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May 10, 2019

Happy Planner Dot Journaling Notebook Review (Pros, Cons & Comparison with the Happy Notes)

I’ve been using the Happy Notes for a while so when MAMBI introduced the Journaling notebook I wanted to see what the differences were.

Quick facts

  • Size: 7″ wide x 9.25″ high
  • Discbound
  • Laminated cardstock cover (no cover personalisation)
  • 4 pre-designed bullet journal pages, rest of the notebook is pain dot grid paper
  • Neutral dot grid pages inside
  • Tabs

Let’s take a closer look!

To enlarge the screen of the video, click the square icon in the bottom right hand corner of the video (it will say ‘full screen’ when you hover your mouse over the icon).

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The notebook has the same sort of cover as all of the other MAMBI notebooks – laminated cardstock. There aren’t too many cover designs to choose from yet although I’m sure they’ll be adding plenty more in the future.

happy planner dot journal review bullet journal dot grid discbound pretty colorful pros and cons pen test mambi

The cover is reversible with a different pattern on the back side so you can swap it out

happy planner dot journal review bullet journal dot grid discbound pretty colorful pros and cons pen test mambi decorative

Between 0.5 and 0.75″ thick

happy planner dot journal review bullet journal dot grid discbound pretty colorful pros and cons pen test mambi classic size

Inside there are 4 unlabelled tabs – behind each are some pre-designed pages (same designs behind all tabs)

bullet journal planner mambi happy planner dot journal bullet journal pros and cons review floral note paper

bullet journal notebook last time i did tracker simple minimalist mambi happy planner dot journal review pros and cons

bullet journal notebook last time i did tracker simple minimalist mambi happy planner dot journal review pros and cons classic size

bullet journal notebook dot journal happy planner mambi review video flipthrough pen testing pros and cons

My favorite of the pre-done pages

bullet journal notebook dot journal happy planner mambi review video flipthrough pen testing pros and cons discbound bright white paper habit tracker monthly goals spread

Apart from the functional page design ^above^ the rest of the pages are random and don’t really fit with one another

bullet journal notebook dot journal happy planner mambi review video flipthrough pen testing pros and cons decorative banners

bullet journal planner mambi happy planner dot journal bullet journal pros and cons review

Do I actually need a page with a typewriter in the corner?  …. Definitely not

mambi dot journal happy planner pros and cons review pen test bright white paper discbound

Dividers

There are 4 tabs with different dividers for each (and different designs on the front and back cover of each).

The tabs are cardstock and sturdy but you’ll need a label maker as they’re laminated (i.e. pen will just wipe off).

happy planner dot journal review bullet journal dot grid discbound pretty colorful pros and cons pen test mambi tabs

mambi happy notes dot journal dot grid bullet journal decorative simple minimalist discbound pros and cons video review divider

happy planner dot journal review bullet journal dot grid discbound pretty colorful pros and cons pen test mambi last time I did

mambi happy notes dot journal dot grid bullet journal decorative simple minimalist discbound pros and cons video review

mambi happy notes dot journal dot grid bullet journal decorative simple minimalist discbound pros and cons video review colorful

mambi happy notes dot journal dot grid bullet journal decorative simple minimalist discbound pros and cons video review divider marble

Pen Testing

The Happy Planner has one of the thickest (best) papers I’ve come across. There is really only ghosting (and a little bit of bleed through) for the marker pens.

happy planner pen testing review best pens for planning no bleed papermate pilot frixion erasable uniball staedtler stabilo pentel sharpie gel pen ballpoint

Pros of the Planner

  • Affordable
  • Discbound
  • Colorful
  • Grey dot grid pages (which are yet to be available for purchase separately)

Cons of the Planner

  • The pre-designed pages are random not functional – I don’t see the point of them

mambi dot grid refill paper template free download printable classic size 7 inch wide x 9.25 inch high happy planner bullet bujo

Comparison with the Happy Notes

Both notebooks are similar, with a few minor differences:

The Happy Notes have the option of graph or lined paper instead of the dot grid.

The Dot Journal is thicker

happy planner dot journal size comparison with happy notes mambi review pros and cons

happy planner happy notes dot journal slim notebook planner review dot grid bullet journal review pros and cons size comparison

The main difference is there’s no pattern on the inside paper in the journal whereas there is in the happy notes

The dots are light grey in this notebook whereas the Happy Notes dots match the color of the pattern

bullet journal notebook last time i did tracker simple minimalist mambi happy planner dot journal review pros and cons dot grid

Would I use this planner?

No.

I like discbound, but this is just a slightly more expensive version of the Happy Notes. I don’t like the pre-designed pages and would rather do my own …. i.e. the point of bullet journaling.

See my review of the Happy Notes in this post.

More planner reviews:

  • Arcing my Plum Paper Planner – everything you need to know if you’d like to try it yourself! 
  • The Perfect Notebook Review (Discbound Planner)
  • Levenger Circa Discbound Planner Review

Planning Tips:

  • Planner Inspiration: 10 Rainbow Weekly Spread Ideas
  • Favorite color tools for making planner sticker kits (all are free tools!)
  • How to use the monthly notes pages of your planner

Browse all posts

Found this post helpful? Pin it!

happy planner journaling notebook review pros and cons video flipthrough comparison with the mambi happy notes dot grid notebook bullet journal discbound

happy planner journaling notebook review dot grid discbound classic comparison with happy notes pen test

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Posted In: Bullet Journal Reviews, Happy Planner (MAMBI), Planner Reviews · Tagged: bullet journal notebook, classic happy notes, classic happy planner, discbound bullet journal, discbound dot grid notebook, happy planner bullet journal, happy planner dot grid notebook, happy planner dot journal, happy planner dot journaling, happy planner journaling notebook review

Comments

  1. Tov says

    May 12, 2019 at 00:11

    Thank you so much for your blog and updates on different planners. I truly received tremendous information and finally chose a journal/planner system to try. Although I don’t think I saw you review it, it is similar to Happy Planner. I went with Tools4Wisdom and I am having a lot of fun with it. The company is customer friendly and with a coupon I purchased an 18 mo. planner for half-price. I really appreciate all the info. you provided. It just helped “de-clutter” all the choices and I could do helpful research in just one place!

    • Rachael says

      May 12, 2019 at 14:59

      Glad you’ve found my blog helpful 🙂

  2. Robin Milligan says

    May 16, 2019 at 06:34

    I really want to do the creative aspect of bullet journaling. Unfortunately, I am too busy to get the pages set up. Is there a premade journal I can buy that I can embellish and fill out as I go?

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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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