Basic Principles to Keep in Mind
Remember to be creative when it comes to "finding" supplies: how often do we find treasures in the clearance aisle, the thrift store, in our own storage, or in the stashes of a crafty friend? In fact, if you have a friend who journals, collects books, or is artistic in any way, use this person as a resource!
Most of us crafty-minded people (including me), including creative types, tend toward "collection." Maybe I'm just speaking from personal experience, but I have a stash of crafting supplies that I guard like a dragon's hoard! I've gotten better over the years about adding to it except as needed, but I still keep extras of many items. And this goes for more than just supplies: I also tend to collect patterns, websites, and Pinterest pages.
If you're interested in journaling because of a friend, ask if you can have any extra supplies he or she has on hand (thanks a lot, Marie Kondo)! Most of us are more than happy to share our stuff, primarily because we're constantly looking to de-stash (and re-stash, if we are being honest), but also - more importantly - because we love sharing our hobbies. Even if your friend doesn't have supplies to spare (THANKS A LOT, MARIE KONDO), he or she may have a veritable treasure trove of inspirational websites or Pinterest suggestions. This goes not only for "IRL" friends, but also the online community as well.
Another option is to sort through your own "stash." For my primary personal bujo, I found the supplies in old boxes I had never unpacked from several moves. I use an old DayTimer 7-ring half-letter planner binder (8.5 x 5.5", very close to A5 size) that I purchased years ago. It's still in great shape... probably because I never used it. I also found a smaller 6-ring binder that I'll use in case I lose or damage my DayTimer binder. I have really enjoyed the binders starting out because I wasn't sure what all I wanted to do, and I can add and remove pages as I draft and re-draft them.
Comparison is the Thief of Joy
I keep going back to Pinterest, because along with Instagram, it's a great resource for ideas. You may even have come here from a pin! I highly recommend that you search Pinterest if you're looking for inspiration, and start collecting pins on a dedicated board. One downside, and part of the reason I had the idea for this blog, is that you'll often have to wade through ads or blogs so full of affiliate links and sales pitches as to make many of these resources helpful as a visual guide only. Start your search with "bullet journal" and add whatever interests you after ("layouts," "spreads," and "ideas" are good general search terms if you're not looking for anything specific).
This is the other caveat to using social media, not only for crafting inspiration, but for life in general, is to be very conscientious not to compare yourself to anyone else. It's so easy to fall into the trap of not feeling like you should "even bother" because much of what you will find is what I'd again refer to as "curated reality." You're seeing the best-of-the-best, hand-picked by the best-of-the-best! Not to discount the hard work, skill, and talent that goes into those posts, but it's perfectly fine if you don't want to display your work and if your bullet journal isn't beautiful and artistic and perfect.
So my motto when it comes to social media is this: admire the work of others without discounting your own. Your work is no less valuable or important or meaningful simply because it is less than what you personally think is "perfect." Besides, much of what you see online is the result of years of practice.
What can I do with a $10 budget?
At the very minimum, you need just two things to start journaling: something to write on and something to write with. It's really that simple.
If you really do have a barebones, minimal budget, there's no reason you can't start with a plain spiral-bound notebook or even a $1.00 composition book and a pen or pencil that you like.
If you have $10 to spare, the best place to start is the clearance aisle of your local Target, Walmart, or office supply store. I have found really cute 3-ring A5 binders for $1.50 on the clearance rack of an Office Depot near my house! A5/half letter is a great size for both portability and convenience, since you can just cut printer paper (or cardstock) in half. If you intend to use pre-made printable pages (like the ones on this site), this is a really great option for you.
If you prefer a more traditional approach to bullet journaling, consider using a dot-grid journal. Most commonly available in 5mm grids, pages are printed much like graph paper, but instead of there being lines that form squares, there are dots printed at 5mm intervals to form a less obtrusive grid. Plenty of online stores, most notably Amazon, have options available to consider. Brick-and-mortar stores I have had luck with are Half-Price Books (where I got my light blue work Piccadilly journal for $6) and Hobby Lobby (where you can get a Fabriano dot-grid notebook for $6 [A5 size] or $10 [letter size] - be sure to use the online coupon for 40% off).
My HPB Piccadilly journal has a nice, substantial cover with an inner pocket, pre-printed key and index, and elastic strap, but it was only available in blue and pink, and the pages are pretty thin. My Fabriano notebook from Hobby Lobby has much thicker paper, but the cover is just heavy cardstock and there is no inside pocket, index, or key. The pages are glued, so I'm going to have to come up with a long-term binding fix as well. Decide for yourself how much work you want to put into customizing your journal and then it's easier to pick which is best for you.
I'm assuming you already have pens, pencils, and a ruler around, but for about $3, you can pick up a compass and expand your options. If you're using a binder, though, and don't have a hole punch, you'll need to pick one up for about $2. A good quality eraser is helpful if you intend to sketch, doodle, or plan your layouts in pencil prior to inking them in. My favorite is a Prismacolor eraser I got at the craft store; the white erasers tend to work better for me in terms of erasing completely and not leaving smudges. If you go with a regular pink eraser, be sure that it is still soft and pliable, because as they get old and dry out, I have found that smudging can become a serious problem.
What can I do with a $25 budget?
I'm assuming that you've spent about $10 on a compass or hole punch and a journal, and that you have a ruler and basic pens/pencils, so now what?
Well, I think the most important thing to consider is what you find most important. If you are creative and artistic, the best way to spend money is probably on a good set of pens, markers, or pencils. My favorite pens for journaling are Pilot V5; I love the very fine tip and quick-drying ink, although they cost a bit more. The most economical way to buy pens is in sets, either at the craft store with a coupon, or online.
Other pens I have tried and recommend are: LePen (I got a set of 10 for just over $10 at Hobby Lobby, with a 40% coupon applied); Office Depot Foray pens (I prefer the capped version as opposed to retractable; a set of a dozen is $14); PaperMate Flair (available in both fine and medium, and in various combinations of colors ranging from a 4-pack for $8 to a 24-pack for $20); and ultra-fine Sharpie markers ($7 for a 12 pack of black only on Amazon). If you only need black, Sakura Pigma Microns are great (but you'll pay about $3 per pen; they come in sets as well).
Consider the type of paper you intend to use before you invest in pens, because "bleeding" or "ghosting" on many types of paper can be an issue (this refers to being able to see ink from the other side of the page). Pens I'd recommend, but outside this budget range, are Staedtler Triplus Fineliner (which you might be able to pick up, with a coupon, at the craft store), Zebra Mildliners (if you like double-ended pens, which I don't, so I haven't used these), or Stabilo 88 fineliners (which I've never used).
Whatever you do, don't bother spending money on store brands at craft stores. I don't know about online, but I've never had good luck with "off-brand" pens. I'd rather have spent the money on a couple of really high-quality pens than a set with a bunch of colors that I end up tossing or giving away.
If fancy pens aren't your thing, a good way to invest is in good, thick paper. I like thin cardstock since I never have to worry about ghosting. In fact, the way I got started was to print dot grids onto cardstock, cut it in half, and hole-punch the pages. Craft stores are probably your best bet for this, because I see their scrapbooking supplies go on sale very frequently. Avoid buying "heavy" cardstock and just buy whatever color you like. Heavy cardstock just isn't necessary, will be too thick in your notebook, and comes in limited colors.
If you're fine with regular paper (or have a bound journal) and are set on the pens front, a few other items you might find useful are: a "math" set, including a protractor and compass (about $10); a corner rounder (which is like a hole punch - except you insert the corner of the page along the guidelines, press down, and it rounds the corner of the paper; mine was $10 on Amazon); a "circle maker" to draw smaller circles than most compasses will permit (Helix makes one which is sold on Amazon for just over $5); or consider stamps, stickers, or washi tape (not my thing).
What can I do with a $50 budget?
I'm assuming that at this point, you've decided from the above lists what you'll focus your budget on. A few more options are just to invest in a higher quality notebook (the Leuchtturm1917 is probably the most commonly-used journal; Scribbles that Matter also makes a journal I've considered myself) or a pen organizer (if you aren't interested in making your own, like the tutorial I hope to post someday).
If you find yourself in possession of a gift card to a craft store, though, be sure not to skip the scrapbooking aisle for all manner of supplies you can easily use for journaling!
What can I do with a $10 budget?
At the very minimum, you need just two things to start journaling: something to write on and something to write with. It's really that simple.
If you really do have a barebones, minimal budget, there's no reason you can't start with a plain spiral-bound notebook or even a $1.00 composition book and a pen or pencil that you like.
If you have $10 to spare, the best place to start is the clearance aisle of your local Target, Walmart, or office supply store. I have found really cute 3-ring A5 binders for $1.50 on the clearance rack of an Office Depot near my house! A5/half letter is a great size for both portability and convenience, since you can just cut printer paper (or cardstock) in half. If you intend to use pre-made printable pages (like the ones on this site), this is a really great option for you.
If you prefer a more traditional approach to bullet journaling, consider using a dot-grid journal. Most commonly available in 5mm grids, pages are printed much like graph paper, but instead of there being lines that form squares, there are dots printed at 5mm intervals to form a less obtrusive grid. Plenty of online stores, most notably Amazon, have options available to consider. Brick-and-mortar stores I have had luck with are Half-Price Books (where I got my light blue work Piccadilly journal for $6) and Hobby Lobby (where you can get a Fabriano dot-grid notebook for $6 [A5 size] or $10 [letter size] - be sure to use the online coupon for 40% off).
My HPB Piccadilly journal has a nice, substantial cover with an inner pocket, pre-printed key and index, and elastic strap, but it was only available in blue and pink, and the pages are pretty thin. My Fabriano notebook from Hobby Lobby has much thicker paper, but the cover is just heavy cardstock and there is no inside pocket, index, or key. The pages are glued, so I'm going to have to come up with a long-term binding fix as well. Decide for yourself how much work you want to put into customizing your journal and then it's easier to pick which is best for you.
I'm assuming you already have pens, pencils, and a ruler around, but for about $3, you can pick up a compass and expand your options. If you're using a binder, though, and don't have a hole punch, you'll need to pick one up for about $2. A good quality eraser is helpful if you intend to sketch, doodle, or plan your layouts in pencil prior to inking them in. My favorite is a Prismacolor eraser I got at the craft store; the white erasers tend to work better for me in terms of erasing completely and not leaving smudges. If you go with a regular pink eraser, be sure that it is still soft and pliable, because as they get old and dry out, I have found that smudging can become a serious problem.
What can I do with a $25 budget?
I'm assuming that you've spent about $10 on a compass or hole punch and a journal, and that you have a ruler and basic pens/pencils, so now what?
Well, I think the most important thing to consider is what you find most important. If you are creative and artistic, the best way to spend money is probably on a good set of pens, markers, or pencils. My favorite pens for journaling are Pilot V5; I love the very fine tip and quick-drying ink, although they cost a bit more. The most economical way to buy pens is in sets, either at the craft store with a coupon, or online.
Other pens I have tried and recommend are: LePen (I got a set of 10 for just over $10 at Hobby Lobby, with a 40% coupon applied); Office Depot Foray pens (I prefer the capped version as opposed to retractable; a set of a dozen is $14); PaperMate Flair (available in both fine and medium, and in various combinations of colors ranging from a 4-pack for $8 to a 24-pack for $20); and ultra-fine Sharpie markers ($7 for a 12 pack of black only on Amazon). If you only need black, Sakura Pigma Microns are great (but you'll pay about $3 per pen; they come in sets as well).
Consider the type of paper you intend to use before you invest in pens, because "bleeding" or "ghosting" on many types of paper can be an issue (this refers to being able to see ink from the other side of the page). Pens I'd recommend, but outside this budget range, are Staedtler Triplus Fineliner (which you might be able to pick up, with a coupon, at the craft store), Zebra Mildliners (if you like double-ended pens, which I don't, so I haven't used these), or Stabilo 88 fineliners (which I've never used).
Whatever you do, don't bother spending money on store brands at craft stores. I don't know about online, but I've never had good luck with "off-brand" pens. I'd rather have spent the money on a couple of really high-quality pens than a set with a bunch of colors that I end up tossing or giving away.
If fancy pens aren't your thing, a good way to invest is in good, thick paper. I like thin cardstock since I never have to worry about ghosting. In fact, the way I got started was to print dot grids onto cardstock, cut it in half, and hole-punch the pages. Craft stores are probably your best bet for this, because I see their scrapbooking supplies go on sale very frequently. Avoid buying "heavy" cardstock and just buy whatever color you like. Heavy cardstock just isn't necessary, will be too thick in your notebook, and comes in limited colors.
If you're fine with regular paper (or have a bound journal) and are set on the pens front, a few other items you might find useful are: a "math" set, including a protractor and compass (about $10); a corner rounder (which is like a hole punch - except you insert the corner of the page along the guidelines, press down, and it rounds the corner of the paper; mine was $10 on Amazon); a "circle maker" to draw smaller circles than most compasses will permit (Helix makes one which is sold on Amazon for just over $5); or consider stamps, stickers, or washi tape (not my thing).
What can I do with a $50 budget?
I'm assuming that at this point, you've decided from the above lists what you'll focus your budget on. A few more options are just to invest in a higher quality notebook (the Leuchtturm1917 is probably the most commonly-used journal; Scribbles that Matter also makes a journal I've considered myself) or a pen organizer (if you aren't interested in making your own, like the tutorial I hope to post someday).
If you find yourself in possession of a gift card to a craft store, though, be sure not to skip the scrapbooking aisle for all manner of supplies you can easily use for journaling!
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