What type of diary/calendar do others use to organise their families?

HariboJunkie

We have a family calendar in the kitchen, a blackboard for the weekly meal plan, a blackboard for a shopping list and my filofax is the centre of operations, through which all things must go if you value your ear drums when you tell me you've forgotten something.

Christmas goes onto a spreadsheet and lists are copied down from that. the spreadsheet means I can easily keep an eye on spends.

I've been tempted by the Organised Mum stuff but I couldn't justify the price.

squeaky

This earlier thread may be of interest:- What type of diary/calendar do others use to organise their families?

I'll add your query to it later. Good luck

minuettoallegretto

I carry a good old-fashioned Filofax which contains diary, clothes lists in various sizes (I've got boxes stored for the next 7 years' growth!), addresses, book lists, holiday plans and anything else I think I might need; then on the wall I have Mum's Family Organiser Calendar which runs August to next December. I make sure everything gets copied across, and if it's not written down, it's not happening! As there's 5 of us, and I'm a multiple school governor, I couldn't manage without them!

rebeccaxoxo

This may seem like a bit of a strange query but Im looking to buy something similar to a filofax, a general organiser for everything really. I want something that has a calendar part, maybe has pockets or inserts for receipts/coupons and plenty of writing space for budgets and to do lists etc.
Sorry if this seems a bit sad or neurotic to map out my life so closely but I used to live such a chaotic life ( money wise) I find it helps so much to write almost everything down, meal plans and targets for debt reduction etc.
I go through so many notebooks in the spirit of organising myself I'd rather just have the one that I can refer to constantly.
Sorry for babbling but my point is does anyone do this and if so what do you use, i was thinking about just getting a filofax but they seem a bit pricey ( the replacements etc) so any other alternatives?:T
thanks

Pink.

Hi rebecca,

This recent thread has some good ideas:

What type of diary/calendar do others use to organise their families?

I'll add your thread to it once you've had some more suggestions.

Pink

xx_Jo_xx

Hey - I use this

I discovered it in 2007 and have had one every year since!! I bought this too for it which gives you the pockets etc for receipts/coupons... and you can zip them all in so nothing falls out.

The only downside is, you need a big handbag - which I do anyway for work. Its not gonna fit in a small clutch.

Other plus points are that some of the inserts, like address book and dividers are transferrable into your next book - so you dont have to spend a week writing all your addresses out at the start of each diary!

Have a look at the site - but ive never turned back

No - i dont work for them or paid a commission - I just love this book

ETA - they are pricey in Sept when the diaries first come out (as they run from Sept 11 - Dec 12) but towards the end of the year they often have a sale and you can pick them up for around £5. Diary covers are often sold on sale as 'seconds' but honestly, you cannot tell there is anything wrong with them at all - Im not sure what is supposed to be flawed with mine, and that was also only £5

xx

Missus_Aka

Is this one you will want to carry around with you or just for home use? What size would you want (mine is a4 for home use only but will be putting another one together that is less concise but will fit in my bag) Do you have kids? Filofax inserts are so much cheaper on ebay, the full organisers from 2010/11 are quite cheap on there at the moment and new you just need to buy a new diary insert for about £4 or so

tooties

I bought a pocket size filofax about 6 years ago it was £20. best money i ever spent, you can get replacement infills at wh smith including zipped pouches (for receipts etc), they are reasonably priced if you get the wh smith ones, they do sizes to fit all filofaxes. i have been desperate to wear out my small one to no avail!! the thing is indistructable, just yesterday i bought a new one a bit bigger it was £27. but i can justify it. If you would like my small one just PM me your address it has years of life left in it.

MaggieBaking

Agree with Tooties, I like my filofax. Ebay is great for inserts - especially the zipped pouch.

daphne_descends

I just want to second the suggestion for Organised Mum diaries/calendars, they really work for me, I love that the week-to-view has a 'meal ideas' section so you can write your meal plan down, and a space for shopping and to-do lists, each month has a 'to do in September (and so on) page and the larger diaries have special sections for planning Christmas, summer holidays and so on. I leave mine open in the kitchen so everyone can see what's planned for the week and jot down right away if we've run out of something.

I do love the look of a Filofax though and there are some really lovely designs out. They are a bit pricey but a good Christmas present if Santa thinks you've been good enough?