Kikki K Academic Year Weekly Planner Review (Pros, Cons and a Video Walkthrough)
While trawling through the sales section of my local Kikki K I stumbled across this planner:
I was drawn to the different weekly layout – kind of a cross between vertical and horizontal.
I found the planner on clearance for $10 (from it’s normal price of $40) halfway through the year i.e. when the planner was half ‘used’ – no biggie I can just add some date dot stickers or use whiteout to change the dates. Mid-year is a great time to buy planners when they’re cheap if you’re current planner isn’t quite right and you want to try something new!
Kikki K do not do undated versions of their weekly planners 🙁 They do have various planning notepads though.
I was not compensated for this review. I purchased the planner myself and all opinions are my own.
Quick Facts
- Size: 6″ wide x 8.5″ high (the inside pages are a little smaller)
- Softcover with rose gold polka dot pattern <3
- Elastic band to keep the planner closed
- Sturdy pocket folder at the back
- Flag bookmark (thin cardstock)
- 2 page monthly calendar (starts on a Monday)
- 2 page weekly spread (starts on a Monday) – cross between vertical and horizontal with AM and PM printed for each day
- No Tabs but there are 2 built in ribbon bookmarks
- Dated July 2017 to September 2018
Let’s take a closer look!
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The Cover
Softcover with rose gold polka dot pattern <3
The planner is quite thin – only about 1cm this. Since it’s bookbound / sewn bound style it doesn’t weigh much, but the pages don’t stay open unless you hold them with one hand and write with your other hand
Dates at a glance calendar
Monthly Calendar
I really like the layout of the monthly calendar with the large notes sidebar. My main issue with most monthly calendars is that the sidebar is so narrow when you write a task it extends over multiple lines so you can’t fit much in. Public holidays aren’t pre-printed on the monthly calendar (but they are on the weekly spread).
Love that the notes sidebar is lined. i tend to use monthly calendars for meal planning – the sidebar is ideal for writing out a grocery list. I also use them for blog planning and write backup blog posts, blog maintenance tasks and people to contact in the notes sidebar.
While there are 2 built in ribbon bookmarks included, there’s no tabs or monthly dividers in this planner 🙁 I can see this getting quite annoying!
There are no monthly planning or notes pages.
Weekly Spread
The weekly spread cross between vertical and horizontal with AM and PM printed for each day.
There’s global holidays and a birthday’s section for each day pre-printed on the pages – both of which seem like a waste of space to me. I don’t know 365 people so don’t have need to record a birthday each day. I prefer to keep these on a separate birthdays list rather than take up space in the weekly spread. It’s great that this planner can be used by practically anyone in the world but I don’t like in Hong Kong so I don’t really care about Hong Kong holidays as they don’t affect me.
The week starts on a Monday – coordinates with the monthly calendar which is great as not all planner companies do this (for whatever weird reason – it doesn’t make sense to me!)
When I try out this planner I’m probably going to use the notes space for reminders and adding habit tracking stickers.
Extras Pages
National holidays pages
For 2017 and 2018 for almost everywhere in the world
Other extras pages include:
- Lined notes pages
- Websites tracker (for logins or just keep track of your favorite blogs)
- Movies to watch
- Books to read
- Restaurants / bars
- Expenses
- Wish List
- Addresses
While these extras pages would be handy, there’s no goal setting or to do list pages
I personally prefer to keep those type of lists in a separate notebook to avoid bulking up the planner. I use printables as some planners include extras pages like these and some don’t. I use printables so I can print as many copies as I need and print more if I run out.
Related: List makers printable planner
Pocket Folder
The pocket folder feels sturdy and compact. It’s not too big so you can’t cram too much in there – it’d be perfect for bills.
There were these cute gold stickers in the back <3
Pen Testing
The paper is yellow which I really dislike – much prefer writing on white paper.
I tested various gel, fine tip, needle tip, ballpoint pens, highlighters and stamps. There was light ghosting with ballpoint pens and heavy ghosting with marker pens, the highlighters and, as always, the MAMBI stamps.
Pros of the Kikki K Planner
- Compact but still sufficient space to plan your day
- Lined writing space (weekly spread and the notes pages)
- Different weekly spread – more creative than generic weekly vertical and horizontal planners
- Extras pages
- You could live almost anywhere in the world and use this planner
- Pretty cover <3 gold foil!
Cons of the Kikki K Planner
- The paper is yellow instead of white
- No tabs
- No monthly planning or notes pages
- Book-bound / sewn bound – some of the pages at the front and back of the planner don’t stay open unless you hold them with one hand and write with your other hand
Would I Use this planner?
Yes, I tried this planner at the end of 2017 (see here). This planner would be ideal if you want a planner with space for scheduling without being restricted to pre-determined time blocks. If you find the column with of vertical planners too small (like I do), this planner is a good cross between a vertical and horizontal planner.
I don’t think the normal $40 price tag is worth it – there are much nicer planners available around this price-point. I wouldn’t have bought it unless it was on sale.
Update: See how I used this planner in this post.
More Kikki K Planner Reviews
- Kikki K Student Weekly Planner Review
- Kikki K Weekly Planner Review
- Week 47: Planning by category rather than by day using a Kikki K Notepad – ‘Work Smarter : Live Better’
More Planner Reviews
- Mi Goals Planners Haul & Review (Planners made in Australia)
- Lorna Leigh Lane Weekly Planner Review (Pros, Cons & a Video Flip through)
- Passion Planner Review – Compact and Classic Sizes (Pros, cons and video walkthrough)
More Planning Tips
- 10 Quick planner hacks you need to try (planning tips & inspiration)
- Ultimate list of the best planner pen brands and how to choose colors for color coding
- How to color code bill paying in your planner (7 different ways)
The planner is sold out however Kikki K put out new planner each year and tend to recycle the same inside layout so be on the lookout for next season’s stock!
