Personal Planner Review: The Customisable Planner + GIVEAWAY!

ad. I’ve tried a fair few planners over the years – everything from cheap supermarket diaries to fancy brands that cost more than a nice dinner out. But when I stumbled across Personal Planner, I was intrigued by the sheer level of customisation they offer.

This is my second planner from them, and I’ve got thoughts. Let me walk you through what makes these planners different, whether they’re actually worth the money, and who they’re best suited for.

My Personal Planner Journey

Last year, I ordered my first planner from Personal Planner – an A4 size because I’m a visual person and wanted plenty of space to see everything at a glance. Whilst I loved the quality of the product and the customisation options, I quickly realised it was a bit awkward on my desk. It felt too big, constantly getting in the way and making my workspace feel cluttered.

So for this year, I went with a wide planner instead. Game changer. It fits my desk perfectly, gives me enough room for my to-do list and daily planning, but doesn’t dominate the entire workspace. This is exactly why I appreciate having calendar options – what works for one person’s setup won’t work for everyone’s.

What Makes Personal Planner Different?

The main thing that sets Personal Planner apart from your standard diary is the high level of personalisation. We’re not talking about just picking a pretty cover (though you can absolutely do that too). You can genuinely customise the entire thing to suit your individual needs.

Cover Design and Personalisation

The front cover options are genuinely lovely. You’ve got themed designs, patterns, the ability to upload your own photo, or even keep it minimal and simple. I went with one of their floral designs this year because it felt cheerful for the new year.

The back cover can also be customised, though I kept mine fairly simple. Some people upload family photos or motivational quotes – there’s a wide array of choices depending on your personal character and what you want to see every day.

The Real Magic: Extra Pages and Modules

Here’s where Personal Planner really shines. Beyond the standard weekly spread and monthly spread, you can add extra pages for literally anything. This year, I picked the gardening, crochet, and sheet music pages to help me organise my hobbies.

Having dedicated spaces for these things means they don’t get lost in random notebooks scattered around my house. Everything’s in my own personal planner, which genuinely helps me stay on top of things. Other options include:

• Habit tracker pages for goal setting
• Meal planning sections (the glance mealplans option is brilliant if you’re organised with food prep)
• Fitness trackers
• Budget planners
• Reading logs
• Travel planning pages
• Extra productivity pages
• Colouring pages

The inclusion of specific pages tailored to your life means this isn’t just another diary – it becomes your planning hub.

Weekly and Monthly Layouts

The weekly layout options are extensive. You can choose:

• Vertical layouts (great if you’re a list person)
• Horizontal spreads (perfect for seeing your whole week at once)
• Time-blocked daily pages (brilliant for detailed daily timetables)
• Simplified weekly planners (if you don’t need hourly breakdowns)

I opted for the horizontal weekly spread this time because I like seeing Monday through Sunday all at once. Last year’s planner had a different layout, and being able to switch it up each calendar year keeps things fresh.

The monthly spread at the start of each month gives you that bigger picture view, too. I use mine for noting down public holidays, planning blog post schedules, and marking important events that need more than just a weekly note.

The User Experience: Ordering and Designing

The Website

The user-friendly website makes designing your own planner surprisingly enjoyable rather than overwhelming. You’re guided through each step:

1. Choose your planner size (mini, A5, A4, or wide)
2. Pick your shape (classic, square, or wide)
3. Select your cover design
4. Choose your internal layouts
5. Add any extra pages you want
6. Customise with stickers or other details

The bunch of different page designs initially felt daunting – there are so many calendar options and modules – but the visual preview helps enormously. You can see exactly what your planner will look like as you build it.

My only small adjustment suggestion would be a “save and come back later” option for those of us who get decision paralysis. I spent ages choosing between different layouts during my first time ordering!

Delivery Service

Fast shipping seems to be the standard with Personal Planner. My second order arrived within about a week, which felt very reasonable given it’s a customised product. The packaging was sturdy – no damage to my beautiful planner when it arrived.

I’ve read other reviews mentioning shipping costs can be a bit steep depending on where you are, but I’m UK-based and found it acceptable for what you’re getting.

Quality of the Product

Let’s talk about whether this planner actually holds up to daily use.

Paper and Print Quality

The paper quality is genuinely excellent. It’s thick enough that my pens don’t bleed through (I use everything from ballpoints to gel pens to the occasional highlighter), and there’s no ghosting either. The vibrant print quality means the colours stay crisp and cheerful throughout the year.

Binding and Durability

The binding is solid. My last year’s planner got daily use – and was dropped more times than I’d like to admit – and it held up brilliantly. The pages stayed secure, and nothing fell apart even with heavy use.

For my second planner, I stuck with the spiral binding option. Some people prefer the lay-flat book binding, but I like how the spiral lets me fold the planner completely back on itself when needed.

What I Love About Personal Planner

The customisation is fantastic. I’ve genuinely not found another planner company that lets you tailor things to this degree. Whether you need weekly planners for work, daily pages for detailed scheduling, or just want a simple monthly overview with some hobby trackers, you can build it.

The quality justifies the price. These aren’t cheap throwaway planners. The great quality paper and binding mean this planner will last the entire year (and beyond if you want to keep it as a journal).

It grows with you. Each year, ordering from Personal Planner means you can adjust what you need. Maybe this year you want a habit tracker, next year you drop it for a reading log instead. Your own planner evolves with your individual needs.

Perfect for gifts. They offer gift certificates, which is brilliant if you know someone who’d love a personalised planner but you’re not sure exactly what they’d want. Let them design their own – it’s the easy way to give a thoughtful present.

Who Is Personal Planner Best For?

This planner is ideal if you:

• Want complete control over your planner’s layout and content
• Prefer physical planning over a digital calendar
• Have specific hobbies or tracking needs (like my gardening and crochet pages!)
• Are willing to invest in a great quality product that’ll last
• Like the idea of a beautiful planner that reflects your personal character

It might not be the best fit if you:

• Prefer ready-made planners with no customisation needed
• Are on a tight budget and need the most affordable option
• Exclusively use digital planning tools
• Want something you can grab off the shelf immediately (customisation means a wait time)

Tips for Ordering Your First Personal Planner

If you’re considering ordering, here’s what I’d suggest:

Think about your actual needs, not aspirational ones. I initially wanted to add loads of habit trackers and fitness pages. Realistically? I use the gardening and hobby pages far more. Don’t create blank pages you’ll never touch.

Consider your space. My first A4 planner was gorgeous but impractical for my desk. Think about where you’ll actually use this planner daily.

Start with the basics. Your first binder doesn’t need every possible extra page. You can always add more detail to your planner in subsequent years once you know what you’ll actually use.

Preview everything. Use that visual preview feature extensively. Make sure the weekly spread and monthly spread genuinely work for how you plan.

Don’t skip the extra pages if they’re genuinely useful. Those crochet and gardening pages have been brilliant for keeping my hobby projects organised. If there’s something specific you need, add it.

My Second Year Verdict

After using Personal Planner for two years now, I’m genuinely impressed. The fact that I came back for a second order speaks volumes – I’m not typically loyal to products unless they’re actually great.

The great experience I’ve had with both planners (despite the size adjustment needed) comes down to the quality and flexibility. This isn’t just a diary where you jot down appointments. It’s become my central organising tool for work, hobbies, goals, and daily life.

The excellent customer service also matters. When I had a question about my second order, the response was quick and helpful. Personal Planner’s customer service clearly cares about getting things right.

Is It Worth The Money?

Here’s my honest take: if you’re someone who genuinely uses a planner and you value having something tailored to your life, absolutely yes. The quality of the product justifies the cost, and you’re getting something unique rather than a mass-produced diary.

If you typically buy a planner with good intentions but it ends up gathering dust after February, maybe start with something cheaper until you’ve built the habit. Once you know you’ll use it, upgrade to Personal Planner.

For me, having my gardening planting schedules, crochet project notes, and weekly planning all in one beautiful planner has genuinely improved my organisation. It’s not just about having the best planners on the market – it’s about having the perfect planner for your individual needs.

Win Your Own Personal Planner!

Exciting news – I’ve partnered with Personal Planner to give one lucky reader the chance to design their own planner! Whether you’re after the perfect planner for next year, want to try out those excellent quality products for yourself, or fancy creating a beautiful planner tailored to your individual needs, this is your opportunity.

Entering is simple – just pop your details in below. The winner will receive a code to order their own personal planner with all the customisation options available. You could be choosing your cover design, adding extra pages for your hobbies, and creating your ideal weekly layout in no time. Good luck!

Win Your Own Personal Planner

Final Thoughts

Personal Planner isn’t perfect – what product is? But it’s the closest I’ve found to creating my ideal planning system. The high level of personalisation means you’re not stuck with someone else’s idea of what a planner should be.

Whether you’re planning for next year, looking for a great affordable product that’s still high quality, or just want a new diary that doesn’t waste half its pages on things you don’t need, Personal Planner is worth considering.

My only complaint? I wish I’d discovered them sooner. Two years in, and I’m already thinking about my third planner for the upcoming year. That’s probably the best endorsement I can give.

Have you tried Personal Planner? What customisation options did you go for? I’d love to hear about your experience – especially if you’ve got creative uses for those extra pages!

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Quick Facts:

• Sizes available: Mini, A5, A4, Wide
• Starting price: Varies by customisation
• Delivery: Generally fast shipping to UK
• Best for: People who want complete control over their planner
• Not ideal for: Those wanting immediate gratification or preferring digital-only planning

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

The 0.5 deduction is purely for the overwhelming number of choices during initial setup – but that’s also what makes it brilliant, so take that as you will!