2025 Planner Buying Guide: Monthly, Weekly, & More

Is your resolution for the coming year to become more organized? Then a planner is a great way to do just that! But with so many different types, layouts, and styles on the market, it can be tricky to find one that's perfect for you.

Luckily, finding your ideal planner doesn't have to be as tough as it seems! With our buying guide on what to look for, you'll be able to pick out your 2025 planner in no time.

When you choose a planner, you'll want to invest in one that will meet your needs and help you stay on track all year long. That way, you can stay organized and manage your time more effectively, but in a way that suits you.

The three most important things to consider when you're shopping for a new planner are:

• The layout
• The design and size
• The format

Layout

The most common formats for a planner include daily, weekly, and monthly layouts. But what's the difference?

Daily planners

A custom daily planner allows you more space for detailed scheduling or time tracking. This is ideal if you're always on the go and like to plan your days down to the hour. For instance, college students may use these planners to keep track of their class schedules and jot down important information for assignments or deadlines.

They also work well for self-care. You can use your planner to help organize your day and for daily reflection. You can even combine the two by writing about the things you've achieved throughout the day and how it made you feel to tick certain tasks off your to-do list.

Weekly planners

A custom weekly planner, on the other hand, is the perfect pick for flexibility and structure. These allow you to get a detailed overview of your tasks, appointments, goals, and priorities for the week.

A 2025 weekly planner will work well for individuals like working parents who need to juggle their work and home responsibilities. You can include both your work deadlines for the week and add in any notable school events to keep track of them seamlessly.

Monthly planners

Custom monthly planners are amazing organizational tools if you want a big-picture view of your life, since they have enough space to track important dates and long-term goals or plans.

We love these planners for parents or younger students. For example, little learners who are in kindergarten may not have as many important dates to keep track of. However, you may want to highlight any important events coming up throughout the year, such as parent-teacher meetings or school vacation days.

Design and size

Another important factor to consider is the design and size of your planner. For example, a travel journal should be smaller and more compact. That way, it's portable enough to take on your journeys and won't take up too much room in your suitcase.

However, tools like personalized teacher planners may need to be a little bigger. This is especially true if you're teaching multiple subjects and grade levels. So, picking a teacher planner that is big enough to organize and plan everything you need is essential!

Format

The format of your planner can make all the difference in how you use it. If you're using your planner for things like doodling or other creative outlets, you won't need a date on every page.

Rather, you may need an undated planner that you can format to suit your needs. These offer you more freedom since you can style the pages any way you'd like. For example, you can create sections for journaling, to-do lists, and more - creating an all-in-one planner.

You can also choose from horizontal or vertical planners. If you'd like to plan out your schedule in a more digestible way with calendar-style views of each month, a horizontal planner may work best. However, if you're taking notes or creating checklists, a vertical planner will probably be more suitable.

Which Type Of Planner Do You Need?

There are several different types of planners to choose from. At Plum Paper, our planners are designed to suit your needs, no matter who you are. Our range varies from personal and educational planners for students to traditional educators and even homeschool teachers.

Finding your perfect planner is so much easier when you know which type of planner will work best for you.

Custom planners

Custom planners are all about making organization work for you! Unlike a standard planner, a custom planner allows you to add your own personal touch to create something that fits into your life seamlessly.

You can add sections or pages for just about anything! For example, it can be a great help for moms who need to track their kids' busy schedules, create to-do lists, plan weekly meals, and even stay on top of household spending.

The best part about custom personalized planners is being able to pick from different layouts and formats to match how you like to plan. Prefer to track every hour of your day? Then you can choose a daily format. Work best with a more general overview? A monthly layout may come in handy.

From choosing your start date to adding sections like fitness goals or spending habits, a custom planner can do it all.

Educational planners

Educational planners can be a total game-changer - especially for teachers and students.

For teachers, planners usually come with layouts that are tailored to different grade levels, from preschool and elementary all the way to high school. You can also find sections for lesson planning, class schedules, grade monitoring, and even tracking field trips!

On the other hand, student planners are just as important for helping learners stay organized throughout the school year. They include spaces for tracking homework and assignments and important dates like tests or projects. And if they're involved in any extracurriculars, they can use their planner to track that, too.

In our opinion, planners should be back-to-school essentials for older learners in middle or high school. However, you can help your child get a head-start on their planning skills by introducing them at elementary age, too!

Lifestyle planners

Lifestyle planners are all about helping you balance your personal and professional goals for better organization. There are different types to choose from, including:

• Goal planners: These are perfect for anyone who wants to stay focused on their dreams and ambitions. They can help you break down your goals into smaller, more manageable pieces and make them easier to achieve. Plus, you can use your planner to see how far you've come since setting your original goals. Ultimately, they can help you to stay committed and inspired.

• Financial planners: Financial planners are all about managing your money smartly. They typically have sections for budgeting, tracking your spending habits, or even setting savings goals. Overall, they're great for giving you an overview of your finances, which makes it easier than ever to manage your bills and assess your spending habits.

Adding Planner Extras

Who said planning has to be boring? If you love having an aesthetic planner, you may want to consider picking out a few accessories for your planner.

For instance, stickers are a great way to spruce up your planner in a visually appealing and practical way. You can use stickers to highlight important dates, decorate your pages, or add some flair to your planning with printed headings.

Additionally, you can always add a few refill pages to your planner to give you a little more space. That way, your planner can grow and adapt to your schedule throughout the year.

No matter which accessories or add-ons you pick, you can tailor your planner to be everything you need - and have a ton of fun in the process!

FAQs

What is the most popular type of planner?

The most popular planner usually depends on your needs and preferences, meaning there isn't a "one-size-fits-all" answer. Still, weekly planners tend to be a favorite among many people. This is because they're more flexible than monthly planners and don't require you to plan your day down to the hour.

How do you set up a good planner?

Setting up a good planner involves a few key steps, including:

• Define your purpose for using a planner
• Choose the right layout
• Establish clear sections
• Set your priorities
• Add important dates
• Use color coding
• Be consistent!

Final Thoughts

With 2025 just around the corner, getting your perfect planner ahead of time is a great way to save you from the last-minute scramble to find one. It also gives you plenty of time to customize your new planner exactly the way you'd like it.

At Plum Paper, we're committed to making your planning journey more enjoyable and exciting than ever. So be sure to check out our range of custom planners to start creating the planner of your dreams today.