216 Stationery Haul August 2017

A large proportion of the world will be getting their bits together to either go back to school, start college, starting college, start a new job or maybe you went on holiday and want to get a few new bits for your desk at work, but most educational means will be going back over the next couple of weeks.

It is always nice to take in a few new bits even if you aren’t starting somewhere new or if you are starting a new year or starting again after a week or two of being on holiday, reiterates the fresh start. If you know me, you will know that I am obsessed with stationary. I am organised when it comes to stationary no matter what time of the year. I have way too many pens and pencils to a slightly ridiculous level but hay, when are you ever not going to use a pen throughout your life? I use a pen on an hourly basis really, I always have, I like writing and keeping notes of everything. As much as technology is a great avenue for many today, I still prefer to have a pen and paper with me in some way.

Now many people do this type of post every year because that is what will get read around August for ideas, tips and in general to make a checklist of what to buy. I find that everyone buys the same things, a bag, a suitcase, a lunch box of some kind, pens, pencils, sharpener, rubber etc. No one really looks at what else you could buy or things you could buy if you are like me and already organised. Today, I want to show you what I bought myself this year; it isn’t going to be your typical stationary shopping list. I have pens and pencils; I wanted some new bits that I will use to optimise my stationery collection.

One thing that children in the UK don’t get to look forward to is buying new clothes, they all get new uniforms but otherwise, it is not until 6th form, college, or university that you get to wear your clothes across the UK. Either way, I get excited when I see the back-to-school signs out in the shops and plastered across websites.

Another thing I find myself purchasing each year is folders, taking them back and forth they get broken, damaged and end up scratched, writing on them etc. I also think having a new folder helps to organise as you aren’t trying to take everything from last year out, you can just start the year with a whole new folder, don’t need to worry about where to put the bits from last year. The folder I bought this year is from Tesco. I am always surprised at how nice the stationary bits in Tesco and ASDA are, I always end up liking something in there.

The folder I bought this year is the Tesco Oriental Garden Lever Arch Folder which cost £3.50. I didn’t originally plan on buying a folder, but I fell in love with the pattern and the colours of this one. It is so pretty, and the colours make it look expensive. I love a good bargain that looks expensive. I didn’t use lever arch folders until I got to college, but I do think they also do a normal ring binder if you want to use one of them instead. I know many people don’t use the lever arch folders until they get to college or university, but I find the normal ring binders too small now.

I have trouble starting a notebook because I don’t want to ruin it but once I have started writing I am generally alright. I try to keep it as neat as possible in the notebooks that are not ring-bound as it is harder to take a page out if you mess it up and it kind of ruins it as you must rip the page not just pull it out. I got the Tesco Oriental Garden A4 Notebook, which was £5, I normally try to not spend a lot on A4 notebooks because I don’t use them as much anymore, but I just loved this one too much to leave it behind.

This last item is like a planner. When you open it, you will find a page that has a box for every day of the week and then a notes box. I find it useful if you have a busy week because you know the week just but looking at one sheet, so it is quick and easy. It is the Tesco Oriental Garden A5 Organiser it was £5 or under but I couldn’t find it on the Tesco website. I have seen the shop still it just isn’t available online; it could be that they have sold out the quickest. It is quite light in weight as well so it will be easy to carry around to and from school or work.

I am not sure if you would need this one for work or school, but it is handy if you have trouble with tape. It is a Sellotape dispenser for just £2. Many people can bite it and break the tape, but I can never do this, so I must use scissors or a tape dispenser. I find this is a bit stiff to get the tape out, but it is handy, so you don’t have to play funny acrobatics while trying to tape something down. It is particularly useful when wrapping a present or taping envelopes down. You can get this in most stores such as WHSmith’s, Rymans, Tesco, Asda, and others but the link I found is Amazon.

The next item is one that you either swear by or you just never touch. I am a bit of hit and miss with them. I use them but not very often so handy to have but not essential. Paperchase - Panda Highlighters £4, now I am aware that these are small so probably won’t last very long but they were panda, so I had to have them. I was shopping for my desk at work so they were perfect, I didn’t know if I was going to need them but would be a handy little thing to have just in case.

I feel like this next item you are going to love or hate, not anything in the middle. It is a Blue Feather Quill for £2.99. This is more fun than practical but looks cool sticking out of your pen pot on your desk. I will probably be leaving this one at home, but I still wanted to get it. I got mine in a gift shop in London. You know when you go to an attraction like London dungeons or a museum and there is a gift shop right at the end to make you spend money before you leave? The one I found on Amazon is the same though and it is a good price.

I couldn’t think of anything better than a notebook that you can hug. Imagine walking down the corridor holding your fluffy notebook as opposed to a typical hard paper book. With experience, I found that if you like your notebook, you are more likely to use it rather than just using the cheap refill pads from the local shop. I seem to be building quite a collection of notebooks of all sizes, at this point, I am not sure if I will ever get through them. Find the WHSmith Furry Panda A5 Notebook for £9.99 here:

Recently I have been struggling to write with your average Bic biro. I seem to get bad cramps if I am writing with them a lot so I am on the hunt for some pens that are a bit bigger which effectively should ease the pain, but it isn’t a science. I thought I would give these a try, I must say they are decent pens. I mean the clicker is amazing, no lid to worry about, don’t need both hands to open it, just hit the top on the table or my shoulder and it is ready to go, perfect for answering the phone. Click here to give them a go, I believe you can get a bigger pack for less at the minute. Papermate Inkjoy 300Rt Black for £5 at Tesco.

Now, yes, I know what you are going to say. Why did you get another notebook, like I said I like to find the ones I like and buy them. I don’t wait until I need one because then it is almost certain that I wouldn’t be able to find one I like so I make sure I always have a couple to pick from. It just seems to have gotten out of hand. I currently have about 20+ unused so I am on a strict rule to not buy anymore unless it is once, in a lifetime, I will never get it again. For example, if I go on holiday and there is a market and I find one I like, or it is a limited edition. Have a look at this Paris Hand-stitched Journal for £12. I fell in love with this as soon as I saw it, I mean it just looks so special and expensive I cannot wait until I use it. I think this is going to be one that I argue with myself over what to use it for, but I need to start using them or they are just going sit there collecting dust.

Please let me know if you find anything fun or interesting when it comes to stationery. It has got to the point now that when I start looking at stationary all my friends and family drag me away shouting you do not need any more stationary.