My Favorite Paper Planner + A Few More I Like

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I used to be the mom who thought she didn’t have time to keep up with a planner.

I assumed I could remember all the things and get away with storing all of my important dates and to-do lists inside my head.

Turns out – my memory isn’t as wonderful as I assumed it would be – and neither is my ability to find random pieces of paper with lists written all over them at any given time!

Having one central place to write everything down helps me tremendously with staying organized.

1. My current favorite: The Erin Condren Softbound LifePlanner

If you love the Erin Condren LifePlanner but are not a fan of the coil binding, say hello to the softbound version.

As much as I do like their coiled planner, I love this little organizer even more. I have the A5 size, and I think it’s perfect, especially if you plan on leaving the house with it as it does give you a bit more portability.

If the A5 is too small for your liking, these also come in an 8″ x 10″ size.

Instead of the plastic cover, the softbound planners are made of vegan leather, which gives it a nice “quality” feel.

With these planners, you still get a 12-month calendar and still have the 3 planning layout options, which is really nice.

Here’s a glimpse of the horizontal layout:

(This is a picture of last year’s, but I’m still using the same planner this year.)

As far as the features go, you have the same goal-planning pages and monthly productivity pages as the coiled version. The only thing you’re really lacking is the ruler, storage pocket, and sticker sheets.

You also won’t be able to use their snap-in meal planner.

However, if you take a closer look, you’ll notice there is extra blank space provided for each day. This space can be utilized for meal planning purposes.

Why moms like it:

• Ideal for both right-handed and left-handed moms (it lays flat!)
• 3 Weekly layout options: Vertical, horizontal, and hourly
• 4 interior design options
• Vegan leather softbound cover
• Dated monthly and weekly spreads
• Additional notes
• 12-month calendar
• 8″ x 10″ and A5

Things to consider:

• No sticker sheets
• No snap-in ruler
• No storage pocket

2. Erin Condren Coiled Weekly LifePlanner

Erin Condren definitely isn’t the new kid on the block when it comes to planners. This means they’ve had plenty of time to perfect their products.

Their Coiled Weekly LifePlanner is one of their most popular planners. It has a 12-month calendar, and there are plenty of customization options to really make it your own.

I love that you’re not limited to just one planning layout. You can choose either a horizontal, vertical, or hourly planning layout.

It’s nice to have options because everyone’s preferences are not the same.

This is what the horizontal option looks like:

Personally, my favorite part about these planners is the paper. It’s thicker than your average sheet of paper and there’s a nice texture to it as well.

As far as extras…

There are some basic goal-planning pages towards the front of the planner. This is what they look like:

There are 12 different sections, so you could use this space to write down your monthly goals.

Or, use it to divide your goals into different categories – whichever you prefer.

There is a monthly productivity and notes page as well. It looks like this:

When I was using my Erin Condren planner, I used this area for making a list of my top goals and to-dos for the month and for jotting down reminders.

The planner also comes with 4 sticker sheets, which are really cute. They say things like…

• Today
• This week
• To do
• Celebrate
• Let’s party
• Rescheduled
• Canceled

There is a double-sided storage pocket included in the back. Since this planner doesn’t have any money management sections, this would be the perfect spot to keep a separate budget planner (if you need it).

Mine came with a perpetual calendar as well, so that’s a nice bonus!

Why moms like this weekly organizer:

• Lots of customization options to make it fit your needs
• 3 layout options: Vertical, horizontal, and hourly
• Snap-in ruler included
• Sticker sheets
• Double-sided storage pocket
• Mini months
• Monthly quotes
• Productivity pages and notes for each month
• 12-month calendar
• Coil binding
• 7″ x 9″

Things to consider:

• No designated sections for meal planning or budget management, although there is a snap-in meal planner you can purchase separately. However, this is not a deal-breaker if you won’t use these additional features.

3. Savor Beauty 90-Day Planner

I’m a big fan of the Savor Beauty Planners as well. What sets them apart from other planners is that they only focus on 90 days at a time.

This is one of the best planners for moms who are bloggers or business owners because you can get laser-focused on those quarterly business goals.

But, that’s not a requirement. Anyone can use this planner and benefit from it.

I love how the planner’s tabs are divided into weeks. Each weekly section also has a place for you to do a brain dump and pinpoint your top priorities for the week.

There’s also a tab dedicated to self-care, which is really important for busy moms as self-care is an area we tend to neglect. (Time to fix that!)

The planning pages have a vertical layout with plenty of writing space, and they are undated, so you can start using this planner any month of the year.

Here’s a peek inside:

The last tab includes several blank note pages. And, at the very back you’ll find some sheets of pretty stickers.

Why moms like it:

• Not dated
• Focuses on 90 days at a time
• Emphasis on self-care
• Includes sections for AM and PM routines
• Includes sections for brain dumps and defining priorities
• Weeks are divided into 12 tabs
• Includes a notes section at the back
• 2 sticker sheets
• Vertical weekly planning
• Hardcover (also comes in several cute designs)
• Made with recycled paper
• 8″ x 10″

Things to consider:

• Since this is a 90-day planner, you will have to buy a new one every quarter. (I highly recommend buying the bundle!)
• More expensive than your typical planner
• No inside storage pocket

4. Day Designer for Blue Sky

If you are a mom with a jam-packed schedule, a day planner may suit your needs better than a weekly planner.

A daily planner gives you more space to write down each day’s agenda and tasks.

One day planner that does the basics really well is the Day Designer for Blue Sky planner. It’s both aesthetically pleasing and functional.

The planner features a vertical layout with hourly planning that stretches from 6 am to 8 pm.

There are also sections for your top 3 priorities, to-do list, and more to help you further organize your day.

One last thing worth mentioning: It’s common for day planners to only include 6 months’ worth of planning, but not this one.

The Day Designer for Blue Sky planner runs from July 2024 to June 2025.

The best time to purchase this planner is in the summer right before school starts back!

Why moms like it:

• Hourly time blocking
• Space for your top 3 daily priorities
• Space for your to-do list
• Includes storage pocket & stickers
• Gratitude section
• Extra notes pages
• Twin-wire binding
• 12-month calendar (July 2024 to June 2025)
• 5″ x 8″ or 8″ x 10″

Things to consider:

• No additional space for extras like meal planning or budgeting
• A bit bulky

5. The Happy Planner

The Happy Planner is a good choice for creative moms. If you love to DIY and customize, this could be the perfect planner for you.

It’s a dated planner that begins in January and runs through December, so the best time to purchase one is at the beginning of the year if you want to use all the pages. (These make great Christmas gifts)

The BIG Happy Planner pages are the same size as US Letter (8.5 x 11), so you can add any printable page you want to your planner. The only thing you will need is a special hole punch.

This includes any Happy Planner inserts from around the web and any printables you find here too.

You can also easily remove pages or sections. So, if you end up skipping a couple of weeks, you can simply remove those pages from the planner.

You’ll never get bored with this one since you can change it up as much as you want – whenever you want.

The organizer has 2 planning layout options. You may choose vertical or horizontal.

But there is one thing to consider: The vertical layout does not include lines to write on (at the time of writing this). The horizontal layout, however, does.

Why moms like it:

• Plenty of free inserts on Pinterest, etc. to help you customize
• Dated monthly and weekly spread
• Horizontal or vertical layout
• Discbound system – Easily add or remove pages
• 12-month calendar (July 2024 to June 2025)
• 7″ x 9.75″ or 8.5″ x 11″

Things to consider:

• If you want to add additional pages, you’ll have to also purchase a special hole punch
• No stickers
• No storage pocket

6. Amy Knapp’s Family Organizer

If you’re looking for a basic planner to stay on top of your family’s schedule and you don’t want to splurge on a premium planner, Amy Knapp’s Family Organizer might be a good fit.

This planner has a 17-month calendar and is designed for moms and families. Since the calendar begins in August, it’s perfect for the start of a new school year.

The features that stand out the most are the perforated lists for weekly menus and grocery planning pages.

Those are really handy if you’re trying to meal plan and save a little cash each week, and you won’t have to print any additional pages.

Love the ink-saving factor here.

As far as the planning pages themselves, they have a horizontal layout without lines.

While Amy Knapp’s Family Organizer may not be the fanciest of options, it is an affordable family planner that consistently gets positive feedback year after year, and that really speaks for itself.

Sometimes all the bells and whistles simply aren’t needed.

Why moms like it:

• Weekly horizontal layout & monthly calendars
• Plan your menus and grocery lists
• Create weekly to-do lists
• Dated weekly and monthly spread
• Color-coded sticker sheets
• Goal planning section for mom
• Inside storage pocket
• Wire-o binding
• 17-month 2024-2025 calendar
• 6″ x 8″

Things to consider:

• No tabs for quick access
• Can’t choose more than one planning layout

7. MomAgenda Desktop Planners

If you’re wondering what’s the best planner for families with multiple schedules, it’s going to be the momAgenda Desktop Planner.

The Desktop Planer is a softbound planner with a vegan leather cover, and I really love the “luxe” design.

Designed by a mom of 4 herself, this planner is made specifically for moms who need to manage more than just their own schedule.

It has an 18-month calendar that begins in July, so you can grab one of these right before school starts and be set for the whole school year.

The planning pages feature a vertical layout with lines (big fan).

There are separate planning spaces for you to add up to 4 kids’ schedules so that you can easily keep up with everyone’s activities, appointments, and more – all in one place!

You can also use the bottom section for your dinner plans.

Aside from the basics, there are some additional pages that are useful, such as a websites and passwords page and a place to write down important phone numbers.

I love these additional pages because you can write down the random info you need to remember and you’ll know exactly where it is if/when you need it.

There are other sections for birthdays and medical information as well. These are great for staying organized because you really can’t remember it all.

Why moms like it:

• Dated weekly & monthly spread
• Vertical weekly planning with lines
• Includes space for mom and up to 4 kids or family members
• 2 Ribbons to quickly find your place
• Includes additional notes pages
• Available in 6 different colors (as long as they’re in stock)
• 18-month July 2023 through December 2024 calendar
• 7″ x 9″

Things to consider:

• No inside pocket/folder
• No stickers or extras are included

8. Clever Fox Weekly Planner

If you value portability and productivity and you’re cool with an undated planner, take a look at the Clever Fox Weekly Planner.

It’s perfect for moms like myself who get excited about goal-setting, making lists, vision boards, and the like.

Clever Fox’s main goal is to keep you productive and focused so that you can hit your goals.

The weekly planning pages have a horizontal layout with lines. An added bonus is the habit tracking section, where you can track up to 7 habits and mark them as completed each day.

But, of course, the goal-setting and to-do list sections are there too!

If you prefer a daily spread rather than a weekly spread, Clever Fox also has a daily planner.

Overall, I really like the concept of this planner. I just wish there was a vertical planning option.

Why moms like it:

• Weekly & monthly spread
• Write your own dates
• Emphasis on goal-setting
• Weekly spread includes a personal to-do list and habit tracker
• Vision board
• Included 150 colorful stickers
• Inside storage pocket
• 12-month calendar
• Comes in 23 different colors
• Faux leather cover
• A5 (5.8” x 8.3”)

Things to consider:

• This may not be the right planner for you if you aren’t concerned with goal-setting
• You will have to write in the dates yourself
• Can’t choose a layout type

9. Cinch! Dry Erase Fridge Calendar

For some busy moms, a magnetic weekly planner for the fridge may be more useful than a traditional planner.

Although, if you want to use both, you certainly can.

With a magnetic fridge calendar, you can easily make changes, wipe off the old week, and start fresh each week.

It’s a simple way to keep the whole family on the same page since everyone can check the fridge to see what’s coming up for the week.

Why moms like it:

• Stain-resistant
• Includes 4 fine-tip markers
• Includes large eraser
• Keeps the entire family organized

Things to consider:

• Since you will only be able to fill this in week-by-week, you still may need to use a calendar app or traditional planner in addition to the magnetic fridge planner.

10. Bliss Collections Family Planner

Not everyone is a fan of dry-erase boards. They do have their pros and cons.

However, if you like the idea of having your family planner on the fridge but don’t want a dry-erase board, you do have another option.

Meet the Bliss Collections Family Planner. It has 50 undated sheets that are US letter size (landscape variation). So, it’s essentially a notepad for your fridge.

There’s plenty of space for planning your daily meals, appointments, activities, field trips and other school events, chores, etc.

There’s also room for adding up to 4 kids’ names, which I love.

Why moms like it:

• Space for up to 4 kids
• Vertical planning layout
• Undated, so it will never expire if you take a break from using it
• Keeps the whole family organized

Things to consider:

• If you are looking for a solution that will last you an entire year – While this notepad comes close, it won’t quite last you an entire year since there are only 50 pages.

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If it seems like there are too many options to choose from, it may be helpful to take a few extra minutes to brainstorm exactly how you will use your planner and narrow down the features that matter to you most.

Ask yourself questions like what type of layout are you looking for. Horizontal or vertical? Do you need hourly planning?

Do you need any extras such as goal setting, budget planning, etc.? Do you want your planner to come with stickers? Does portability make a difference?