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Dayplanner mamas?

post #1 of 29
11/7/05 at 11:21pm
Thread Starter 
Anyone else use a dayplanner (DayTimer, Franklin Covey, etc.) to keep their lives organized? Finances, schedule, phone #s and addresses . . . I keep it all in there. I have gone back and forth between the smaller binder (4.25" x 6.75" page size) and the large size (5" x 7" pages) over the last few years, depending on what was going on in my life--so I have both binders, and just need to order my pages for next year.

My issue is, I am going from a full-time on-call massage practice to full-time stay-at-home Mom, and don't know what size to order for that! I am assuming that I won't need to keep track of as many daily appointments as I currently do (*grin*), and it would certainly be easier to transport the smaller binder along with diaper bag, baby, etc.

Any thoughts?

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post #2 of 29
11/7/05 at 11:30pm
I like that Amy Knapp family planner. It's awesome! I'll try to find a link and post back.
post #3 of 29
11/8/05 at 3:20pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the suggestion, sabrinat . . . I searched online and found the webpage for the Amy Knapp planner. And it even comes in a format that is punched to fit my Franklin Covey binder!

Now, if only they had some pictures of what the pages look like, so that I could get a general idea . . .
post #4 of 29
11/8/05 at 11:25pm
I bought one recently and really like it. Amazon and BN.com also carry it, so if you were ordering other stuff you could save the shipping charge. The only thing I don't like is that there's not too much room to write stuff in for each day, since it's a week at a glance. But any week at a glance plannr wopuld have that problem, and I'm still finding it very useful. Did you see this page?

http://www.thefamilyorganizer.com/alookinside.php

That's exactly what it looks look inside, plus it has the whole month on two pages at the beginning of each month. And there are extra features, like planning pages for the next year when you get close to December, etc.

I like it, and I'd recommend if you think you'll use the menu planning and grocery list features. If not, you might want to go with the old standbys so you have more room to write in each day.

Melissa
post #5 of 29
11/9/05 at 12:29am
I have and really like the Amy Knapp planner. I usually use the grocery list for lists of other sorts, depending on my needs.
post #6 of 29
11/9/05 at 4:11pm
Thread Starter 
Hmmm . . . I do like the grocery list column, but still worry that a week-at-a-glance format will be too cramped for me to use. I have always had two pages per day--and although I don't always use the extra writing space, I sometimes FILL it!

Maybe I will post over in the SAHM forum and see what they say over there?

And thanks for the link, melissel--I am a BIG Amazon shopper (love that free shipping on orders over $25!), so if I end up going with the Amy Knapp organizer I will definitely buy it there.
post #7 of 29
11/9/05 at 8:47pm
I use Franklin covey and love it. Been using it for the past 6 years. What I didn't like about the other ones is the fact I can't add and subtract pages. With the covey (or a dayplanner) I can add sections. For instance, I have a birth, prenatal, postpartum section to list all my visits, one section just for directions to houses, one section to list gift ideas for christmas and a christmas checklist, one section for grocery list, a blank section just to jot down notes. I also like having a 2 page spread for each day, athough I don't always keep up with that. I should, but I don't And that is why i forget to send in papers at school, snack day, etc. etc. That's how I feel most of the time!
post #8 of 29
11/9/05 at 9:44pm
Melissa, thanks for the link! I'm definitely going to get that planner!

Birth Junky, I'm a SAHM and I live by my planner. Pathetic, I know, but you would be surprised how many playdates, playgroups, doctor appointments, etc. one SAHM can have!
post #9 of 29
12/1/05 at 1:11am
I finally broke down and upgraded to a Palm Zire. (I had an old palm, but not compatable with my mac). I find it so much easier to tote around than a full planner. They are fairly affordable if you don't want wireless, mp3, etc, etc...
post #10 of 29
12/1/05 at 6:25pm
After reading this thread, I ordered the Amy Knapp family planner and I LOVE it! Thanks for the recommendation! It's great!
post #11 of 29
12/4/05 at 10:35pm
That's awesome, I'm so glad you like it! I never had much use for a planner when I only had one kid, but when the second came along, I really needed to get more organized. My DH had an old Palm, but I just need hard copy, I can't deal with gadgets. Someone tried to arrange a co-op for the Knapp planners on the Co-op and Swap board and there wasn't enough interest to reach the bigger discount, but that's how I got hooked

Melissa
post #12 of 29
12/6/05 at 9:48pm
I feel so uncool. I just use a calendar on the wall to keep track of appts, a piece of scrap paper stuck to the fridge for stuff I need to buy (groceries, etc). All my addresses/phone numbers are in Microsoft Outlook or programmed into my phone. You guys really use a day planner enough to justify buying one? (that's not meant to be snarky).
post #13 of 29
12/8/05 at 12:43pm
We recently started using the Yahoo calendar for our family calendar and it's great! DH is a SAHD and I work full time. We were really having trouble figuring out who had to go where and coordinating things at work and home. Since the Yahoo calendar is on the web (and it's free!) I can update it from work as soon as I know I have a class or something outside my normal work hours and he DH can put in any school or work events as soon as he is aware of them. And we both have ready access to it throughout the day to check and see what is going on and who needs to be where. It can also do repeating events-- like every Friday DD has gym and needs to have her gym shoes, etc. It's really a lot better than the paper calendar we used to use-- we'd forget to put things on it, or something would come up at work and I couldn't check to see what was going on at home before committing.
post #14 of 29
12/12/05 at 7:47pm
I've been looking at daytimers...thanks for the links. Rebecca you're not that out of the loop. What I"m doing isn't working now that I'm working outside the home 2days per week, working at home 3, and being director over the school age children for worship at my church. I'm afraid I'm going to forget something. Maybe I need a bigger brain. teehee The older I get the less I remember or maybe it's because the busier I get the less I remember. Not sure (I actually typed in bigger I get...lol rofl) oops. Off the check out the links. Thanks mamas. I should have known there be great links here. Now what to do about my cluttered house I've been decluttering for over a year and it'sstill a mess??
post #15 of 29
12/16/05 at 5:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rebecca
You guys really use a day planner enough to justify buying one? (that's not meant to be snarky).
I have 4 kids (one who plays sports year round...ugh!), myself and my dh to keep up with...not only can I justify it, but I have 2!
post #16 of 29
12/28/05 at 10:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by corwinegall
I have and really like the Amy Knapp planner. I usually use the grocery list for lists of other sorts, depending on my needs.
I also like the Moms On The Go,I have Amy Knapp planner by the phone and the Moms on The Go in my bag...
post #17 of 29
12/30/05 at 1:08am
I use a Covey planner. When I was working, I used to use the large binder, the refillable sheets, etc, but now I simplified to a classic size on a spiral ring notebook. It works for me, but I don't have my addresses in it.

That's really where I'm struggling, with the addresses and contact info. Right now, I'm trying to put them in my outlook contacts, so when I need something, I know where it is.
post #18 of 29
12/30/05 at 12:51pm
I just bought the Amy Knapp one it's so awesome. I've been looking at them and thanks to you mamas found the best one. Happy new Year mamas.
post #19 of 29
12/31/05 at 4:48pm
After reading Totally Organized by Bonnie McCullough I went and found my old Buxton day planner from high school, got refills and am now fixing up the binder as Bonnie recomends.

I like all the info she recomends you keep there plus having the ability to write something down instead of "oh I'll just remember that"

Also instead of having all that paper laying around because of them having info you want to remember, write it down in the note section of your planner. Less clutter and no more loosing those scraps

I am so happy to get organized
post #20 of 29
1/1/06 at 12:54pm
what sections do you have in your planners? i have an old one that takes the day timer portable pages, about 3.5x6.5 i think, but i havent used it in years.... besides the monthly claendar, nots and phone numbers, what else do you guys have? oh and no kids, so the 2 page per week always worked for me before

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