1. When did you buy your first Filofax and what was it?
I bought my first filofax when I first started working full time after university in 2002. It was a pink and brown 'botanics' pocket size. I loved it. I still do but everyone at the time called me a 'yuppy' and said I was going backwards, they so didn't get it. How wrong they were huh!
2. What other brands have you used or considered using?
I have often considered buying one of the Paperchase ones, purely because they are the same size as Filofax so you can use your same inserts but because they are so pretty and cost a lot less. I haven't done it though. Yet!
3. Out of the organisers you own which is your current favourite (Style and Size)?
My favourite is also the one that I am using all the time now. It is a Black Apex in A5 size. I need the A5 size for everything that I want to put in there and because I have large handwriting. I would so like a malden though in a pretty colour. I just can't justify the expenditure at the moment as they have shot up. Saying that I would like any A5, leather in a pretty colour. Black is a bit boring but it is functional so it will have to do. For now.
4. How many Filofax organisers do you own?
I own three. The two aforementioned and then I have a black personal 'Identity'. I used this one for a while as an inbetween the compact and the A5. It is boring (as in it is not a pretty color) but it is functional, oh and cheap why is why I went with it. Cheap and functional. I knew I was transitioning between the compact and the A5 so it was good for that. Don't get me wrong it was perfectly fine, I just strived for something more.
5. What is the oldest Filofax in your collection?
The first one I bought as above. Oldest and most loved. I still love her so much, she is well worn but beautiful. I am trying to work out ways that I can incorporate her into my life again as I miss using her so much!
6. What do you use your Filofax for?
Absolutely everything. Pretty much. Which is why I wanted to transition from my compact into an A5. Before I was using notebooks and journals which was working well for me but then I decided that I wanted everything to be together. I made the change to working for myself so didn't need to have my personal and work seperate and it just made sense to bring everything together and I have been far my organised because of it. I was also ending up with notebooks that I had to keep because there was important stuff in there but also a lot of rubbish. With my filo I can take out the stuff I no longer need and just keep the important things. My whole, entire life is kept together in my filo. The household and I simply wouldn't, no couldn't function without it.
7. What was the feature about Filofax you like most?
What first drew me to filofax was the fact that it was a nice binder. I was fed up of having to carry two diaries around becuase even if I was in the Autumn of one year I was still booking things in for the spring of the next so with a filo you can have that with you at all times. That was the reason I bought my filo in the first place and that with the stuff above is the reason that I continue to use it as the planner of choice. I like that you can put whatever you like into your filo and truly customise it to your own tastes. You are not stuck with one type of inserts, you can buy or make what ever you need to suit your own lifestyle which is what I ended up doing - making and consequently selling my own inserts.
8. If you could design your own Filofax what would it feature?
I really don't know to be honest and haven't given it much thought at all. I have to say that I am pretty happy with any that I have and any that I have seen. So probably nothing.
9. How do you carry your Filofax?
I now work for myself, from home so I don't actually need to carry my filo with me outside of the house much. Generally my filo moves from my desk to my kitchen several times a day. If I go upstairs so does filo. If I go to a network meeting I take my filo along too and just carry it in my arms. I love that it is a diary and a filo so I can make notes as I network. When I go on holiday my filo comes along with me in my bag with my art supplies and book, but I am sorry to say that on a day to day basis my filo is just too damn heavy to carry around town, that and I only have a relatively small handbag too.
10. Which Filofax in the current range do you like the most? Are you going to buy it?.
I really really would like the purple malden but I just can't justify the expenditure at the moment. I shall keep an eye out on the net to see if any bargains come up on other ones that I like the look of. I have to be realistic, whilst I would love it, I don't need it
11. What is the most you have ever spent on a Filofax? Which model?
Seriously. £15. I know crazy. I am very much a bargain hunter and because I haven't been all that fussy on which ones that I have I have just opted for the cheapest. They are not that cheap now though I have to say. But my advice would be if you are not fussy, keep looking around and you will at some point come accross a bargain to be had.
12. What's your favourite Filofax tip or hack?
Anything can be made and it is really fun to do so. I make everything for my baby. I make dividers and book marks out of old greetings cards or scrapbook paper. I have even used an old gift bag to make a divider. I make my own inserts and then print them out, that way I have inserts tailored to the way I like them and want to use them. I even buy cheap post it notes and print them up at home myself (I have started to share these tips on my YouTube channel and Blog if anyone wants to know how!)
13. Turning to Philofaxy, what do you like the most?
I really like the community aspect of it all. I am an avid reader and have loved seeing the way it has grown and grown. I think philofaxy gives people a lot of help and advice and ideas from a trusted and respected place which can sometimes be hard to find on the internet these days.
14. And what do you not like about Philofaxy?
I was going to say that it doesn't have a subscribe by email function, but Steve has pointed that it does and I just hadn't noticed!
15. What was the last music track you downloaded or bought?
The Twilight soundtrack. Love it.
16. Mark Darcy or Daniel Cleaver?
Do I have to choose?
Thank you Anna. If anyone else would like to be featured on Philofaxy as a Reader Under The Spotlight, please contact philofaxy at gmail dot com thank you.
Anna. Somehow I missed that you were featured on here. Nice interview. I love your youtube channel and look forward to seeing what you are up to next. Carol in Maine USA
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