The EDC Forum seems to be gone, so I thought this is the only place left for this note.

I like to have PAPER planner of some sort. So I started searching the net and found YouTube videos and other pages discussing Filofax planners and other similar products. I noticed they were too expensive for my taste and budget. But I also noticed that most of those discussing them were ladies.

So, I'm wondering if paper planners are a female thing or what ???

Anyway, I made my own Homemade planner by getting (almost free) a planner with six rings (3+3). Researching the available refills on the net, I decided they were too expensive for my taste. I pulled out the rings and covered the area with black tape. Then bought a cheap spiral notebook with 100 pages, then opened the spiral and added a few pages from another notebook (leftover from my kids). It was 5-subject notebook with sleeve dividers and squares instead of lines. I added 2 of the sleeve/dividers and 20 pages with squares for when I need to draw something.

Lastly, I inserted the 'hybrid-notebook' in the planner's sleeve.
Seems to me, this DIY planner is a 100% better than commercial ones.
Refilling it is easy and cheap. And is more multi-purpose than what is on the net.

Just my 2¢

I do like having paper notes, no need for batteries!

Technology is great and makes life easier, but it is dependent on too many factors (batteries, signal availability..etc.) not to mention the threat of hackers, viruses ..etc. Simpler life, less stress seems to be often linked to simpler older ways of life.

Funny thing I was watching a TV program yesterday and it was about how tech and social media are viewed between generations. A social worker mentioned a problem between a girl and her mother n law. The older lady was complaining about the girl sending her a note on WhatsApp inviting her to an occasion. The girl saw nothing inappropriate, but the older lady saw it as disrespectful and should have come in person to invite her.

Food for thought.

Paper has its downside as well. I lost a planner/notebook in college so I was a mess for a while with a good chunk missing.
I now tend to make my own templates that I can hand fill in as needed then either scan or re-type into a doc later.
I've been using mostly index cards lately, quick references, maintenance logs, etc.

I have been using both types as well

On the paper side I have made my own templates (one week on A5 sheet), and also use the backside of used paper. After retirement and my oldest daughter graduation a few years back, I got a ton of paper to utilize. Most of them are used for TO DO lists for short term task planning.

On the electronic side, I use an App on the phone for medium term and use MS Word for longer term planning, and MS Excel for budget calculations

I miss EDCF. EDCF led me to finding Doug's knives, which led me here.



During my time as a network and cybersecurity consultant, I loved using graph paper notebooks for mixed text and diagrams. A couple of times I had to ask a customer to FedEx it back to me when left on site. I even ended up paying to have semi-custom notebooks made to my specifications.

Since then I've bounced between a few different electronic options before settling on the one I use now.

Permit me a moment to get on my soapbox: If you take notes electronically, you owe it to yourself to try out Standard Notes. It's encrypted, multiplatform, secure and highly available. There is a free tier; I pay a subscription for all of the features.

I have no affiliation with the company other than as a customer.

I am not so much of a techno whiz. So, the deepest I have gone in e-notes is an App on my phone called (Keep my Notes). It allows usage off-line and allows Adding several pages. So, I have a page for garden To Do list, a page for Family To Do list ..etc. and one page for Reference numbers like medical file number etc.

I have no use for online stuff and do not feel the need. After retirement I am at home most of the time. Some people use smart phones for EVERYTHING from paying at the store ..etc. I feel sad for them because you should not rely that much on one gadget. If it fails you are in BIG problem

These days I am having a tech problem with my phone and shows how much helpless we are without them. So IMHO we shoudnt squeeze our fate too much within this one gadget.

My soapbox. Sorry.