FranklinCovey Monarch Planner Review

Having children caused me to lose most of my brain function, especially my memory.  I found myself unable to remember appointments, tasks, errands...anything and everything!  Once my children started school, it became imperative that I keep better track of PTA meetings, etc., so I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to have to start keeping a datebook/calendar of some sort.

My husband is a long-time user of Franklin Covey planning products, so I bit the bullet and went shopping with him.  What I found was a beautiful red leather planner binder in the Monarch size (full page).  It had handles for carrying as well as a strap to use on my shoulder.  Inside, the binder has two pen/pencil holders (one is on the back cover), a cell phone pocket, an expandable PDA clip, and a large miscellaneous storage pocket.  The back cover has slots for credit cards and a place to add a pad of paper (8.5 x 11).  Franklin Covey utilizes a 7-ring binder system, and while it's possible to use other brands of planner page, I elected to purchase the Monticello pages from Franklin Covey.

Because I can't remember anything (sensing a theme here?), I knew I'd need something to remind me when I had to be places, and mere paper alone can't do it.  So, for me the MOST valuable feature of this planner is the PDA clip.  I bought an HP iPaq PDA, and have input all my most important (recurring) appointments, and it chimes to remind me to get my children from school, take them to their weekly activities, etc.  When I remember to program it, it can also remind me of all my other appointments, which prompts me to check my planner.

The best part of using the planner (combined with the PDA) is always having the ability to make follow-up appointments, jot down tasks/errands/lists, and have other valuable information right at my fingertips along with .  In addition to the standard planner pages, I highly recommend adding a bunch of specialty pieces: a pencil pouch to hold miscellaneous items (I use it for stamps, deposit tickets, and receipts); a handful of page protectors (I use these to put in temporary pieces of paper that I don't want to punch holes in); a Pagefinder so you can always open your planner to the current date, and a 7-hole punch so you CAN add pages permanently.

The only negative I could find about this planner pertains to the outside: the pockets are very tight and narrow, making them nearly useless.  It would be helpful if file folders fit into these outer pockets, but I haven't been able to fit them in.