21 February 2014

Free For All Friday No. 275

I can't remember how it came up in a conversation the other day, but some one said to me, "You collect Filofaxes, don't you?" At the time I just agreed, but I suppose I've given it a little more thought since then. Actually, I think that I consider myself an enthusiast, rather than a collector, as I'm normally working on reducing the number of binders I own instead of increasing them. Sure, I may change my mind and get a new one (never paid full price yet), but another one will be rehomed as part of the process.

Do you consider yourself an enthusiast/user, a collector or maybe a bit of both?

And as it's Friday again, please feel free to discuss anything Filofax or other ring bound planner related.

20 comments:

  1. I am just realizing that I have 11 binders on hand and two more on the way. I am not in any way a minimalist but I simply cannot use all of these and may consider selling some of them. Right now all the unused personals and Franklin compacts are doing duty as storage binders, but I have an empty pocket in my desk... We'll see. I used to sell binders with no worries; if I later regretted the sale it was usually easy enough to find another specimen to purchase. Unfortunately with the enormous price increases over the past few months this no longer seem like a feasible plan of action so I feel more inclined to hoard binders which I think I *might* want to use in the future. Thankfully I have very good self control as far as purchasing goes.

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    1. I know what you mean about some of the price increases as I previously had two Winchesters (sold one for a relative & gave one away as a gift) & the nicer ones have been going for much more money nowadays.

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  2. I just see myself as an avid user. Although I have multiple binders they are all in use, some I swap round so I change my daily binder, others like my Decos stay at home. I don't think I am a collector, any more than I would claim to be a collector of shoes, although I have the same number of paris of shoes as I do binders.

    For the most part it is the pages in the binder which interest me most :)

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  3. Definitely an avid user, not a collector.

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  4. I'm currently bidding on a Louis Vuitton zippy travel wallet on Ebay. However, since entering my bid I see that Filofax do a Malden large zipped purse which is virtually the same design and size. Does anyone know anything about the Malden zipped purse? I'm beginning to hope that I'm outbid on Ebay.

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  5. I guess I'm a little of both, because the enthusiast in me orders binders not knowing if I will love them. But there are some I would not consider selling even if I had an offer. There is nowhere near me that sells Filofax, so I can't handle them until I purchase them. If I order one I don't love one received, I sell it. You could say I'm both, I just don't want to be the 'crazy planner lady'!

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  6. I think I'm a keen user with collecting tendencies. I'm up to 7 assorted binders at the moment... hopefully the addiction won't extend as much as my other collections - Oakley sunglasses (27 pairs, currently) and fountain pens (more than 60).

    On a different subject, I was interested to see an A4 filofax being used in the wild earlier this week. I didn't have time to quiz the gentleman involved, but he's a project manager who's been brought in as a contractor to assist with a (horrible!) project at work, and as I was talking to my boss on the desk opposite I noticed that there was a black A4 filo open on the desk next to his PC - and clearly in use given the number of notes I could see scrawled on the page. First time I've ever seen an A4 in the wild!

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  7. An avid user! There are one or two former binders that I'd like to acquire, but the world won't end if I don't! I buy a binder if I like it - and find that I prefer a lot of the non-leather ones to the posher leather versions.

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  8. Bit of both. Hubby made me count my binders. #13 is on its way to me right now. There are 4 more in the house I don't consider mine (home binder, hubby's binder, and the kids each own a pocket). I've not paid much at all for any of them, the most was NZ$50 for a vintage designer faux filofax. I could never afford to collect like that at full price! I am a binder-hoarder. I know that I got lucky to get many of them at the price I did, and if I sold one and regretted it, in most cases there's no way I could replace it.

    I did just send one overseas. A slimline Debden to a friend who's finding her massive ringed FC compacts too large to leave the house with. I wasn't attached to it, too small for regular use and I have a slimline filo I sometimes use as a wallet if I do need that form factor.

    I think I could also bear to part with my domino, but I'd have to think long and hard about it.

    The others? No way ;)

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  9. I only own an A5 and a personal so I am an avid user.

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  10. I think at the beginning of my Filofax craze I was into acquiring. Now that I have felt and used all of the sizes and some of the styles I found my preferences. I have 6 or 7 that I love and the rest I would give up with no regrets. Once you establish your style any moving and shifting becomes a bit of sport or just fun like buying new shoes or a new purse. You don't really need them but a pick me up or treat makes you feel good.

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  11. I'm both. I use the ones I have, but I will see one on-line and go "Oh PRETTY!!!!" I WANT ONE!!!" I don't always cave into the impulse, especially as all above have said, with the increasing prices. Since I got my red personal Chameleon off of Adspot, my present itch seems to have been scratched. I really don't have a longing for another one...as of this hour,minute,second...

    I have also reached the point where I do sell ones that are habitually collecting dust. Hopefully there is a balance being struck...

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  12. Tough question - how about Filo addicts? Browsing through all the Filo stuff, I can see similarities to my own problem: the BAS: I'm a banjo player (old time), and in the banjo world, we know the BAS - the Banjo Acquisition Syndrome; some think that it can be cured, others don't think so: here is what one guy stated (you can easily replace banjo by Filo (!)):
    "For the short answer NO! It never goes away and you cannot stop the onset but you can learn to live with BAS and have some degree of control over it. First sit down with the family and tell them the torment you are living with then decided on a number to be your limit say 3 your good professional or quality banjo, a knock around travel practice banjo and maybe 1 old or collectable, sentimental banjo. Now start to work on your will power you can practice with something easy like food or sleep deprivation. Next have the wife set down with you at the computer while you look thru BanjoHangout classifieds, banjo hut, banjo buyer.com, ebay and the dozens of other places that sell banjo's and when she sees that look in your eye she can help talk you down, by telling you it's me and the kids or that banjo. After you have somewhat come to your scenes and regained control and are able to visit those sites without getting the shakes or pouting when told no it's time to step out to a few music stores that sell banjos (but not by yourself) do this until you can walk in and out without causing any trouble or embarrassing the family. The final test is take them to a weekend festival with vendors selling and letting you play all kinds of banjos, folks walking around with their banjos with for sale signs hanging on them. If you can leave as a family still talking and all going to the same house you are getting BAS under control. You may find a good support group to be helpful and always remember you have control but you haven't been cured. Good Luck"

    PS: you don't have to buy 25 banjos, though - the rule of thumb is 1 per room, just in case of emergency...

    Bon weekend,
    Franz

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  13. Actually I have a confession, there are actually 6 binders in my flat currently, but I need to get round to rehoming 4 of them on Adspot :)

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  14. I have a collection. But I use a lot of them

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  15. I just now owned my first Filofax. I've had a Daytimer for years. I've never seen a color that I like with regards to leather at Daytimer, and I find the Crimson Malden the color that I like. In fact, the Malden line is awesome. I won't call myself a collector if I start buying the Malden in different color and sizes. I'd say I like variety with what I use. I just couldn't let go of my 2inch ring Daytimer Desk (A5). So, my Filofaxes would be my fun binders: one is a wallet, the other a travel journal, another a regular journal, etc. It can be anything useful all at the same time. So, I'd call myself an OCD user. haha

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  16. Can anyone help me sort out the rings on my filofax? I have an A5 hamilton, which is a gorgeous filofax, but the rings aren't meeting together very well, and paper keeps getting caught up in it - so I am not using it as much as I would like. Any help would be appreciated!

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    1. Deborah
      Email me philofaxy at gmail dot com I have a simple fix that might work
      Steve

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  17. I own just one, a personal metropol and I find that it is perfect for me. If I lived anywhere where it was easy to get a Filo, I'd probably own one or two more but I think I'm all settled for now at least.

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  18. I only started filofaxing 5 days ago. I have a Domino, and I really like it, but it will just take me time to get used to using one I think.

    zoea2812.blogspot.com

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