*Originally posted on E, Myself, and I (6/17/2013)
If you are a regular in the blogosphere, you’ve probably seen all the hype about the Erin Condren Life Planner and the new release a couple of weeks ago. I should probably start out this post by saying that I LIKE the EC Life Planner. Two years ago, when I was pregnant with Sam, it was the latest and greatest and everyone (it seemed) had one. Not to be left out, of course, I bought one with an awesome discount/coupon available that made it virtually free, and I happily used it for the next year. It was super cute, and I got compliments on it all the time. I also appreciated that EC seemed to have thought of everything – a zipper pouch and folder to hold stray papers and cards, colorful tabs and stickers, a cute placeholder. I was a big fan.
BUT, when the time came to buy another one, I found that the company had gotten too popular to run the same great promotional deals, and I really couldn’t justify spending 50+ dollars on a paper planner. (Even though I do LOVE a good paper planner.) Then, possibly just to make myself feel better, I started thinking about the things (besides the price) that I didn’t love about it too – like the way each day was set-up by time slots and the gigantic size/weight.
For a while, I switched to a much simpler planner from MayDesigns and – while I loved it for other reasons (like being incredibly adorable and inexpensive) – it was too basic. I needed a happy medium.
Finally, about a month ago, as the school year ended and I started getting the itch for some new organization in my life, I started researching alternatives to the Life Planner…
That search eventually landed me at Plum Paper Designs on Etsy.
Please allow me to introduce you to this beauty…
At only $31 plus shipping, the Plum Paper Planners (say that three times fast) have all the stylish and preppy flair of Maybooks PLUS the borderline OCD organization of the Erin Condren at – what I consider – a much more reasonable price.
Here’s What I Love:
– It is similar to the EC in terms of size and basic design; but, I think, slightly lighter.
– Like EC, it too has colorful laminated tabs for each month, a full page calendar spread at the beginning of each month, and then individual columns for each day. It also has a pocket in the back and space for for contacts, notes, etc.
– I also, personally, like the cover designs and optional monogramming even more than EC. (P.S. Since this post was originally posted, Plum Paper has also added interchangeable covers to their shop!)
– MY VERY FAVORITE THING though, is that Plum Paper gives you the option to personalize the actual pages of your planner. For just five dollars more ($35.00) you can get the FAMILY PLANNER (which is what I chose) and choose up to seven labeled tabs for your weekly schedule.
I love the idea of having one row per child/family member or something like that. For me – since it is just three of us and that isn’t really necessary – I chose these labels and have been thrilled with them:
Work – Home – Errands – Appointments – Dinner – Exercise – Blog
I love that this is almost like an entire “home organization notebook” (another big blog craze) that I can carry around in my (giant) purse all the time.
Not in the market for a new planner? They also sell wedding planners, teacher planners, fitness planners, meal planners, etc. 🙂
Anyway, that’s it. Just wanted to share.
* This is not a sponsored post. Plum Paper did NOT pay me to write this post or give me a free planner. I’m writing this because I’ve been really happy with it, and I know how important it is for us organized(ish) mommas not to break the bank. Hopefully some of you will find this to be a great alternative to the coveted Life Planner we keep hearing about. (And yes, I realize that this probably takes me out of the running for ever being one of Erin Condren’s bloggers! Oh well.)
EDITED TO ADD (3/26/14): After the success of this post originally, I was contacted by Plum Paper and given a free planner to use in 2014. I still love it!
E
EDITED TO ADD (12/31/15): Ultimately, I settled on the Emily Ley Simplified Planner. I am on my third edition now, and I really do love everything about it. It is pricier ($58), but so well made and perfect for a busy mom/teacher. For a review of that one, check out this post.
Cool! I was reading some not-so-terrific feedback on the EC ones and couldn’t get a coupon code to work anyway. Totally going to check Plum Designs out and I’ll let them know I found them through this blog post.
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/243174439/teacher-planner?ref=shop_home_feat_1
Hello, unfortunately Plum planners cost around $40 more to be shipped to Europe. Anyone knows a better alternative? Thank you, Diana
Diana you can use a forwarding company like Shipito. So you send it to a USA address, most of the time US online stores ship within the US for free, and from there you ship it to Europe, and because they send so much stuff out, they always have a special rate with couriers ie. Fedex or TNT, whichever one they are affiliated with, so if it’d normally cost $70 for example for me or you to send the same item/size/country it’ll cost only $40 when sending through the mail forwarder.
To save more money I collect all my purchases from the US at the “address” box they provide for me and consolidate the packages which again makes it cheaper cos they remove all the outer packaging and put it in one large box.
Hope that helps.
PS:- OR you can purchase a printable planner via Etsy and just purchase a folder or binding system that you have available locally, that way you can personalise it to be just as good as these planners, and also personalise it perfectly to your needs.
I am desperately looking for an alternative to Erin Condren and reading this blog gave me some hope. I am about to take delivery of my very last one it has cost me twice the price on her website because of the way she categorizes her diaries and what customs charges us.
Maybe we need to design something for Europe. I don’t see why not……. new business idea then.
Loved your blog by the way.
It doesn’t compare to the EC Life Planner, in my opinion. I will stay with Erin Condren. I like the motivational quotes and matching accessories.
I am looking for a planner “like EC” that is colorful and has the week on two pages. The EC planner will work in an a5 Filofax if the pages are removed from the spiral and trimmed ( and someone said that you can order the planner without binding… although not sure about that). I’m curious if the page size in this planner is the same as the EC planner. If so, I’ll most likely order one. Thanks
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Can someone PLEASE help me find a big nice planner like this that isn’t so girly. I’m a guy and a highschool senior who plans on going to college next year. In the past I haven’t been very organized, but I’ve realized that this is the ONLY way that I’m going to turn that around. So could someone help please? Thanks in advance!
Keep your eye out for AJ Swirls customizable planners! We will be launching our line before the end of the year!
AJ Swirl….When will they be coming out?
We just launched our first line! Check the website often for more exciting things to come!
BG,
For a more masculine looking planner, I used the “At-A-Glance” weekly planner from Staples. It is black, bendible, flexible. I LOVED it during college. I had classes, played sports, and was in an intense internship that took up 40+ hours a week; time management by the MINUTE was important for me. “At-A-Glance” has planners for different levels of time management. Check it out at Staples!
BG … I am in the market for a planner as well. I can see your dilemma here at least. I did see one Plum Paper planer that was just black stripes across and said David on it … kinda blah and uninteresting. I would agree they really could benefit having a few good options for you guys!
That said, while they are quite different than these planners, Franklin Covey does have ‘guy-like’ ones. They are set up different … you would have some options in format and size though. I have seen them at Office Max I think … but you can also look online … see if they are anything you’d even like.
The ‘At-A-Glance’ ones might just be everything you need too … as Jill said above.
I, too, am looking for an un-girly good planner. I’m a mom and grad student with a burgeoning photography business, and I love the organization offered in the Erin Condren and Plum Paper planners, but I really can’t stand the girly designs. They’re cute, but they’re just not me. I’m not a fan of the At-a-Glance planners. I wish that EC or PP would just offer a plain, personalized cover.
Uncalendar planners. That’s what I love, but they only have them in black blue red and green. I wish they were more girly lol. Hope it helps!
BG and Gwenny, I just came across your comments in this post and thought I’d offer my thoughts on your search for not-so-girly designs. I’d customized my 2015 Plum Paper Planner cover with only the honeycomb/wood pattern on the front cover (without any monogram or name) and had the pattern continue down the entire sheet instead. I did the same thing with another pattern for a new 2016 PPP, too. For many years, my husband and I have both used the Franklin Planner with the original ring-bound classic (very plain) daily inserts, which might be a more masculine option for you, as Vickie mentioned above… my husband actually uses the ‘At-a-Glance’ weekly calendar now. The other day, I came across an new planner that recently launched, called the “Get to Work Book” planner by Elise Blaha Cripe, and it might suit your needs. Hope this helps! 🙂
Thank you for this! I was searching for a life planner that would handle my family’s crazy schedules but would stay within my budget. The EC and Emily Ley planners are practical and pretty and all but way too expensive when I have diapers to buy. I don’t need matching accessories and other things that EC offers. This is a great option so thanks!
I love it….but it is soooooo sad they won’t shipping it to Europe! I’m living in The Netherlands and I’m looking for a lifeplanner like this for a long time!!
They do ship to the netherlands, shipping cost 19.95 dollars……
I am also a teacher and mother. Do you use this planner for lessons plans, etc and home life? Thanks!
thank you for sharing this! I see the erin conden planner. They’re fantastic and perfect but the budget is too high for me! However, seeking in the facebook page i see a lot of people which aren’t happy about the service! I love the plum Paper! Thank you!
I’m thinking of getting the family planner but can’t find details on the dimentions of each box.
Could you measure one box from your daily list of 7.
Trying to decide if each meal needs it’s own box or if one box for meals is enough and I can put BLDS on each line. (Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. Snacks. )
My goodness, yes! This is EXACTLY the solution I needed as a teacher of three age groups who also needs to organize my personal life (devotionals, gym, meals, etc.)
Thanks so much for this excellent review!
-Tessa
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I must have been hiding under a rock for a substantial amount of time because I’ve only recently heard about the massive explosion phase of the EC Planners LOL I love organisation and stationery so I was disappointed that they were already sold out and pre-orders for June is for the following year 🙁
However, I did look at the Plum ones and found that, as you said, it’s very similar for less. I actually didn’t know that you can pay them extra to create different labels/sections, I think this is absolutely perfect for everyone, but mostly for those that have few children who are so busy through the week with sports, singing/dancing, swimming etc etc of the children. I do love how you changed the labels to correspond what you need, like you I’ve only got one child at the moment, a 2 month old so it’s not really practical for me to bother with the labels for each of us, however, I will probably do something similar to yours 🙂
I love ALMOST everything about my EC planner EXCEPT I would really appreciate having times on the pages instead of just morning, afternoon, evening. That just doesn’t work for me, so I’m investigating other options.
Do you know if the months follow the same color schemes as the EC Planners? I want to be able to buy stickers and didn’t know if the colors corresponded.
Thank you for this! ECPLANNERS are so costly! Love the suggestion!
do you guys ship to kuwait { international }
Hi! I love this post! I noticed you were a teacher and just wondering…do you have a separate teacher planner you use in addition to the life planner? I would love to have just one calendar to manage but am finding it difficult! what do you do?
To Whom it May Concern:
I’m wondering if you’d be interested in partnering to create a specialty planner. Please let me know if this is something you’d like to discuss further.
Thanks,
Tara Turken
Thank you so much for this! I was in the process of ordering a EC planner (I had put my card number in and everything!), but I just couldn’t push complete my order! EC had everything I wanted, but I just couldn’t buy it until I knew I exhausted all options! After googling planners similar to EC, your blog came up! I just ordered my Plum Paper planner for half the price I would have spent on the EC planner! I can’t say thank you enough! You saved me from buying something very expensive and from getting something that wouldn’t quite fit my needs!
Thank you so much for sharing this!! I do still love my EC, however I’m not convinced I want another one. I was looking at limelife, however right now they are not taking orders. I need to order one NOW…I’m a therapist that plans workshops and such and y EC ends in December. It’s driving me nuts!! THANK YOU for the inside look! 🙂
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/243174439/teacher-planner?ref=shop_home_feat_1
Hi there, after reading this amazing post i am too cheerful to share my know-how here with mates.
I’m in the UK and I think they should ship the life planners to the UK. On eBay and in most websites or to sell them on the erin condren website with £ as well. ME AND MY FRIENDS REALLY WANT ONE
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I have an EC planner. I really like it but looking for other options.
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I love my EC planner but its just so big and heavy. I like carrying my planner with me just incase I need it and its so big that it makes it hard to use half of my purses because it takes up most of the space. I just ordered a plum paper one so I am looking forward to trying that one out and seeing if it fits better, plus I love the idea of the 7 personalized rows in the family planner.
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Thank you so much! I was 1 click away from buying another Erin Condren planner and checked to see if there was anything more affordable out there. At half the price, this was amazing!
C
How are you liking the Plum Paper Planner still? I am looking for one since I could not get my hands on the one at Michaels I wanted… I cannot bring myself to spend $58+ on a planner. Plum Paper’s look amazing but how would you rate the quality? How satisfied are you with it?
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Erin Condren new 2017/2018 life planner now has three different page options for your daily layou page.. You can customize it to your liking. They have the horizontal and they vertical daily spreadsheets which we’ve all seen but now they have a new one that has time slots. Just this year they also started offering hard cover life planners.
I’m and Erin Condren lover been using her life planner for the past four years. I love everything about it except the interchangeable covers. They snap off way too easily. I have a big family my husband and I have 4 Kids plus I am a cheerleading coach and the director of a non-profit. I like to have everything in one planner. However if I could find one that didn’t cost that much I would love to have a planner that I can customize for my cheerleading squad. If anyone knows of a cheerleading coach planner please let me know I need one badly
If you are still looking for a planner, I have a great, simple one you can order from Lulu for $20. It has a full sized planning page for everyday and lots of space for to do lists. It also has a pretty neutral design, so if you want to avoid the flowery style of others, this one may be for you! I have used this style for the last few years and it is really helpful. The link is below.
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/the-big-working-planner/21230043
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I made the switch to this planner this year. What I love… The day is on one column (vertical) rather than horizontal like the EC Planner. I can have the company pre-print the classes on the lesson planner pages. There are some great extra options to really customize. I bought it because of the behavior log and parent contact log it had that the EC Planner didn’t. But now, the EC Planner has this. What I didn’t like: The EC Planner has the lesson planner pages in one section and the date/notes pages in another. The PP Planner has them in different sections. So, at the end of the month, a few days is greyed out. You either have to use one month or the other. If you are a bit OCD like me, this may bother you. It bothered me because after adding the extra sections, the PP Planner was way heavy and had more pages than the EC. Now that the EC has those two sections, I really need to think about which one I want to go with this year. All in all, I really like that I don’t have to write in the class sections each week. Now, the PP Planner will let you bind the planner yourself, which means I can reorganize it the way I want, which is nice!