01 November 2024

Free For All Friday - No. 834 by Anita

When I purchased my first Filofax back in 2009, I didn't know much about binders.

I had come across Philofaxy, but didn't start to really read much until some time later. After a bit of looking around, I managed to find a cherry personal Classic for the great price of around £40 and starting to use it. Sadly after about 10 months of gentle use, I returned it to Filofax as it started to have the bubbling/cracking on the spine that some of the Classics seem to have. It was actually a blessing in disguise as Filofax agreed to replace it with a crimson Malden instead, which I realised was a model I much preferred. If I was buying my first Filofax now, I'm pretty sure that I'd get either a Kensington or a Winchester.

Would you still purchase the same first binder if you were just starting out now?

And as always as it's a Friday, please feel free to discuss anything ringbound planner related.

Have a great weekend. 

7 comments:

  1. My very first Filofax-like binder was a knockoff inexpensive brand, and it served me well. I absolutely would purchase it again. It was affordable so I wasn't afraid to use it, and I was able to get a bunch of accessories for it.

    My first actual Filofax I got a few years later, a beautiful Italian leather Buckingham for only $25. It led me down the path to Philofaxy, and the rest is history! Again the Filofax binder itself was affordable, but this time absolutely luxurious so I loved using it. But since I'd paid so little for it I didn't feel like I needed to be precious with it and it got loads of use.

    All in all, I would definitely do it all again!

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  2. My first organiser was my Winchester 4CLF back in 1986......there have been many since then!
    I still have the Winchester with the inserts I used in 1987 onwards. The only thing that has failed on it is the plastic cap on the popper, I painted the metal dome instead. I've also replaced the plastic ID pocket clear plastic too which aged a bit over time.
    It was my one and only Filofax for about 20 years. Not in full time use though. I'm so pleased I kept it.

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  3. My first Filofax was an Epping. I dont see the Epping listed on the filowiki page. It's nice brown leather - the Filofax store stenciled my initials there (quite faintly) otherwise I would sell it. I like the Malden's but would like to get a Winchester someday. I carried it thru school. Its full of all things related to b-school and reminds me of my time in Philadelphia back then. Do your planners remind you of a time and place as well?

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  4. My first filofax was a zipped pocket one that was bought for me when about 18yo ish. I thought it was a filofax but this past year I found it and there was nothing relating to the brand so it's a cheapo possibly whsmiths one.

    I didn't use it as I was a kid who didn't use diaries or anything I did spend the Xmas period forever opening it at what I'd written inside.

    Then about 12 ish years ago I bought a metropol and a leuctturm bullet journal and a small diary to see which would suit me better. Neither supplanted the other so I used bullet journal and my filofax metropol personal at the same time for slightly different ways.

    Then last year as a reward andto get more organised for my new job I bought a used a5 Finsbury. My first leather one.
    Then earlier this year a Holborn personal to carry into work with less bulk

    Now I have a zipped lyndhurst mini. As its a more portable for days going to work site by bike. Less bulk and weight but with enough for work days.

    I have yet to sort out my filofax system to my liking. It's just so messy, confused and annoyingly not there yet! The ideas I have are all logical and make sense but they're not right and I've yet to work out why and how to sort it out.

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  5. My first organizer was a Coach organizer with Lefax inserts that my wife gifted to me in 1989. I loved that thing and used the heck out of it until I experienced the familiar pull to other paper platforms (Franklin)-->setting paper aside for Psions and various other PDAs, then back 'home' to the Filofax world last year. Would I buy that one again? 1989 me probably would, but present me is enjoying my variety of Lefax and Filofax binders with layouts that makes more sense for my current life!

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  6. I dipped my toe with pocket calendars as a teenager. First actual planner was a blank lined book that I configured into calendar and topic sections. One memorable year I was in what they call a "cow book" -- one of those beloved black and white composition notebooks from childhood. Gradually eased into looseleaf binders and then planners made for that purpose. Have used Filofax and VDS, currently in a Mignon.

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  7. My first Filofax was a cavendish. I was obsessed with the idea of fitting in as much as much as possible so was only ever interested in models with 30mm rings. I also loved the outside zip pocket which meant I could use it as a convenient wallet too. I also bought a A5 Kendal which was just too big to be carried around.

    Then I discovered the concept of the big back pocket so purchased a personal VDS touch me. I loved the quality but the floppiness of the leather started to bother me. I also tried a Moterm luxe in both personal and A5 and a versa which were a bit stiffer but i didn’t love the pebbled leather and I realised that I was carrying unnecessary, forgotten stuff around which made the planners to heavy and unwieldy.

    This week I purchased a personal lockwood in aqua and I think I have achieved planner peace! I absolutely love the colour, 23mm rings is enough for me, it’s easy to carry - I can even put my phone in the front outside pocket and, like the cavendish, it has the outside zip pocket so I can use it as a wallet again.

    Decided keeping one of my cavendishes and my Kendal as these were the binders that kicked off my interest but will sell the rest.

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