Erin Condren 2018/2019 Planner Overview & GIVEAWAY

Erin Condren 2018/2019 Planner Overview & GIVEAWAY

Erin Condren 2018/2019 Planner Overview
It’s that time of year again my planner obsessed friends. The new 2018/2019 planners have just dropped (save $10 on your first order by clicking here) and although there aren’t TONS of changes in store, the new additions feel like a purposeful tweak to make the already fantastic planner layouts just a little bit better. So here’s what’s new in this year’s launch.
Erin Condren 2018/2019 Planner Overview
The 12 month page did away with the little corner flags and added these simple bars of color. I love using this page to track work accomplishments, so I usually just add month stickers to the top of the boxes. 

Erin Condren 2018/2019 Planner Overview
One of the biggest changes are with the monthly pages. Gone are those four little circles and column lists and say hello to a good ol’ lined page. Personally I really liked the more structured note pages of last year’s book, but I understand the need to switch things back to make the page more universal. Plus I can always just design this page like the circle ones anyway.

Erin Condren 2018/2019 Planner Overview
One of my favorite tiny additions is a little calendar for the next month at the bottom of the monthly view. So simple, but such a valuable detail.

Erin Condren 2018/2019 Planner Overview
For the hourly layout they’ve added darker lines to mark off the hour sections. There’s been mixed reviews about this in the hourly planning community, but I tend to just cover up the times with stickers anyway so it shouldn’t be a big change for me. If you’re a simple planner though, this could be a really helpful feature to block of chunks of time.

Erin Condren 2018/2019 Planner Overview
In the back of the planners they’ve added a small contact page for important people’s info. I’m obsessed with this addition as there are always a few people I need to remember their addresses or contact info when I’m out and about. Or it can be used to track pen pals!

Erin Condren 2018/2019 Planner Overview
The coloring pages are sticking around for next year but with some fun new designs. One word: llamas.

Erin Condren 2018/2019 Planner Overview
There are of course stickers in the back of their planners, but they’ve included this page of decorative stickers this year and I couldn’t be happier. I’m so impressed with how well Erin Condren’s company pays attention to trends and their audience. Give the people what they want, and all that.
Erin Condren 2018/2019 Planner Overview
As for accessories, everything is in that new Woven Wonders pattern that’s throughout the planner. There are new rolls of washi tape, compliment cards, dashboards, and the thin sticky notes (great for to do lists on the sidebar of the weekly view).

Erin Condren 2018/2019 Planner Overview
They also have a new collection of sticky notes as well as a new sticker book. Check them all out on the main accessories page.
Erin Condren 2018/2019 Planner Overview
The most anticipated accessory of this release is the new Planner Folios. I go into more detail about how these work in the video below, but they’re like the old school planner pouches, but with a sturdy front panel you can use to store stickers and other on-the-go supplies. Definitely a unique spin with a lot of room for customization.
Check out all the details and up close looks at the new releases in this video!
Erin Condren 2018/2019 Planner Overview
And now it’s giveaway time! I’m giving away an 18-month hourly colorful along with a new sticker book, dashboard, bookmarks, and washi tape! Giveaway is open internationally for five days! Just enter in the rafflecopter giveaway below!
Happy launch day and good luck on the giveaway!
5 Things You Need to Do To Start Working for Yourself

5 Things You Need to Do To Start Working for Yourself

5 Things You Need to Do To Start Working for Yourself
Everyone dreams about working for themselves, but most people don’t know how to take the first steps to making it a reality. Sadly I can’t give you a clear road map of what to do when to make it happen for you, but I definitely can help you get thinking about certain things to lead you on the right path.

1. Figure out what you’re going to do.

Now this may seem a little “duh,” but so many times people don’t know what they’re going to do if they start working for themselves. Look at your hobbies. Are there any things you do daily that you could potentially profit from? Are you a great photographer? Have great social media skills? Know how to knit? Write a list of everything you’re good at and try to see if there are any overlaps. A lot of the time working for yourself turns out to be a mixture of a bunch of different odd jobs. I run my stationery business, have freelance marketing jobs, and do blogging and YouTube for money. Be prepared to do a bunch of different odd jobs.

2. Figure out how much you have to make in order to do it full time


This is where a lot of math comes in. Make a list of all of your life expenses from rent, eating out, to utilities each month. Don’t forget to add in some savings and add 30% for a rough tax estimate. Take that number and multiply it by 12 to see how much you need to earn in one year. If you’re doing freelance graphic design or something you can charge hourly for, take that monthly amount and divide it by 40 hours a week. That’s how much you need to charge for your services per hour. Of course it’s possible you wont’ have clients or work for 40 hours a week, so adjust that hourly rate based on the hours you expect to work.

3. Figure out the legal stuff (file for an LLC, etc)


I cannot stress enough the importance of having an accountant or a financial adviser who works with small businesses. Most regular accountants won’t know all the ins and outs of working for yourself, so be sure to shop around for one who has experience. Our accountant has helped us so much to figure out what we can write off, how to file quarterly taxes, and makes the whole process of dealing with money a lot less stressful.
Even if you’re just doing something small on the side, still consult a professional to make sure you aren’t paying an arm and a leg in taxes.


4. Setup a separate bank account and give yourself seed money


If you want to take working for yourself seriously, you have to start from the very beginning. Open up a business account and give yourself a starting loan. That way you’re able to buy all the materials and supplies you need up front to make sure you’re giving yourself the best chance to be successful. We gave ourselves $500 to get started to buy cutting machines, sticker paper, and envelopes. It felt weird at first, but we wouldn’t have been able to get off the ground if we didn’t set aside money just for the business in the beginning.


5. Research your field. A LOT

Before you up and quit your full time job to start working for yourself, you have to understand the ins and outs of the field you’re getting into. If you want to be a freelance photographer, research when your peak times are so you aren’t struggling to make ends meet during the off season. If you want to get into the sticker making business, look into what software you need and take classes or watch videos to learn it. Look at what other people usually charge for products or services. Read up on what struggles people in those lines of work face. Know exactly what you’re getting yourself into before diving in head first.
Working for myself kind of just happened, and there are so many things I would do differently now. So take my advice before quitting your day job without a plan (and a few backup ones) in place.