Planner Options for Every Budget
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase after clicking on one of the product links with an asterisk (*), I’ll receive compensation. Let's be serious, mama needs a new pair of shoes :)
Getting your days organized can be challenging. If you're new to the planner world, the options could even become overwhelming. I thought I'd help you out! Below are different types of planners for every price point (even free!). For each type of planners I'll provide an approximate price range, explanation, and examples. So, if you're looking to get into the planner game, keep reading!
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase after clicking on one of the product links with an asterisk (*), I’ll receive compensation. Let's be honest, mama needs a new pair of shoes :)
Printables ($15 or Less)
Some people have shared free versions of planner printables online. Most of these downloads do not contain dates, which could see as a good or bad thing. Someone may like not having the date, because you can use the same document year after year. However, some people may not like filling in the dates every day, week and/or month. If you're looking for a free, printed option and are okay filling in the dates, then these are probably a good option for you!
My Planner Printables: I definitely have a preference for planner printables - mine :) You can download them here.
Printables on Pinterest: There are definitely more planner printables you need to pay for out on the internet and there are free versions. Luckily for you, I have created a Pinterest board that has a few different options for free printables. Check it out and see if there is one you like!
Electronic Calendars
I personally love using digital planners. They work great for me as my long-term planning, and back up in case I don't have my binder or paper planner. However, for some reason, I can't get myself to completely give up my paper planners yet. Maybe one day I will, but until then, these two are options I like to use to supplement my other organizational tools.
Apple's iCloud Calendar: To date, I'm an Apply iPhone gal. I love my phone, and I have tons of reoccurring reminders on my phone (Twitter chats, anniversaries, birthdays, etc.). This calendar is amazing and syncs with so many other calendars. I have this calendar set up to show my reoccurring events, work Outlook calendar, and personal/blog Google Calendar. I absolutely love that it pairs perfectly with them, and I always have this information in my phone as my "just in case" in almost every scenario.
Google Calendar: This thing is awesome! I love using to plan my personal life, and to keep track of blog posts and newsletter I'm planning on to getting out. I've also heard of it being extremely helpful for small businesses who don't have software like Outlook. It can be used on Macs and PCs, as well as sync with Androids and Apple devises. Plus, it's free!
Bullet Journals ($10-20)
This planning technique has become huge recently. I love the idea of it, because it's simplified and constant but you still get to be creative. However, I just can't seem to find the time to design my monthly, weekly and daily pages every time. Then, I seem to find myself losing track of things. Maybe this planning technique will work great for you, and I don't want to leave it out. So below are two highly recommended bullet journals. Since, I haven't personally used them successfully, I won't be leaving a description. BUT! Feel free to check them out yourself :)
Moleskine Classic Notebook, Large, Dotted*
Downloadable Binder Pages ($10-25)
There are tons of amazing bloggers and graphic designers who make their own printable planner pages for the year - dates and all. They normally have all kinds of helpful toolkits and are a perfect addition to a home base binder. These are perfect for someone looking to organize their day, and are willing to carry around a binder. Some day I hope to have time to make some of my own. Until then, here are a few great ones that I personally love!
Just a Girl and Her Blog's Simplified + The Intentional Life Planners: The writer of this blog offers a planner and home binder with tons of helpful documents to get organized. Check out her page for more information as to what's included.
SecretOwlSociety's Ultimate Life Binder on Etsy: This is a super cute planner set that keeps showing up on my Pinterest page. I haven't tried it myself, but I love the look of it.
Budget Planners ($10-35)
You want to check these out if you're new the the paper planner world, and don't want to be filling in dates or designing your own bullet journal. These are great options for someone looking for something that's cheap, but is still cute and practical.
Eccolo Planners*: I adore these cute planners. I've heard they can be found at places like TJ Maxx and Marshall stores, but you can also find them online. They're a great, budget alternative to the designer planners.
At-A-Glance Planners*: These planners are available everywhere. They have some basic, black options that are fairly inexpensive, as well as some with fun colors, prints, and sayings. They're a great option if you're looking for fairly inexpensive planners, and you can find them almost everywhere.
Designer Planners ($55-65)
Looking to upgrade your planner to something durable, useful and amazingly cute? Then these three options will be perfect for you! The name brand planners are amazing, and have the best of the best when it comes to covers, bindings and paper. However, you are going to have to pay a pretty penny. BUT! If you're using it every day, then it's definitely worth it.
Simplified Planner by Emily Ley*: I have used the daily version the past two year for organizing tasks, and managing my daily to-do list. I love using this in conjunction with my Apple calendar and blog organization binder. It's a beautiful planner that helps simplify your days (hence the name). This is the planner I take with me everywhere, and it's extremely durable. The daily version of the planner itself is fairly thick, but the cover and pages are top quality. Also, the main reason I prefer the daily Simplified Planner to the other designer planners is that it only contains the basics for each day (to-do list, meal planning, notes, and hourly breakdown), and I can use additional organization items (electronic calendars and project binders) for the other aspects of my life.
Day Designer*: A highly-acclaimed alternative to the Simplified Planner is this one. Personally, I have never used it, but I have heard great things. The designs are so sophisticated, and this planner is extremely similar to the simplified planner. There are some small differences in the layout for this planner for the daily layout when compared to the Simplified Planner. You may prefer the Day Designer if you're looking for a planner that has a little more built-in planning tools in one place.
Erin Condren*: This planner is extremely different when compared to the other two designer planners. First, there are tons of cover options and you can personalize it with your name. Second, the days are broken down by morning, afternoon, and evening. This would be perfect for someone who is looking to organize large chucks of time, and doesn't need to keep track of what is happening each hour of each day. Finally, there are also tons of cute stickers and stamps you can buy online (especially on Etsy) for this planner. They're so fun, and the make planning seem so fun and exciting every week.