The secrets to curating the ultimate planning system for 2024 that will save you a lot of money.

The secrets to curating the ultimate planning system for 2024 that will save you a lot of money.

Aug 16, 2023Michelle Bi

Are you feeling overwhelmed by all the 2024 stationery releases? Before you buy any more stationery this year for 2024, read this. We have some tips, and a different planning perspective and approach to share with you that might just save you a lot of money.

So it’s that time of the year, all your favorite stationery shops are releasing their 2024 range and you’re trying to decide which supplies to grab and where. There are so many amazing options, we’re nothing short of amazing planner shops out there. 

I’ve been a planner for over a decade, like serious planning, not just 'my teacher forced me to buy a diary from the Newsagency to write down my homework' planning, and having tried multiple systems, I’d like you to consider your planning systems with the below approach:

1. What is your focus for 2024? 

Reflect on this year so far. How has it been? How are your goals tracking, did you even set goals? Have a review of 2023 and make a decision on your area of focus for the upcoming year. Do you want to double-down on taking control of your finances, are you finally ready to make a real commitment to your health and fitness, do you want to focus on improving your mental health? Write this down.

If you need help thinking about some areas of focus, our productivity planner starts with this every week. Just have a look below and grab some ideas.

productivity planner focus areas

2. How in depth are you going with each area of focus?

Now that you have your focus areas, think about how in-depth you want to go with each area. This will help you decide how you organise your planning system and setup to keep you on track.

Think about your needs, in terms of space and layouts - do you write everything in detail or just make brief notes. Is the area of focus a section in your planner, or do you need a whole planner to keep track of everything? Maybe you need to dedicate a whole planner to your finances, because you’re managing your personal finances along with your household and you follow a cash-envelope system. Maybe you just need a section in your planner to set a budget and keep track of your expenses.

The goal is not to have a planner for every single thing (though you could if you wanted to), but rather to streamline your planning, so you actually make use of your tools.

planner flatlay

3. Okay, NOW you decide on your inserts. 

Usually, this is where we start, but because we’ve taken some preliminary steps to reflect and be intentional about our year, this step should hopefully be easy and less overwhelming.

Now let's figure out what inserts we need. Make a list or table of your areas of focus and write down the inserts or layouts you need to help you stay on track. Think about how many inserts you need for these areas of focus, and start grouping them into sections of your planner (or new planner if required). This will tell you how many planner/s you need. Note down the shops that carry the layouts that suit your needs most and shop from there. 

Remember, the perks of having a planner means you can mix and match and curate something personalized to you. Let your needs dictate what you buy instead of the other way around. Hopefully with this method, you can be more intentional with your planning and put together a system that works for you.

I’ve popped an example for you below of my planning system for 2024 that I put together in good old Excel. Feel free to copy it as is, but I’ve also added it as a template in our August Freebie folder for our email subscribers.

focus area planning system table

Hopefully this helps, because it’s time to find planner peace.

sign off



More articles

Comments (6)

  • Hi, I love this blog post.
    Recently I am starting to get really inspired on starting my own planner and couldn’t help but to notice that the brown planner that is featured on the picture is so gorgeus. Is there any way of letting me know where is it from?
    Thank you so much!
    Anna

    Anna
  • I just signed up as I have been admiring your products for months

    I made so many mistakes this year – i am just not a bound book person – i like discs and the only paper I like is grid , have big handwriting ( landscape architect ) I want master lists , and things like that to stay at home and something portable for my purse that can also house my errands lists – would love any suggestions

    I love this template and I realized you are right may be some things need separation

    nancie vollmer
  • I love this blog!!! The ideas to help our thought process are spot on. And then the helpful hints of the type/style of inserts the would be beneficial in our process were a lovely complement. Thank you once again for sharing, because the planning setup can become so overwhelming, which leads to foregoing a system altogether. Can not wait to implement and use these tools that you have given us. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

    M. S. Stevenson
  • Michelle, thank you so much for writing this. It was very helpful.

    Maletta
  • Thank you for writing this! I personally found this to be incredibly helpful and exactly the type of advice that I need right now. ❤️

    Di
  • Love this blog post and love how it landed in my inbox via your newsletter!
    I have been indeed a little bit overwhelmed with all the releases all over social media as I decided to shop internationally for next year (I am from Germany and have been buying locally for years but one of my favorite shops is closing). As I want to curate the “perfect” planner your blog post and process have been super inspiring and helpful! Will make a list and think about it before I make an oder …from your shop because you daily stories in IG and all your inserts are just my favorite 🥰
    thank you!
    xx Ronja

    Ronja

Leave a comment