4. Supplies

Supplies

Now we've got all the hard work done.  We know:

• What our journal needs to do 
• How many pages we need and for what 
• We've decided on a layout

If you missed any of that, please click here to go back to earlier posts.

Now it's time to get our supplies together.

First thing's first

Being on disability, we are about saving money here at Generic Soda Money.  Before we spend one dime on any supplies, let's do an inventory of our home and see what we already have that we can use.  A lot of people think you need an expensive binder full of paper and fancy stickers with the word PLANNER stamped on the front.  Not true.  Below is a list of the most essential things you need to bullet journal.

1. Pencil or pen
2. Paper

The end.

Not what you expected?  Well it's true.  You need something to write on and something to write with.  If you have several sheets of paper and a binder to keep them in or even a folder, you're already there.  Here are a few other ideas:

• A spiral notebook
• A composition book
• Loose leaf paper and a binder
• Colored paper
• Graph paper

For writing you can use:

• Ballpoint pen
• Pencil wooden school or mechanical
• Glitter pen
• Gel pen
• Fine liner pen 
• Crayola marker
• Micron fine pen
• Color pencil

A ruler of some kind is good but not necessary.  You can use anything with a straight edge like:

• A cereal box
• The edge of a book
• The edge of a dvd
• A plastic card
• A piece of cardboard

Don't laugh.  I'm just saying.  If your kid has made off with the ruler and you don't feel like tearing their room apart to find it, you can use alternatives in the mean time.

Here you'll find a list of other items you can use for bullet journaling.  I want you to take this list and go on a scavenger hunt around your house to see if you already have them BEFORE we go out to buy anything.  Remember, we're doing bujo for the broke, busy, and artistically challenged.  Inexpensive, easy, and quick is the name of the game.  Hightlight the list and print it or screen shot it for easier finding.

Good luck and keep moving forward!

Next edition:  Buying options from ZERO to Twenty dollars.

BuJo Planner - Back to Basics

Last year my sister and I were discussing getting organized and finding more time in our schedules for things and she mentioned how she went out and spent like $40 on a planner.  I looked at my phone like, "Whuuut?"

People seem to go out of their minds with these planners and journals when it comes time to start a new year.  I think it's pure madness to spend that kind of money on...paper.

Put Your Knife Down

Don't get me wrong.  Many of these bullet journals and planners are gorgeous.  However, with a little creativity not only can you save money and have a knock out planner, but you can have one PERSONALIZED just for you and not just some pre-made templates and themes someone else thought was a good idea.  Not to mention, many of these planners are extremely feminine.

Hello.  Men bujo too.  In fact, this trend was started by a man, Ryder Carrol.  If you watch his video on YouTube you'll see that not only was his system simpler, but less frilly as well.

There is nothing wrong with all the extra stuff but it can be overwhelming to beginners when they see all the lists, layouts, fancy lettering, artwork, and the cost of many of these planners.  Not to mention, many of these bujo pros have been doing this for YEARS and forget what it was like to start out with a budget.

Okay.  And?

I thought I'd start a series of posts on bullet journaling.  This series will discuss just the bare bones of bullet journaling for any budget and artistic ability.  This series is NOT for bujo masters with their fancy pants calligraphy/fauxligraphy, fancy brush pens, and forty dollar planners.  This is NOT for people with a degree in art and can do a Monet inspired watercolor painting at the top of their sheets.  This is for those of us who are broke, busy, and artistically challenged.

Whether you have zero dollars or a hundred dollars to spend, we are going to go through the process step by step so we can stay organized and on track for 2020.  My hope is that those following will participate in check-ins to help us all stay on track and accountable and share their tips, tricks, and fails for others to learn and gain some support.  Many of us have failed at BuJo.  This is our support group.

Please subscribe, like, pin, share to stay up to date on this series.

Thank you and keep moving forward!

Next :  What the Heck is Bullet Journaling?

2. What the heck is bullet journaling?

Welcome to my second post in the "BuJo for The Brok, Busy, and Artiscally Challenged." series.  To see what this series is all about, you can read the first post here.  My Pinterest feed has been filled with bullet journal this, bujo that.  The sales flyers and online ads for many stores I shop at have planners and journals galore on sale.  But for the beginner, what the heck is this all about?

What is it?

To put it simply, bullet journaling is a way to keep track of just about anything you need to keep track of.  It combines to-do lists, goals, budgets, wish lists, mood trackers, etcetera into one neat and tidy book.  It reduces clutter since you have everything in one tidy place and can help you stay organized.  It also helps with time management since you can visually see where all your time is going and how much time you have left.

Why do it?  

If you are looking for ways to keep track of things like your savings or moods.  Or if you have a chronic illness like me and need to keep track of your symptoms from week to week or month to month.  If you feel like you have no time and need to find it somewhere in your hectic life.  These are just some of the reasons to bullet journal.

Who is it for? 

Anyone.  Everyone.  If you want to reduce clutter physically, visually, and mentally, this is for you.  It reduces the need for a calendar, a planner, and random lists posted on your walls or in a diary somewhere.  If you want to better manage your time, this is for you.  If you want to keep track of this or that in your life, this is for you.  Busy parents juggling multiple schedules, business folk, small business owners, at home bosses, students of all ages - this is for you.  The broke and artistically challenged (meaning you are a pro at stick figures and crazy squiggles) this is for you.

Read on to the next post to find out HOW to bullet journal.

Thanks for reading and keep moving forward!
Kelli