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July 5, 2018

Color coded weekly spread using highlighters in the Pretty Simple Planner

The Pretty Simple Planner has a lined writing space and checklist for each day – ideal if you want to keep work and personal in the one planner. Or in my case, I wanted to keep blog planning and trip planning all in the one place!

Before the Pen

pretty simple planner weekly planner review horizontal lined notes checklist minimalist monday week start

After the Pen

I opted to start out simple using only a black pen.

pretty simple planners plan with me mimimalist horizontal weekly planner cheaper alternative to emily ley frixion erasable

pretty simple weekly planner review alternative to emily ley cheap affordable minimalist black pen only weekly spread bullet journal amazon planner

I like that this planner has 2 distinct sections for each day. I opted to use the lined space for blog post planning and urgent / reminders and the right side for Europe trip planning.

pretty simple weekly planner minimalist planner spread horizontal layout blog planning checklist dividers

pretty simple planners review plan with me inspiration ideas weekly spread bullet journal bujo blog planning decorative divider

And add a bit of interest by way of different pattern dividers

Related: Minimalist planning: simple decorating & divider ideas for your planner using pens 

minimalist planner decorating ideas dividers black pen only bullet journal bujo checklist pretty simple planner

Chevrons are my favorite divider!

minimalist planner decorating ideas dividers black pen only bullet journal bujo checklist pretty simple planner doodle decor

The pages looked too plain and boring, so I opted to add some color using highlighters.

pretty simple weekly planner review amazon 8 x 10 horizontal 2 page spread monday start lined checklist minimalist cute floral highlighting color coding pros and cons

Much better with a bit of color!

pretty simple weekly planner review amazon 8 x 10 horizontal 2 page spread monday start lined checklist minimalist cute floral highlighters useful color coding-min

Supplies Used:

  • Zebra Sarasa Clip 0.5mm pen
  • Stabilo Boss Original highlighters
  • Faber Castel textliner 1546 superfluorescent highlighters

PROS OF THE PRETTY SIMPLE PLANNER

  • Affordable price point: only $8USD from Amazon
  • Good size – not too small and not to big – just right!
  • Very light – weighs about the same as my Kindle (which is rare for a medium size planner)
  • Holidays are printed on the monthly calendar and the weekly spread
  • Lined & checklist planning space for each day which most horizontal planners don’t have
  • Great line spacing – not too close together but not spaced too far apart either

CONS OF THE PRETTY SIMPLE PLANNER

  • Glue / book bound so it doesn’t lay flat unless you really push down hard on the page or use a paperweight
  • The cover is thin – I can see this getting damaged with regular use
  • No tabs
  • No monthly planning pages
  • No notes pages or extras pages
  • The paper is thin so you can see what’s been printed on the back before you even write in the planner
  • The days of the week aren’t printed on the weekly spread – only the dates – minor thing but seems a bit odd and could be frustrating when you use it
  • Rather than re-starting the numbering on the top row of the monthly calendar, it splits one of the boxes into 2 i.e. not useable space
  • The monthly calendar and weekly spread do not start on the same day

Would I use this planner again?

This planner is ok. It’s functional but it’s rather plain. Pens and highlighters have bad ghosting on the pages… but for an $8 USD planner I can’t really complain. If you want something affordable that comes in a bigger page size than most planners these days (8 x 10″ as opposed to 7 x 9″), this planner would be a good option.

pretty simple weekly planner review amazon 8 x 10 horizontal 2 page spread monday start lined checklist minimalist cute floral highlighting color coding pros and cons

More weekly spreads:

  • Review of the Planner Pad Weekly Planner 
  • Using Erin Condren Size Planner Stickers in MAMBI Classic Happy Planner
  • Mi Goals Weekly Planner 

Planning Tips:

  • 5 expensive pen brands that are worth the money (I have no regrets for splurging on them!)
  • How to use functional icon planner stickers

Color coding Tips:

  • How to organize and color code your notes for school, college or university 
  • Color coded monthly meal planning using sticky notes 
  • 6 Ways to color code your planner to increase productivity

Found this post helpful? pin it!

pretty simple weekly planner color coded minimalist spread cheaper alternative to emily ley highlighters no smear black pen diy

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  • Pretty Simple Planners Review (Horizontal Lined Weekly Planner)Pretty Simple Planners Review (Horizontal Lined Weekly Planner)
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  • Review of the Ashley Shelly Planner – Weekly Planner (pros, cons and a walkthrough)Review of the Ashley Shelly Planner – Weekly Planner (pros, cons and a walkthrough)
  • Graphique Weekly Planner Review (Pros, Cons and a video walkthrough)Graphique Weekly Planner Review (Pros, Cons and a video walkthrough)
  • Minimalist black and white weekly spread in the Moleskine Weekly PlannerMinimalist black and white weekly spread in the Moleskine Weekly Planner

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Posted In: 52 Planners in 52 Weeks, Color Coding, Highlighters · Tagged: 2 page weekly planner, 2018 planner, 2019 planner, affordable planner, alternative to emily ley, alternative to emily ley planner, amazon planner, bookbound weekly planner, cheap planner, emily ley planner alternative, horizontal 2 page weekly planner, horizontal lined planner, horizontal lined weekly planner, horizontal monday week start, horizontal planner, horizontal weekly planner, lined weekly planner, minimalist planner, minimalist weekly planner, planner addict blog, planner for bullet journalling, planner pen testing, planner review, planner video, pretty simple planner review, pretty simple planners, weekly planner lined

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Welcome to All About Planners! I’m Rachael, a 20-something Aussie addicted to graphic design and all things planning. On the blog you’ll find more than 1,000 posts about all things planning including planner reviews, tips, favorite supplies and some of my past weekly spreads.

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