The 2024 Common Planner VS the 2024 Journey Planner 

I too purchased both this year after using the Sterling Ink Common planner last year. In all honesty, had I known about the Journey planner, I never would have preordered the Common planner. I enjoy a dated page a day and using stickers last year created volume in the corners. Not to mention, there was not enough pages for a full year in the Common planner. I eventually purchased a Sterling Ink notebook, but found I was completely thrown off using two books at once. When I saw the Journey planner with ALL its trackers and the meal section that was it for me. I want everything in one book and this had EVERYTHING. I did add darker numbers to the monthly pages only and this helped greatly with my not so young eyes. I do love the gilded edges on the Common planner, but not enough to give up the extras in the Journey. I also purchased the clear vinyl cover with the Journey planner and I must say it is the finest quality one I own. I have purchased so many over the years trying to find the perfect fit, using the hair dryer method, etc. The Journey cover was perfection. I hope whichever you choose brings you joy.

I’m getting the feeling that you’re leaning more towards the Journey Planner. I think the meal planning section is a big pro for what you want and what you already know you use. If I knew I would use that section it would be the tipping of the scale for me. I’m curious to see which one you do pick, I hope you’ll let us know.😀

If I had to choose it would be the Journey as I do want extensive details on my goals and want weekly planning (however moved to each week, not a different section) but for both, I couldn't handle having dailies at the back. So complicated for nothing. Need 7 dailies with each week so I went for Papertess. I don't like not having an option to buy 2 x 6 months like Sterling but overall pleased with it. I do think the Nisha planner price is a rip off lol.

Nice comparison, thanks. I think the common planner looks great and a good value I must say. I like the clean and simple appearance with loads of blank pages. I will say dated daily pages can be nice for ease and you can easily use them for anything not just the days to dos. It seems you appreciate more about the journey with the trackers and already dated pages so if I were you I would give it a try.

I’m switching from inserts to a bound book that I will cut and punch and for me I will go with SI because I don’t care for the gray in the journey planner. I like the clean look so I can make it the way I want. Also I like the idea of not have dated pages so I can create the pages I want for trackers and such. But the price of the journey planner. Lord. Lol I’m going with minimal and affordable next year. I just wish someone would create a6 in the hobonici weeks weekly layout.

Sounds like to me, you would be happier with the journey planner. I also own both. i’m hoping next year that Nisha comes out with an A5 that would be perfection for me as a health and wellness planner. Good luck and can’t wait to see what you decide.

The journey planner has nice structure. Headers at the top of pages with a nice line to designate dates or whatever. Where as Sterling Inc. is just a blank sheet of paper, I don’t like that. Also, every single page in the journey planner is numbered, which makes it easy to index . Catherine said that costs a whole lot more, maybe that’s where the extra money comes from. 🤷‍♀️

I have both planners because I preordered the Common Planner before I discovered the Journey Planner. At the end, I went with the Journey Planner. The additional sections and the dated dailies is what did it for me. And the lines and print are a bit darker and easier for me to see. lol. I'm not a goal planner either, so I plan to repurpose those pages for a 2024 events page and travel tracker, etc. I am loving the Journey Planner and can't wait to see what you decided on. =)

I need more structure for the daily section. I can always tip in pages if needed. I don’t always have time to date them. Sounds like the true meat is the weeklies? For me, I prefer the hobo/journey planner style too. That new style isn’t for me. Good luck! For me, I’d use the journey planner.

I’ve been struggling with all the choices I’ve given myself this year! I’ve decided though to go with the Journey Planner. I absolutely HATE dated “dailies” and cringe at the fact that she has split the page for the weekends. On balance though, I’ve decided that whiting out all the daily dates as the beginning of the year is far less trouble than creating my own menu planner/tracker for each day. I am a goal setter and have changed column titles on the goals pages so have milestones on the left pages and actions quarterly, weekly and daily on the right. Looks ok - but I am a messy functional planner and like it that way. Another plus for me is the monthly full width tracker as I can graph my weight, sleep, and steps each month without having to draw them. That was the tipping point for me as my focus for 2024 is on my health. I’m using an A5 Common Planner for work (have to keep work and personal separate, also want to), so will see how each works for me through the year and I have a B6 Common Planner in reserve if the Journey planner doesn’t work out - I’d rather buy the date stickers for a future year than sell. The price isn’t a factor for this year as I’ve already laid out the cash - but the price will most definitely be a major factor for 2025 as I can properly assess value for money having used both in 2024, albeit for different purposes. Nice video - goes to show we all have our own preferences and tipping points! 😊 I’ll be back to see what you choose (secretly crossing fingers for the Journey Planner as there aren’t many users on YT - ooh, there’s a idea, why not run both in tandem?)

I love the gilded edges of the CP but the lack of lines on the weekly pages and lack of dates on the daily pages was a deal breaker for me. I went with Hobonichi this year for this reason. I had not heard of the Journey Planner until your video, but will definitely be looking closer at it now. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the comparison. I wish I had known of the Journey planner, I would have gone with that one myself, but will keep it on my list for next year! I had the same issue with the dated stickers last year in Sterling Ink and will face the same this year, so I get it. Good luck with your choice, but I think you would be happiest in the Journey planner with all the trackers included.

Go for the journey one this year!

For you I don't know, I can tell you why Journey Planner is the one for me: 1) I actually like the grid size better, one of those OCD things 😅 2) The tracker I actually use it for project planning 3) Meal prep, period 4) only use pen to paper, very functional my system, I need 1 page for master task list per month and 1 page per day I don't need to set up ANYTHING 5) I'd rather give the opportunity to Nisha this time, bc of the bad quality in the stitching and binding I got from Sterling Ink, I need a notebook that withhold and stand the test of time, these I will archive PD I also wish the print is darker and the paper a bit grey or cream, as it's better for the eyes, but still I get TRP for my fountain pens and archival ink, it's a sensorial thing for me the only reason I go back to analog, it's productive, therapeutic and my hobby. Trust your instinct, if something is a hard NO like the 'weekly' overview then you should pass.

I think your video has convinced me to order the Journey Planner, which is bonkers because I have so many planners for 2024! My B6 Common Planner has morphed into a journal since I started using it last year, and although I meant to go back to it being a planner for 2024, it’s only the second week of January and I’m already back to it being a journal. The Common planner with its soft lines and undated back pages doesn’t have the clearness of a Hobonichi Cousin, if that makes sense. The bolder lines and boxed in weeklies and dated dailies of the Journey planner give me that planner feel as opposed to the softer journal feel of the Common Planner. My only objections to the Hobonichi Cousin are that I want a B6 size, and those quotes are super annoying. And although I don’t meal plan, I am trying to document everything I’m eating and do healthier grocery shopping, and I’m trying to track water intake and weight, so I think the Journey Planner will be perfect. It sounds like you’re leaning that way too?

I too have both. Although I love the Journey Planner, I’m not a fan of the meal prep and the grey line above each day on the monthly. I use my Sterling Ink as my Faith Planner and miss the minimalism of SI. I have a lil regret but if I cant adapt to the JP then I will just have to do a switch up 🤷🏻‍♀️ PS I also receive SI monthly subs