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July 7, 2020

Kmart Dot Journal Review (Including Pen Test): $4 Notebook!

If you’re in Australia and looking for a cheap dot grid notebook to try out bullet journaling, or want a notebook you can draft some spreads, use for brain dumping lists etc. then try your local Kmart!

This is not a sponsored post. I purchased the notebook myself and all opinions are my own.

Quick facts

  • Size: 5.75″ wide x 8.25″
  • Softcover
  • Black or grey cover
  • Sewn binding
  • No page numbers
  • No pocket folder
  • 1 Ribbon bookmark
  • Bright white paper
  • 5mm dot grid spacing

Price: $4 AUD

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 Cover

The softcover looks like leather (but fake) and makes the notebook really light (hardly weighs anything!)

I could only find the black version in my local Kmart but have seen a grey cover version too. Shame they don’t have more colors to choose from.

kmart dot journal notebook review ghosting pen test bleed through cheap less than 5 dollars australia affordable white paper_01

Approx 0.5″ thick (about 1.3cm)

kmart dot journal notebook review ghosting pen test bleed through cheap less than 5 dollars australia affordable white paper_02

Unfortunately there are no page numbers 🙁 There are no pre-printed pages like an index or future log – the entire notebook is completely blank for you to use however you like.

kmart dot journal notebook review ghosting pen test bleed through cheap less than 5 dollars australia affordable white paper_03

Once you break the spine the pages lay mostly flat on their own without having to use one hand to hold the notebook open.

kmart dot journal notebook review ghosting pen test bleed through cheap less than 5 dollars australia affordable white paper_05

Pen Testing

For $4 I was expecting a lot of ghosting… which ended up being the case:

kmart dot journal notebook review ghosting pen test bleed through cheap less than 5 dollars australia affordable white paper_07

kmart dot journal notebook review ghosting pen test bleed through cheap less than 5 dollars australia affordable white paper_06

kmart dot journal notebook review ghosting pen test bleed through cheap less than 5 dollars australia affordable white paper_08

kmart dot journal notebook review ghosting pen test bleed through cheap less than 5 dollars australia affordable white paper_09

Ballpoint pens only if you want to avoid ghosting.

Pros of the Notebook

  • Portable size
  • Lightweight
  • Cheap
  • Bright white paper

Cons of the Notebook

  • 1 Ribbon notebook
  • No pre-printed pages e.g. index / contents page
  • Only comes in a grey or black cover
  • No page numbers
  • Paper is thin – prone to ghosting and bleed through
  • No pocket folder

Would I use this notebook?

Yes. I’m intending to use this notebook for experimenting with different layout ideas. For $4 it’s a cheap notebook, nothing flash. I’d only get this if you want a notebook to draft bullet journal spreads before using your actual bullet journal notebook, for brain dumping lists, or if you just like writing on dot grid paper.

If you don’t like the style of this notebook but like the price, Officeworks’ Otto Dot Journal is similar but with a hardcover and page numbers.

More bullet journal notebook reviews:

  • Agendio custom dot grid notebook 
  • Northbooks dot grid notebook
  • Little More Notebook

Bullet Journal Tips:

  • 50 Themes for your planner or bullet journal spreads
  • How to resize any printable for any size bullet journal
  • 10 Bullet Journal Daily Scheduling Layout Ideas

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Found this post helpful? Pin it!

kmart dot journal notebook review dot grid pros and cons cheap affordable bright white paper australian bullet journal video flipthrough pen testing bujo

 

 

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  • Paperstore Dot Grid Notebook Review (from Belgium!)Paperstore Dot Grid Notebook Review (from Belgium!)

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Posted In: Bullet Journal, Bullet Journal Reviews · Tagged: bullet journal australia, bullet journal kmart, bullet journal notebook, kmart australia bullet journal, kmart bujo, kmart bullet journal, kmart bullet journal notebook, kmart dot grid notebook, kmart dot journal, kmart journal, kmart notebook

Comments

  1. Danni says

    July 10, 2020 at 11:15

    I do very simple bullet journalling, no fancy drawings and just use ballpoint pens. I love my $4 Kmart dot journals and stock up on them, it’s the only thing I use as I can’t justify spending more than that on a notebook. I keep mine either in a Kikki-K A5 leather notebook cover, or in an A5 Kmart planner cover which I’ve removed the spines from and turned it into a large TN style cover. It holds 3x Kmart dot journals.

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