The Suspect: 2009/2010 Weekly & Monthly Student Planner

As a school supplies sleuth, I am constantly on the look-out for the perfect planner. I search high and low every place I go for a planner that combines bright colors with simple patterns, and allows me the freedom to customize it any way I please.

It had been a long day already, and to top it off I was soaked from head to toe from the pouring rain across town, and stuck out like a sore thumb at Target now that I was on the sunny side. All was forgotten when, as I turned my shopping cart around the corner, what did I see? School supplies shopping season in full-swing. Isles of No.2 pencils, Crayola markers, and colorfully adorned binders and backpacks: this was the day I found my perfect planner.

Now, as a former student, I don’t make a habit of shopping in the school supplies isles for a new planner- but on this day, I couldn’t resist. I make no apologies for being attracted to bright colors and why not buy a planner that goes from August-to August instead of January-January? It only means I get to start writing in it sooner! And I was glad I did, so very glad I did. So glad, in fact, I bought two of these very planners.

The Planahead 2009/2010 Weekly & Monthly Student Planner, in two sizes: 5x8 and 8x11 (don’t quote me on that, rough estimates only).  They are wonderful in every way.

The cover is what you would come to expect from a school calendar, a durable plastic. It displays the large numbers “09” and “10” to reflect the years it covers and comes in many different colors. For the larger calendar, which I use for work, I picked a black cover with white numbers. For the smaller calendar, which I carry everywhere with me, I chose a white cover with black letters. My only complaint lies here- the cover numbers have worn some after being tossed about in my purse for so long- be kind to it backpackers! I am currently on the hunt for a good cover (which I am equally persnickety about).

Onto its insides— Oh, how I get sick at looking at the same pattern day in and day out, and thus why I love this solid color scheme. One color per month- and yes, I correspond the color ink I use with the color of the month.

I also get tired of picking up planner after planner and seeing the appointment times listed beside each day. I don’t know one person who sticks to those set appointment times. And does your day suddenly end after 6 PM? Not mine, and certainly not anyone else I know.  That’s where shopping in the school supplies isle comes in handy! No set appointment times listed for you, and color? Have I mentioned that yet?

Plus the price is nice too. I love a good Franklin Covey, or a Day-Timer, but sometimes you can’t beat the $7 price tag for a planner you’ll use every day. As for design, I think the pictures speak for themselves. 

(Larger planner not pictured here, but does offer more writing room than the smaller planner) The planner also includes a handy pen holder on the cover, a clever design feature. Featured with the Planner-Steadtler Triplus Fineliner (see previous blog post). 

What will I do if they don’t offer this same design next year? The search will begin again, no doubt, but I have a feeling I will somehow manage to make myself go school supplies shopping again.