Blank Notebook Collection 2023: Let's Use Them Up! | Zero Stash Journey

[@just__celia]

You are not alone! Many of us do it. I had 90 blank notebooks back in December. I destashed some and used some. I'm down to 79 now. It's still a lot but I feel good. I'm really trying not to buy anymore. But like you, it's an emotional coping mechanism.

[@spellboundnotes]

That's amazing progress! My number was also shockingly high. 76 is what I had left after donating and destashing what I was willing to let go. 💕

[@traceythibault4946]

I count my notebook's I have at least 200 notebook's I hope people don't think I am crazy I just love writing in them and I love collecting them 📔📗📘📙📒📓📕🖋🖋🖋🖋❤️💜💖💗💕💞

[@umaybayulgen2798]

Yalnız olmadığıma sevindim ,kendimi deli zannediyordum. 100 e yakın defterim var ve almaya devam ediyorum 😢

[@BoomerVonsMom]

You are not alone. I understand the “too pretty to write in.” My challenge includes writing instruments. I am working hard to use what I have and gifting to others. Because of what has been going on these past three years, I’m encouraging others to write as a way to express their feelings. Thank you for sharing. It is appreciated.

[@kamalani808]

Omg I thought I was the only one with tons of blank journals. So often I’m so afraid to even begin to write because I don’t want to mess up. Thank you for this. You have proved that we are not alone.

[@KatiesNestingSpot]

Absolutely no judgement here, I think we all have a thing we can get carried away with. I think it's really a positive point that you're aware of your needs and what you have on hand.

[@spellboundnotes]

Thank you so much for watching! Everyone has been soooo nice. 🥺💕

[@PlanningwithCharley]

I love your collection, I love collecting blank notebooks as well. I tend to hoard them lol. They come in handy though when I need one, and it's a bonus that i don't feel tied down to them because they aren't dated. I love a good variety of blank notebooks, it's as if they're waiting for their stories to be told in them.

[@spellboundnotes]

I still love seeing blank notebook collections! 💕 It's fun to think about the potential. I'd just like to get back to a reasonable number. 😅

[@Angayasse]

You are not alone... I alos fight anxiety with buying notebooks and I also have a massive hoard of unused ones:)

[@spellboundnotes]

Thank you for this! It's good to know I'm not alone. 💕💕

[@sunny8254]

Excellent video! I have about 28 notebooks in my stash to use up. The majority of them are TN inserts. At the rate that I journal, I'm probably stocked enough for 3 years. I'm so glad you are sharing your journey about this.

[@spellboundnotes]

Thank you so much for watching! I feel like three years is pretty decent compared to my stash. 😅 I probably have enough for a decade lol.

[@pocketfullofponder]

You are amazing amazing amazing for sharing this. 👏👏👏👏👏 You will help so many people. I moved across Canada and had to get rid of so much... It was so hard. But it taught me so much. Letting go of things really helped me to actually really enjoy what I do have even more. There is another way to live: the JOY of missing out! Knowing that you are fully invested in what is in your life. Being so happy with knowing you chose something with intention and it's special because there were others: but this. This is yours. Your life. Excited to watch your journey and again, thank you for your vulnerability. Take care of yourself - the vulnerability hangover is a thing. 💖💞💕💖💝💕💞💖💕💝

[@spellboundnotes]

I've definitely found a lot of peace in JOMO! I'm always gonna be happy for others when they get something new, but I've been content with what I have. Thank you so much for watching! 💕💕

[@mariavictoria8230]

I felt totally identified, the feeling you went through when you bought them...is what I'm going through right now, I act without reason, and it gives me a totally temporary pleasure, then I see all my notebooks and it gives me a lot of anxiety. Anyway, I know I'm still doing things wrong, I'm still buying notebooks, but your video is totally inspiring and I'm glad I saw it. Thank you for opening up and being vulnerable to us.

[@spellboundnotes]

Thank you so much for watching! I understand what you're going through, and there's no judgment from me. 💕 I took me some time to get to this point that I really wanted to change. There was a lot of inner emotional work before I got here, so take your time too. 💕💕

[@donnad5986]

You definitely are not alone.!! I already a stash of extra blank books and then When they kept saying TRP was going to change, I over bought more, However I also have several Cosmo Air, Cafe Note, MD, Galen Leather, etc. I adore my fountain pen/ink on them.!! I’m going to join you on using what I have.! 💕💕

[@spellboundnotes]

Your collection sounds dreamy! 😍

[@tortagialla]

Can totally relate to shopping for the wrong reasons and of course in this stationery hobby over years and years it’s easy to accumulate 😅 I think it’s great you are embarking on this journey!

[@spellboundnotes]

Thank you so much for watching and your support! 💕💕

[@alicem1111]

I always enjoy and appreciate your videos. I have joined you in trying to consciously using my things since your first video. When I saw todays video title I decided to count while you were talking. I’m at 71 and I did NOT count the hobonichi supplemental notebooks (I have several). I have already finished one this year- I have a stack ready to go that will last until the summer. I chose ones I disliked the most to start with😂 just to get them out of the way. I’m like you- I’m not comfortable with this many unused anythings. It does feel like hoarding. I don’t have anything limited edition so I don’t have an excuse for doing this. I’m aware and have been working diligently to whittle it down. I think moving is a great time to get real about your things. And I think you’re right about emotional buying- I think mine started during the pandemic. I’ve always loved good paper and I’ve always had extra notebooks ready to go- but I can’t remember having more than 10 sitting unused. I want to definitely get closer to that number. I wish you luck❤

[@spellboundnotes]

Yesss I remember you from my very first project pan video! 🥺💕 Someone else left a comment saying they also had around 70 notebooks. That seems to be the average for enthusiasts? 😅 I don't think I'll ever stop buying notebooks in the future because I love them so much, but I just want to get to a reasonable number. Good luck to you as well! ❤❤

[@werbette]

I believe that you will get through this stash of notebooks! You can do this!

[@spellboundnotes]

Thank you so much for your support! 💕💕

[@cerebrumexcrement]

i have teacher friends so ive been able to destash a lot of my unused or upcycled stuff to them. their students love it.

[@taccora]

I enjoyed this video immensely and while I don't have as many notebooks as you, I couldn't imagine not having any fresh notebooks on standby. Mostly because I love fountain pen friendly paper and every time I find my holy grail paper it gets discontinued or reformulated. First tomoe river paper, then cosmo air light, and who know what's next. As such, when I finally find a paper I like, I buy at least 2 years worth of books just in case a manufacturer goes out of business.

[@spellboundnotes]

2 years seems reasonable! Honestly, I felt frustrated when both the original TRP and Cosmo Air got discontinued. 😅 I put off stocking up on them until I heard the news and then I panic bought.

[@paperwormscat9760]

I have met so many people in the youtube & instagram journaling community, who had hundreds of empty notebooks. I think I am sitting on around 40 right now, as I threw a lot away before my move a few months ago. We always tell ourselves that we gonna use the ones up, that we already have, but for some reasons we always buy new ones. :D That is nothing to be ashamed of though. It is always good to have a lot of stationery. One day, a friend might comes into your home and you start to talk about writing, and then that Person says "damn, I kinda want to start a diary right now, just like how I had one in middle school!" And you can be like: "I might have the perfect notebook for you!" :D

[@KarmicAngel]

I have a lot of empty ones as well.. I haven't counted them yet but did say to my hubby that I was going to try to fill them before I buy more.. I have bought more..ugh.. but I am on my 3rd journal as far as filling them.. I love how they feel and look.. nothing like a new, blank journal in my hands.. no judgement from me. It's just something we love

[@lizmalcolm3294]

I have quite a few empty photo journals that I want to make into Christmas Daily Countdowns for my craft store. I keep buying need to stop and make the countdowns! I like your idea to make a goal.

[@spellboundnotes]

Goals have gotten me soooo far in using up my stash. You can do it too! ☺️

[@purposebehindthepen]

I am a journal fanatic and I am going to follow your lead. I am going to use the journals I have before I purchase any more. I have like over 200 journals and I use them to write my novels.

[@aidynathome9927]

I don’t mean to sound creepy but you have such a cute voice!! I’m so proud of you for confronting your problem. I love that you said “I don’t want to feel burdened by my things anymore” that’s EXACTLY where I am in my life too!!

[@spellboundnotes]

Not creepy at all! Thank you for the lovely comment. 💕

[@Mrs.WarmWaffle]

Thank you for sharing! You are definitively not alone in this! I've been buying notebooks on sale for years, and I don't know how many I have laying around. I really should take a look and count how many I do have? I struggled for years with emotional eating and I "won" that struggle only to move the emotional and stress relieving over to buying stuff I don't need. *sigh* I know I have a problem so I'm working on it, and it is helping that the cost of living here in Norway is through the roof, and I don't have money to spend on stuff I don't need. It's an ongoing struggle, but we can win I know it! I try to buy second hand now. And use what I have.

[@spellboundnotes]

I totally understand jumping from one vice to another! I actually had a problem with gaming before I moved to notebooks. 🙈 I felt like I spent too much time on video games, so I quit without working on myself and I just ended up with another addiction. ☹️ I've learned to sit with my negative feelings when they happen instead of escaping into gaming/shopping. It's not a bad thing to feel sad or angry sometimes. Putting a name to how I'm feeling, why I feel that way, and taking steps to improve my situation has done so much for me. It goes so much deeper than shopping habits. Good luck to you! 💕

[@aprilsmithswe]

Girl-chill! It’s okay! There are worse things to have a stash of!

[@Debdebberdebbest]

Ah, I enjoyed this so much. Thank you for sharing. I echo others when I say that it is something of an addiction or habit to be drawn to these lovely books and the possibilities inherent within. Personally, I went overboard with Hobonichis this year, and while I am using all of them, I can see how the FOMO fooled me into thinking I should have so many. Hopefully, I will be more reasonable come September when the 2024 releases start. In the meantime, I have a decent stash of other notebooks, both blank and partially used. I appreciate your efforts to be more conscientious in your acquisition and usage; it's very inspiring. :)

[@spellboundnotes]

Thank you so much for watching! There's definitely a fine line between collecting and hoarding for me. My hope for 2024 is I only get the one Hobonichi Weeks haha, so I hope there are no surprise releases that I end up loving. 🙈🙈

[@rachelfrombefore]

Thanks for sharing! Know you’re not judged and you’re also not alone. ❤️

[@missdeon4907]

I’m the same 😂. Sending love ❤

[@theresar9522]

This is a great video. I have enough for close to 15 years of bullet journaling. I need to follow this also. With notebooks and stickers.

[@theresar9522]

I also buy in pairs to “save on shipping “

[@moniques.journal.corner]

You are so not alone! I'm on a no/low spend myself. I definitely don't need to buy any notebooks. I have so many unused or partial used. I've told myself I have to use them first. We can all totally do this because I know there are many of us in this position right now! Big hugs!

[@LilacJream]

I think hoarding notebooks is a rite of passgae for any stationery lover! Mins is out of control as well. LOL. Good luck getting through some of your notebooks and using them up!

[@spellboundnotes]

Thank you! 💕💕 I definitely think that hoarding notebooks is something every notebook lover goes through too lol!

[@Paperpillow.stationery]

A brave and insightful video and also a bit inspiring. I'm not ready to look at my stash but I will definitely think about doing it when I'm feeling strong enough. 😊So you are not alone. Look forward to seeing how it will turn out for you.

[@spellboundnotes]

Thank you so much for watching! It took me some time to feel ready to film this video, so definitely no rush!

[@jennieeveleighlamond]

Thank you so much for your honesty and vulnerability! I also have a large stash of blank notebooks and a goal of using them. I am so picky about paper since I only use fountain pens that I hoarded a lot of paper that I know that I love, but now it's too many and I need to use and appreciate the things that I have.

[@lilacmint]

I know you said you aren't picking on Notebook Therapy but it's like they have a constant stream of new releases. It's crazy! I've been following the brand for a couple years but still haven't caved and bought one of their notebooks. I'm a huge sucker for limited edition items. But if I don't buy my first one and don't know whether or not I'd like them, it's easier for me to ignore the desire to buy a new release.

[@spellboundnotes]

I guess I'm happy that they've grown so much to be able to do lots of new releases, but I need to slow down on their stuff. 😅 Stationery is definitely rife with a ton of consumerism too!

[@RSylvane]

As long as it makes you feel better it is the way to go right! I’m happy for you that you are confronting yourself. You can only grow from that!

[@spellboundnotes]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@rashu89]

Hi! Just a quick comment to let you know that I can totally relate to your experience, as many others have commented before, and I sincerely pray for you to get through this 🙏 Being able to acknowledge our situation is not an easy thing but the biggest step!! Let's do that thing!! Take care 💕😊

[@spellboundnotes]

Thank you so much! 💕💕

[@connieanderson6339]

I love collecting notebooks as well. I need to do an inventory to see how many I actually have in my collection. Good luck on your Zero Stash Journey!

[@spellboundnotes]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@staceyd8397]

Oh I have quite a few myself so we’ll both never run out

[@imperfect_pages5331]

I’ve got many many blank notebooks too, so don’t feel bad! I think I’ve got 95+ blank notebooks and so many that I’ll never use! The notebook therapy ones are gorgeous! I also like buying notebooks in pairs

[@spellboundnotes]

Haha I don't know why I need notebooks in pairs! Maybe I just don't want them to feel lonely. 😅

[@grimmgoosegoose216]

Thank you so much for sharing!

[@hanidee]

Those Exceed notebooks surprised me with how well they take fountain pen ink. Your collection of notebooks are so pretty. My notebook collection is slowly growing 😂 Thank you for sharing and good luck on your zero stash journey

[@spellboundnotes]

Thank you so much for watching! I can't wait to get to my Exceed notebooks!

[@justusspace]

You got this!! I believe in u!!

[@spellboundnotes]

Thank you!! 💕💕

[@katsmith8263]

I envy your collection. I'd love to have it

[@spellboundnotes]

Thank you so much for watching! I'm not ashamed of having a stash necessarily, but the reasons why I got it in the first place. I was using shopping as a way to cope with my emotions, so it wasn't healthy for me! That was what I was hoping to get across. 💕 I've actually been gifting my extra stationery to friends and family, but I still have too much. 🥺

[@AutobotProwler]

Having blanks are great. Don't fret.

[@danielerichard3619]

I am also a lover of note books. I've stop counting. I don't buy specific names. If I like the cover or on special I go for it. Often they come in 3 in a package. I use them more for collage. Not so much for journaling. I'm also a paper lover since I was younger. I'm a grandmother now. The word for paper lover is ""PAPYROPHILLIAC"". I'm happy to know that I'm not the only one. TFS.

[@katsmith8263]

1:33 oh, don't worry, you could always give them away or give them to your kids or your relatives' kids

[@mavywavy801]

I tend to buy regular comp books a lot and never used them so when my family needs one I’ll give them a few so they can save their money lmao. Makes me feel good.

[@spellboundnotes]

Yes, I let my family go through my stash too! 😆

[@pamjournalcreate]

Thanks for sharing, its a brave thing to do, i wouldn’t dare to even count all my empty notebooks 😂😂, i do have a problem, although like you this year i want to me more mindful and work on finishing some books. Although last year i finished like 15 or 20 journals and inserts so i am hopeful, but I JUST HAVE TO STOP BUYING JOURNALS 😂😂😂.

[@spellboundnotes]

Haha it's the buying that gets me too! It's so easy to buy a new notebook, but much harder to fill them up!

[@user-bl2ch3yb4f]

I have over 200 unused notebooks. My obsession continues to take over me.

[@spellboundnotes]

I totally get it. Pretty notebooks are so hard to resist!

[@paperwormscat9760]

Okay, I have an idea. What if you set up a piggy bank. You add 1-2 Dollars everytime you finish one notebook from your stash, until they are all used up. And then, you will have 76 to 140 dollars to shopping and buy fresh and new ones. Using this as a goal and a reward.

[@spellboundnotes]

That is a great idea! 💕

[@traceythibault4946]

I have so many Blank notebook's and I am looking forward to writing in them 📓🖋❤️💜💖💗💕💞 I can't believe I have about 200 notebook's I most be crazy that I have that many notebook's I been getting my notebook's from both Walmart and dollarama.

[@cerealnana]

I am right there with you, but feel like I might have more! If you count my 10 packs of loose A4 O. G. Tomoe RIVER that I make TN inserts out of it will be pretty horrendous. Do you plan on making periodic updates? Have you thought about selling some? Not that I am buying!

[@spellboundnotes]

Hi! Yes, I plan on making quarterly updates! I've already destashed the notebooks I'm willing to let go, so I'm gonna be gradually working on current stash for the time being. 😅

[@septemtriofilia]

My friend have the same problem but with to do list and planner to dos... I don't know how to help her

[@spellboundnotes]

I'm sorry to hear that. 🥺 I think the best you can do is just be there for her.

[@PensandPaint]

Where did you get the Hobonichi Week style with just grid paper only notebooks at? Great video.

[@spellboundnotes]

I bought them on Aliexpress! If you search up "Kinbor weekly grid notebook," they should come up! 💕

[@PensandPaint]

Thank you 🙏🏽.

[@makaela9391]

Please do an update, would love to see how many you used since this video and if you bought any since then

[@spellboundnotes]

I have a playlist for all my updates called Zero Stash Journey. 💕💕

[@summerpurple]

I'm stacking up more than 10 hobonichi notebooks as I heard they would change the new TRP. I can't even think about using them right now, in case, to ready something special that is coming up. You are not alone. 😂

[@spellboundnotes]

Haha I totally understand, especially when the original TRP is going away! 😭 I'm trying hard not to keep stocking up lol.

[@jessplansandwrites]

Thanks for sharing! I think you needn’t be ashamed of your notebook stash, especially since you are someone who does quite a bit of journalling over the course of a year and will likely use them up eventually. That said, I understand why you don‘t feel good about your nine Notebook Therapy notebooks in particular. There was definitely a phase a few years ago when I made unreasonable purchases, especially of blank notebooks with pretty covers. I don‘t use blank notebooks. Lined-can do; dotted-alright; grid-YES please! But blank? I mean, as a ConHon-yes. But that doesn‘t warrant buying more than two blank notebooks *in total*, and I definitely have more. I still buy nice notebooks with good quality paper if they are gridded (especially if the grid is about 4 mm, which is my zen space), and I don‘t mind having a stash of unused notebooks. BUT (and that’s the issue) it has to be a stash of notebooks I can reasonably assume myself to actually use! That wasn‘t always the case with notebooks I bought, unfortunately.

[@spellboundnotes]

Thanks so much for watching as always! 💕💕 I remember you being here for my very first project pan video. 💕I definitely want to get back to a reasonable number! I really went overboard!

[@MrsG93]

I think we all do I have a box too.. but I'll count it

[@spellboundnotes]

I'd love to know your stash number too! 😆

[@mamahnita]

You can sell the ones you can part with.

[@ajwspjs2]

Therapy in a nutshell on youtube has an interesting video on "cognitive dissonnance" you may find interesting to help with the notebook situation. I have way more notebooks than you and when I watched her video...I realized the notebook situation was the fallout/result of cognitive dissonnance. There were a few more I saw that could contribute, so I am off to watch. Thank you for posting this.

[@spellboundnotes]

I will check them out, thank you! I actually follow another therapist channel on here, Healthy Gamer GG. He's aimed towards a different demographic, but I find his advice resonates with me too!

[@lillianlugo6244]

we are a sister community so we understand

[@maggie5280]

I’m close to your number

[@spellboundnotes]

Lots of people seem to be around the 70+ mark too!

[@kiwichick1380]

Hi from New Zealand. You are not alone. I have hundreds of journals to use yet I still buy more. If you enjoy watching journal collection videos, please check out my ones. This year my mission is to use as many of my a4 journals as possible. I did attempt a no buy year this year but I've failed miserably with that😂.

[@spellboundnotes]

I'll check your videos out! 💕 Notebooks are so hard to resist for me, I totally understand!

[@katsmith8263]

0:10 really?!? Are you ashamed of having blank notebooks?

[@pocketfullofponder]

I think she means she is ashamed of the reason behind how she got to that many notebooks. 💖

[@agustinamei6691]

I hope you're doing well ❤️‍🩹

[@voidmynk159]

This is such a mood, I have so many blank notebooks ( most of them of the same brand cause I’m very specific) I have like…120…🫣

[@angelpersephone377]

This was me for a long time.. not quite as many but enough to make me uncomfortable. I ended up giving many away or just using them for scrap notes. The problem was I was such a perfectionist I was too scared to write in the notebooks in case I messed up or my handwriting wasn’t nice. Using them for random scrap notes took the pressure off so I was able to use them. Right now struggling with a planner which has a bunch of sticky notes in it but no actual pen marks yet in case I mess up 😩 (it’s a spring start planner, not Jan).