We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING
Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Keeping a diary - is it old fashioned?

Citygirl1
Posts: 932 Forumite

I don't know why I care about what others think or say but I was in WH Smiths earlier looking at diaries for next year and a young woman was browsing, she said she wanted a diary for her Mum, she said that its old fashioned to have a diary nowadays but her Mum insists on having one.
Is it old fashioned? I did once use solely my phone calendar but then found it difficult when I was on the phone trying to make an appointment so I've gone back to a paper diary and still keep events on my phone just incase I don't have it with me. I also keep a separate journal.
For those who do keep diaries/journals, I am wondering about the idea of a bullet journal next year but don't know how that would work in relation to what I am used to.
Is it old fashioned? I did once use solely my phone calendar but then found it difficult when I was on the phone trying to make an appointment so I've gone back to a paper diary and still keep events on my phone just incase I don't have it with me. I also keep a separate journal.
For those who do keep diaries/journals, I am wondering about the idea of a bullet journal next year but don't know how that would work in relation to what I am used to.
0
Comments
-
Does it matter whether it's "old fashioned" if it's what suits you? Mr LW uses a diary (mind you, he's 68, so maybe he's "old fashioned"
); I use an electronic PDA because I need something that will "cheep" at me to remind me to look at it, which a paper diary doesn't do. I do also have a calendar in the kitchen though which I write appointments on as well. I wouldn't worry what other people think, if it works for you, go with it.
If your dog thinks you're the best, don't seek a second opinion.;)0 -
I have a 50p calender on the wall that i make notes on, appointments, birthdays etc. Unfortunately that's no good at home on the wall, when you're out and arranging places you may have to go.0
-
I have a filofax a5. I print my own diary, to do, notes etc. Love it. And it never needs recharging:D0
-
I think people have a different idea of what a "diary" means.
I have a small personal diary I carry around with me - in which I note down social etc appointments.
I have a large diary I keep in my house for maintenance of house and body notes.
But - there is a third variant on diary. That being more of a journal type thing - in which one notes down things that few (if any) people can be safely told. Maybe that is what your mother means? - ie a personal journal?
I do wonder, at intervals, whether to have a personal journal and may well start one at some point. By the time one can't tell this person/group of people that you have x opinion about an issue. Then you can't tell some people/a lot of people about things you've done in your past (in case they disapprove or casually tell it to ones that would). So it goes on - and it boils down to few/if any people you can tell anything to about your opinions/how your life has been to date/etc - because they would either disapprove or tell people that would disapprove (and tell others).
It does get very confusing sometimes to know one can tell a whole large group of people "whatever it is" and they'll think nothing of it (quite rightly....). But another group of people would disapprove (or worse) of the exact same thing one has done and/or opinion one has.
So - journals do have a place. Maybe not to a generation used to Facebook etc and not very used to the idea of a private life being private. But for my (baby boomer) generation upwards - then most of us certainly do expect that much of what we think/feel/do will be and remain private to us. That is where a journal comes in.
It's surprising just what (perfectly okay) thing will be disapproved of by some nearby. For instance - just going out for a Christmas lunch today with friends - and we all had very much the same opinion of it (ie we won't be going there again) and we could talk about this between ourselves - but it wouldnt be wise to tell many here that it was outdated/awful/etc/etc - as we've been told it has a reputation as being one of the "best" and we know we wouldnt be popular for "telling it like it is". So - even daft little things like that - ie giving a perfectly objective/accurate opinion about something doesnt necessarily go down well. That is one reason why a journal does come in handy - ie one can tell it like it is in there (ie company good/food appalling).0 -
What's a bullet journal, in simple terms?
Did a quick Google and I'm not really any the wiser.All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.
Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.0 -
No I am not sure that I really understand bullet journals either, I have tried at various times to keep a proper journal but I lapse from time to time. Maybe next year I will try and do it properly.
My problem is that there are so many different places to write appointments - kitchen calender, smartphone, work laptop, home laptop, paper diary. My most reliable method is post it notes stuck to a pin board reminding me of important dates!0 -
moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »I think people have a different idea of what a "diary" means.
I have a small personal diary I carry around with me - in which I note down social etc appointments.
I have a large diary I keep in my house for maintenance of house and body notes.
But - there is a third variant on diary. That being more of a journal type thing - in which one notes down things that few (if any) people can be safely told. Maybe that is what your mother means? - ie a personal journal?
I do wonder, at intervals, whether to have a personal journal and may well start one at some point. By the time one can't tell this person/group of people that you have x opinion about an issue. Then you can't tell some people/a lot of people about things you've done in your past (in case they disapprove or casually tell it to ones that would). So it goes on - and it boils down to few/if any people you can tell anything to about your opinions/how your life has been to date/etc - because they would either disapprove or tell people that would disapprove (and tell others).
It does get very confusing sometimes to know one can tell a whole large group of people "whatever it is" and they'll think nothing of it (quite rightly....). But another group of people would disapprove (or worse) of the exact same thing one has done and/or opinion one has.
So - journals do have a place. Maybe not to a generation used to Facebook etc and not very used to the idea of a private life being private. But for my (baby boomer) generation upwards - then most of us certainly do expect that much of what we think/feel/do will be and remain private to us. That is where a journal comes in.
It's surprising just what (perfectly okay) thing will be disapproved of by some nearby. For instance - just going out for a Christmas lunch today with friends - and we all had very much the same opinion of it (ie we won't be going there again) and we could talk about this between ourselves - but it wouldnt be wise to tell many here that it was outdated/awful/etc/etc - as we've been told it has a reputation as being one of the "best" and we know we wouldnt be popular for "telling it like it is". So - even daft little things like that - ie giving a perfectly objective/accurate opinion about something doesnt necessarily go down well. That is one reason why a journal does come in handy - ie one can tell it like it is in there (ie company good/food appalling).
I am with you here. I have a small diary that I carry around for appointments and a personal journal. There is a story here but I'll try to keep it short. I did have lots of journals in the past and got paranoid about them being seen so I got rid of them, regretted it afterwards so I started again last year. I am still writing in the same notebook, don't write as much these days, about once a month, maybe I am still paranoid about what I write but then again its something I need to do. It is a place where you can voice your true feelings and opinions. I also keep my small appointment diaries to look back on as they give a great snapshot of daily life.0 -
I keep a diary, always a page-a-day one and spiral bound so that it lays flat. I write everything in it, what I have done, what has happened and how I feel about it. It is so interesting to read back to what you were doing and how you felt some years ago. It can be helpful too.
I have always felt that physically writing stuff down gets it out of your head and on to paper and that helps to sort out your mind.
I'm not sure that I want my nearest and dearest to read it when I shuffle off this mortal coil. I dont mind complete strangers reading it because I couldnt care less what they think of me, but I would quite like not to shock my loved ones.
The world would be a poorer place if people like Samuel Pepys and Nella Last had not kept up their daily commentary on life as they saw it.I believe that friends are quiet angels
Who lift us to our feet when our wings
Have trouble remembering how to fly.0 -
I'll still use post it notes if there's a risk I might forget something - ie because it's not one of my "usual activities".
Today was 2 notes:
- optician first thing
then:
- lunch out with friends.
It's safely there in my head what my "regular" commitments are, ie if its Monday its this, Thursday its that, Friday its t'other and so on.
It's the "added extras" that are at risk of being forgotten about.0 -
What's a bullet journal, in simple terms?
Did a quick Google and I'm not really any the wiser.
A bullet journal is one notebook where you keep everything, your diary, journal, ideas, lists etc, you write out your own calendars which is something that puts me off as I like mine ready made for me. I think it will be interesting to have everything in one place but I don't know if it would work for me. A colleague at work has one and she swears by it though.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 352.1K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.2K Spending & Discounts
- 245.1K Work, Benefits & Business
- 600.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.4K Life & Family
- 258.9K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards