Stationery Audit - How many blank notebooks do you have? 

So how many blank notebooks do you have?!

I audited all of my stationery and fine art supplies last year. It was sobering. It took several days to complete. I counted everything and wrote it all down (that was scary) and then I went through must purchase histories from 2019 forward and wrote it ALL down (😳 even scarier). I added it all up and I was shocked. To see it like that and to touch and deal with each item made me REALLY examine what was going on with me. I had never been a binge buyer, but here I was. I realized a few things: it started during a period of high stress/overwork and 2020 did NOT help (I guess I was trying to feel better) I am greatly influenced by free shipping (more than a sale) I could see from the itemized purchases where I maybe “needed” one thing but kept adding to get free shipping. I get tempted by a nice cover🤣 color. I REALLY wanted the sterling ink notebook, but the price and binding quality of Hobonichi/midori/ nanami seven seas makes more sense. It was difficult to resist. And apparently any time something is red- I want it🙈. So I walked around stunned and ashamed for a few days and then I decided to make changes. I watched some low buy no buy videos and made rules for myself. I made a plan to use what I had (I started doing morning pages and use notebooks quickly that way and I really enjoy it). I’ve sold things (some art sets that made no sense and some notebooks I overbought). I also have made gifts of some of them too. I acknowledge that RU-vid played a part in all this but I am an adult and need to take responsibility. I mainly watch videos from people who journal and are consistent. I’ve got my planner system down. I think it’s really good to evaluate yourself ever so often. It’s healthy to be shocked (maybe even horrified🙈) if it helps you make a change. It would be great to see videos of you using things over hauling things. Especially since you’re an artist❤ Good luck this year!

This video is really insightful, and something that I struggle with. I'm afraid to do a count of how many things I have, but I should do it for accountability purposes! I remind myself of two major things: 1) this is my hobby so spending a lot of money/energy on it is normal - some people drop hundreds of dollars a month going to the bars, so that's OK and 2) a lot of the stationery folks on social media/RU-vid do this as their job - as in, they don't have another job and make a living buy buying and marketing these products, so naturally they have more things and better things than I do. (Not to mention more time to deep dive). So I need to stop comparing myself of them! And actually use the products I love. Also a one year old destroying stationery might be a great way to use it up LOL. I avoided all Black Friday sales this year and haven't even ordered 2024 planners (besides TN) yet so I will try to be more mindful. I say this as I need to record a small stationery haul from Kinokuniya and TESO still 😅

Isn't it horrible that I enjoyed drooling over all the books you showed? 🤪 I've always loved paper and books. I also need to do an audit and use what I have. Thanks for sharing!

I have a ridiculous amount of empty journals to use. I think it took me 8 long videos to show them all on my channel.

Do you watch Spellbound Notes? She talked about something similar; she was giving us updates on her notebook project too. I have an embarrassing amount of notebooks in a range of sizes. I should slow down and take stock of what I have. I scrapbook too and find it easy to let go of those supplies but for some reason notebooks and inserts are tough for me to pass along.

Hi...can you put on your Etsy shop the journals you are absolutely not interested in using at a discount price?