It was only a matter of time until planner companies started expanding beyond weekly and monthly planners into budget planners. One of my favorite budget planners (so far) is the Recollections. As is the case with all the Recollections planners – it’s simple, functional, colorful and affordable.

Quick facts

• Size: 7.5 x 9.25″
• Holographic front cover, laminated back cover
• Coil binding
• Dates at a glance page
• 2 page Monthly calendar (starts on Sunday)
• 1 page weekly spread (starts on Monday)
• Finances at a glance, yearly savings goal, bill tracker, savings goals
• Lined notes pages with dot grid sidebar
• 4 pages of functional planner stickers
• Double sided pocket folder
• Different divider patterns for each month
• Monthly budget
• Monthly financial goals tracker
• Expenses tracker for each month (double sided)
• Extra notes pages at the back
• Undated
• 18 Month Duration
• Tabs
• Colorful inside pages

Let’s take a closer look!

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The Cover

The cover is a little different to most planners – it’s holographic!

The back cover is the usual laminated cardstock that the other Recollections planners have.

Approx 1″ thick (but it is an 18 month planner)

At the front are a few annual overview money pages.

There’s only 1 bill tracker page but it does have enough room to record your bills for the full 18 month duration of the planner.

Related: Happy Planner Budget Edition Review

Monthly Calendar

Starts Sunday (not consistent with the weekly spread)

If you don’t want to write the dates in each month, some of my favorite date dot stickers are:

• Rainbow date dot stickers
• Prima Planner mini neutral date stickers
• SRM Press neutral
• Carpe Diem rainbow
• Carpe Diem neutral

The line spacing is quite small – only 4mm in the notes sidebar

Monthly Budgeting

For each month there’s a monthly budget, goals tracker & expense tracker.

There are different dividers for each month:

Weekly Planning

I think the weekly spread will be a deal breaker for most – you’ll either love or hate the 1 page per week.

I assume it’s 1 page per week because it’s an 18 month planner so there’s no room for a 2 page spread. The usual bill due, spending etc. stickers are no longer required on the weekly spread as there’s the monthly calendar, budget and expenses trackers.

Notes

The notes pages in the Recollections are a little different to most planners – they’re 3/4 lined notes and 1/4 dot grid. Could be good for graphs, habit trackers etc.

Tabs

There are large laminated tabs. The planner comes with stickers that have the month printed).

Planner Stickers

Pen Testing

The paper is the same for all the Recollections planners, so here is the results of the pen test I did for the vertical weekly.

I tried various ballpoint, gel, fine tip and marker tip pens. The 3 marker pens (Uni Pis, Pure Color-F and Muji Hexa Pen) had some light ghosting but there was no ghosting for any of the other pens. And no bleed through for any! ?

I also did some highlighter and stamp swatches – no ghosting either.

However, as always, the MAMBI stamps bled through the page ?

Overall, one of the best pen test results of the 100+ planners I’ve reviewed! ?

Pros of the Planner

• Affordable
• Functional pages throughout
• Colorful
• Undated
• 18 month duration
• Pocket folder
• Clear plastic pocket e.g. for pens
• Planner stickers
• Big laminated tabs that are protected by the cover

Cons of the Planner

• 1 Page weekly spread
• Not many notes pages at the back

Would I use this planner?

I like it, but I no longer use paper for budgeting (I use Excel spreadsheets that I use instead). I

f you’re someone that still does pen and paper budgeting this would be a good planner only if you like the weekly spread – I feel like the weekly spread’s layout is either a love it or leave it.

If you prefer a budget planner with a vertical weekly layout (and 2 page spread) the Happy Planner Budget Planner may be a better fit for you.

More planner reviews:

• Passion Planner Review – Compact and Classic Sizes 
• Commit 30 Weekly Planner
• Kikki K Weekly Planner Review

Planning Tips:

• 5 Planner supplies you should never skimp on
• Silhouette Studio Software versus Photoshop: Which is better for making planner stickers?
• Setting up a new planner: 70 Tasks to add 

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