Plan with me - Hobonichi Techo Cousin A5 weekly layout

Since one Book July I have been using the Hobonichi Techo Cousin A5 for my every day carry planner. Don't worry that does not mean that my favourite Filofax, Little Purple, has been relegated to a dusty corner of my over flowing book shelves! 

I am using Little Purple as an information storage system, in the File of Facts manner at the moment and if I could get the exact Hobonichi style layout on Tomoe River paper pre-made for a personal sized filofax I would be using Little Purple for everything!  (Yes I could print my own inserts on the Tomoe River paper, but last time I tried that the printer ate the paper as it is so thin!). I will do a post in the future of Little Purple as a 'file of facts' set up ...

Which reminds me . ..If you are interested in reading about filofaxes and how people use their organisers I encourage you to visit Philofaxy. Say hi to them from me!

Anyway, back to the Hobonichi.

I have been working out how best to use this organisation tool and have watched so many videos and flicked through so many images of how people use their Hobos (apparently that is what the cool kids call the Hobonichi diaries). I really need my organiser to be functional first, and if I can make it also aesthetically pleasing that is a bonus. I do like both function and beauty, but overall an organiser is a tool and so its function is important.

I added stick on tabs to differentiate sections in the Hobonichi as I found it difficult to use quickly if I could not find the right section fast. This is how the week spread looks before I add things to it.

(c) empressbat.blogspot.com

I am starting to get in the swing of using this book as my every day carry organiser and am contemplating using one all of next year. Again, if I can obtain pre-printed Hobonichi style, cut and punched Tomoe River paper for Little Purple, I would use my filofax, but I have been unsuccessful in that search so far.

I use the weekly pages to give an overview of the week ahead and future planning. As I do also like things to be aesthetically pleasing and cheerful, I do add some stickers and washi tape to the layout! \

The washi tape I use is from Chiyogami Designs - I purchase from them as they have a huge range of tape, are a local Aussie small business and, have the most amazing friendly reliable customer service.

So back to the weekly spread.

I work fulltime and under a flexi time system meaning my start and finish times are not always the same. At the top of each day column I leave room for my work times which is a back up record in case the electronic record I have to use for work has a conniption!

On the far left column I have an overview of things coming up, list days off and also if I am on call that week I will not only add it to the week (using washing tape) but also note it on the side. Can't forget if it is written everywhere, right? ..right?!?

I then draw (or tape) a horizontal line about two thirds of the way down the page. This leaves the top part of the columns for my schedule where I add meetings and appointments and the bottom part of each column for noting tasks as they come in against the day they need to be done. I use a kind of bullet journal system with the tasks and will add an arrow to something if I did not get to it and it needs to carry over to another day.

I mark the weekend off with stickers - when a week is tiring it gives me a moment of joy to see the decorative weekend columns ahead! 

On the bottom of the weekend columns I leave room to note anything coming up the next week that I need to remember and maybe prepare for.

(c) empressbat.blogspot.com

This is how I use the weekly pages in the Hobonichi Cousin Techo A5. My scheduling and task system sits on these pages so decoration is minimal and functionality is the focus.

I would be interested in hearing how others use their Hobonichi planners or if they have found someone who sells a similar set up on Tomoe River paper prepunched for a filofax personal!

A glimpse of my Filofax Topaz mini as a wallet

If you want to see more posts about Filofaxes and planners please see the index to those topics in my blog to the left of this post, and also I highly recommend you visit Philofaxy.

I had been after  a Filofax in the mini size for a long time. I really wanted one to use as a wallet but Filofax does not appear to make the mini size anymore, with their smallest being the pocket. I finally discovered one that was not only new, but affordable, from Pen City So in December last year I ordered this gorgeous Filofax Topax mini, I think the colour is burgundy.

Beware there are a lot of photos in this post! I wanted to show you all how I use this Filofax and give you plenty of pictures that I am happy for you to 'Pinterest' or use for your own inspiration.

It is an ideal size for me to use as a wallet with the added advantage of having the rings for me to add clear plastic card holders and calendar and note pages. 

I added some sticky notes I purchased from Kikki K and stuck them to a piece of card which I then hole punched and added to the rings.

I bought some clear card holder plastic inserts that are meant for a personal sized business card binder and cut them to fit the mini. Putting my store cards, bank account cards and discount cards in here meant that I can easily flip through my wallet to find the one I want. Additionally with cards that have bar codes, I do not even have to take them out of the plastic sleeves as I just flip the sleeve over to show the reverse of the card for the retailer to scan. I did not get a ruler with this Filofax so I cut down one from a personal sized organiser.

I cut down a cardboard pocket meant for a pocket sized organiser to use to stash my postage stamps and a small magnifier sheet.

I have inserted a small plastic zip pouch that was made for a pocket sized but actually works well in the mini with only a slight over hang at the top. In there I stash receipts and sometimes a coin that I get in change that is not valid currency here and nobody else will accept it!

In the front pockets I have my Medicare card (in Australia we have Government supplied health insurance called Medicare), the bank account card I use most often and my public transport card. There is a double sided opening slot in the front with the Filofax model information on it, I use that to put a paperclip in case i need one.

There is a zip pocket at the back of the Topaz where I store coins, but it cannot take too many so the overflow goes into my lilac coloured piggy bank! I have a small pen in the pen loop as well so I can write down notes or shopping reminders.

There is an open pocket along the back of the Filofax where I put bank note currency, (as opposed to coin currency, as not sure how to describe it.... polymer dollars??? )

I have been using the Filofax Topaz mini as a wallet for six months, and I am really pleased with it. The size is just right for me, it has all the pockets and inserts I need, and it is sturdy.

The leather is like faux crocodile texture and has a mottled burgundy and black colour. The only thing that I think would make it perfect, is if it was purple.....

A glimpse of my purple Malden personal filofax

This gorgeous Filofax has been used daily since 2012, it is the only one of my large collection of Filofaxes and notebooks that I have named. This is Little Purple. 

For more posts about filofax and other planners please see this page >> here << 

Whether I use it as my primary diary/organiser/planner, or whether I use it for lists and information (as in the old 'file of facts') it has been used every day. Thrown in bags, dropped on desks and working like the little amazing purple powerhouse it is. The cover just looks better and better with the slight scratches and stains it gathers on the way.

The rings are perfect and have stood up to the test of time, opening and closing and lots of paper stuffed in them! I have so many tabs and clips and all sorts of things stashed in Little Purple.

Currently I have a day to a page, and lots of lists, information and note pages crammed inside. For the diary section I use printables that are provided for free by Philofaxy and  I print these on Tomoe River paper. This paper is very thin, like paper in a traditional bible, and is fountain pen friendly and strong. What I like about this paper, other than it being ink friendly, is that as the paper is so thin I can fit heaps of pages in my organiser!

I have a page at the front after a clear plastic dashboard that uses Alice in Wonderland illustrations by Sir John Tenniel. This has no functional purpose other than I like it and it makes me happy!

I edged my day to a page pages in month groups, with Washi tape from local Aussie washi tape seller Chiyogami Designs.

Here is my Filofax Malden personal sized in purple in all its stuffed goodness.

I have a cute little maneki neko in gold  hanging from the bottom ring. It makes me smile to see it.

I use tabs both on the side and the top of pages to divide different sections. I use a silhouette machine to cut out tab shapes from adhesive paper. I made a tassel from lilac embroidery thread and a glass bead which I have attached to the clasp.

So many pages!  Here you can see the edges of my Malden pages: day to a page, shopping lists, volunteer information, pets and vets information, wish lists, measurement conversions, maps, ... a useful and aesthetically pleasing organiser - Little Purple!

See more about Little purple in this post >> here <<