In the past few days I have come to understand why I don't have any savings. One reason is, of course, that I am building a house in possibly the most expensive time to build. Then, there is another reason much more with my control. I am an impulsive buyer.
Books, clothes, beer. I have a few weaknesses that drain my wallet and make it impossible to plan for an abundant future. I can actually justify those three. I love to read and often share the books I buy. I need clothes, everyone does. And how the hell and I supposed to deal with week long visits from the in-laws without a beer while I prepare their dinner?
Then, there is the final boss. Crafting supplies. And I cannot really justify buying anymore when I have a box full of half finished projects under my desk.
This week I was tempted to drop some digital dollars on something truly beautiful:
((this image comes from siemprejournals on instagram))
The folio-fax.
Before I pressed the buy button I had to ask myself: do I really need a new journal system when I already have so many journals?
The answer is, obvious:
No!
It was hard to convince myself. Especially after scrolling through the lovely leather bound foliofaxes on Etsy. But, as the cheapest is around 40 usd, I simply cannot spend that kind of money right now.
Instead I will be de-constructing an old journal to create a very DIY version of the foliofax planner I am currently obsessed with. I started by cutting the threads that bind the inner pages with the cover. Then, I chose a cute fabric from my collection. I want to keep with the cosmic theme and so I chose kitties surfing on rainbows.
I cut out a shape just a bit bigger than the size of the notebook cover and then glued it on. I then used some binder clips to hold the fabric tight as it dried. Then, on the inside to cover up the messy edges I glued a piece of brown cardstock that had been cut to be the exact same size of cover.
The cover turned out nice and neat! My solution for binding, however, isn't exactly ideal. This is more of a "for now" kind of solution. Maybe someday I can install some sort of small three ring binder.
All I did was sew three lengths of embroidery string into the binding of the book. This way I can tie and untie the pages as the contents of my journal evolves.
Then, the fun part: filling the pages of the journal.
I want this to be a bullet journal but also a binder where I can keep tabs on my various work/projects. So the first few pages will be for my daily logs and then there are five sections that follow. The section are called: about me, journalism, the build, art, and miscellaneous. Behind each section I will spend the next mornings organizing pages I already have and filling them with loose paper so that I have plenty of room to brainstorm and organize my life.
For those of you who aren't familiar with planning in this way, or the bullet journal system, I think I will do a part two of this post to explain why I find keeping my life organized on paper to be so helpful for my lifestyle. Until then I will be gathering together all the random papers I have scattered in different notebooks and piles to keep them in this one, convenient place.