zip binders that I'm too timid to use because they are so gorgeous, stunning and beautiful! Their leather finish is very high gloss and a scratch would quite literally ruin them...no idea why I bought two, I've had them for about 10 years and they are in a box somewhere that I can't even remember! I should go look for them and sell them. They really should be used and appreciated by someone braver than I ~
ReplyDeleteI used to drool over the Scullys back in the day. On my lunch hour I'd go to the local office supply and stare and inhale the leather. I'd open them and zip/unzip. I used Franklin Planners at the time but thought the Scully was such a fine leather.
DeleteNow I might actually be interested in a zip Scully if its compatible with filofax personal size paper
DeleteMy first filofax (maybe bought six weeks ago?) was an A5 to organise my writing notes, and a week later I decided I had to have a personal for my 'life' stuff (I've always used bound planners), but I didn't just buy one, I bought two at once because I couldn't decide! Figured I could switch between the two. However, I love my green Portland so much that my black Tejus languishes in its box (it's beautiful, but stiff and hard compared to the Portland).
ReplyDeleteI have a collector's personality, so it's not surprising to me that I want more, but I'm trying to pace myself. Have my eye on a pocket though. I don't need it, but there's a lovely Kensington for sale, all well-loved looking, and with the internal zip pocket that would make it perfect as a wallet.
I made up a list (almost let a Freudian slip get by me, "lust") of about 50 uses, many based on the many different courses I teach but annotating my music collection. However, I went way past that, having around 80 - 76 at last count but I have since sold a few and bought quite a few.
ReplyDeleteI was buying rapidly at first then realized I'm not a collector and therefor see no reason to buy three and four a week like some people do. For me there is no point unless I got hold of some Vintage ones or had an impressive collection like Alan's. I have a few favorites that I try to rotate so that they all get some use. Some are used more than others. I have several set aside that I will sell. I was starting to want every binder someone else had/loved until I was disappointed far to many times when I got it and realized it was not for me. That happened with the Domino...all those pretty colors but I do not like that binder. I try to try out various models that are deeply discounted so that if I don't like it I don't feel so bad. Although I did not purchase any during the last two sales on the company website. Even at deep discount prices I did not see anything I had to have. I think the thrill is gone lol I just have no desire to keep buying them, although there are a few I'd like to own if I ever stumbled across them. But no more settling or frenzied buying. I'm over it!
ReplyDeleteI am hooked. I brought my first in 1996. I brought my second a Cuban personal December of last year as a Christmas gift to myself. Now just this past two weeks I brought 5 (pocket n personal) do I need them all No but I'm in love. When you are in love we do foolish things. Don't we?
ReplyDeleteI am hooked. I brought my first in 1996. I brought my second a Cuban personal December of last year as a Christmas gift to myself. Now just this past two weeks I brought 5 (pocket n personal) do I need them all No but I'm in love. When you are in love we do foolish things. Don't we?
ReplyDelete