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!
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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.
Approx 0.5″ thick (about 1.3cm)
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.
Once you break the spine the pages lay mostly flat on their own without having to use one hand to hold the notebook open.
Pen Testing
For $4 I was expecting a lot of ghosting… which ended up being the case:
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:
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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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.