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

After the Pen

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

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.

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

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

Chevrons are my favorite divider!

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

Much better with a bit of color!

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.

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

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