My love/hate relationship with the Hobonichi Cousin

[@tanyarodgers472]

I tried Hobonichi and it was too "maximalist" for me. A lot of silly features I would never use, but the notion of getting a blank notebook and doing all the hard work myself is too daunting and I absolutely know myself well enough to say I would not keep up with it for long. This year I'm trying out the Wonderland222 because it has my weeklies, it has some trackers that I may or may not use, and it has 70-80 daily pages in the back, which is probably enough because I'm not a daily planner kind of gal. This may STILL be too much, but aside from a ring binder where I only add exactly what I want, I think this may be the best fit. I appreciate Hobonichi for teaching me what doesn't work for me, though.

[@Rosyrespark]

Agree with the maximalist feel to hobo! I’m getting a lot of comments on Wonderland! Do they have many versions like the hobo too?

[@tanyarodgers472]

@Rosyrespark They offer weekly planners in A6, B6 and A5. You can get a big planner with daily pages, or buy a second notebook for dailies.

[@makeupminx6103]

Ugh yes! I am having a love-hate relationship with my Hobonichi cousin. My favorite thing about the Hobonichi is the crinkliness of the paper. Flipping through the pages with the sound and feeling of the crinkliness is so satisfying. The second thing I love is the weeks layout and the tracker layout. I appreciate it has more pronounced lines, which I missed when I tried the Sterling Ink. What I don't like about the cousin are all of the daily pages! I will use 50 pages a year max for notes but then the rest are blank and it feels like a waste! Not to mention it add unnecessary bulk! For this upcoming year (2025) I got both a Hobo Cousin and Wonderland222. If the W222 doesn't work for me I can fall back on my Hobo knowing that it still works for me.

[@Rosyrespark]

Yes the crinkliness! I think that’s why I love doing journaling on their planner. I think I heard Catherine mention the font colors are a little darker this year? I don’t know for sure bc this is my first year with it so don’t have previous versions to compare myself. I’ve been getting a few comments on wonderland. Do they have many versions like hobo?

[@designingliefde]

Same, so I went with the Sterling Ink 🙈 and now I am worried I will miss Hobonichi 🥲😂

[@Rosyrespark]

@@designingliefde haha! Ok confession I got the cousin for 2025 too 😬

[@designingliefde]

@@Rosyrespark 😂 I might do the same 😅

[@anya425]

I loved how you compared the cousin to an ex who promises to change...

[@Rosyrespark]

haha it's so true though isn't it for us planners? I feel like we all have that one planner we just adore, but can't seem to get to work

[@anya425]

@Rosyrespark and for me, that would be the hobonichi cousin.

[@sarahjoygallegos]

I really wish these journals would just be templates for weeks and days... instead of having a real date added to the top. For example, a bunch of "day" pages where you can just add your own date!

[@mollymollie6048]

Sterling Ink makes an undated planner that’s a Hobonichi Dupe. She also sells sticker packs if you want stickers for every date.

[@mollymollie6048]

Sorry, you can get the all the sizes of it with the months and weeklies dated and then either a compact version with 150 blank pages or 365 blank pages. I have one in the A6 and I’m also getting an A5. I had a Hobo Cousin last year and I didn’t like the day dated every single day, either.

[@sarahjoygallegos]

@@mollymollie6048 oh wow, checking this out now... which one on the website is the Hobonichi dupe? I'm super interested in this beautiful paper!

[@mollymollie6048]

@@sarahjoygallegos The N1 or N2 is the Hobo Weeks dupe (one of the is Traveler’s Company size, the website should say, or her videos of the releases and they’re all timestamped.) The B6 would be the size of the original Hobo Techo and the A5 Common Planner is the same as the Cousin (she also splits it into two if you want.) The A5 Dated (Tweed Color) has one day per page with the date printed on the page. Anything that says “Compact” has fewer blank pages. She also offers most in either Vertical for the weekly layout (like the Techo and Cousin) or Horizontal (like the Weeks.) She’s a small business so she’s only able to offer certain colors in certain sizes. Free shipping to the US over $30? (Maybe $50.) I hope you enjoy!!! Her videos show a detail of every layout in every size if you want to see and compare.

[@rozannalichnock1784]

For my part, I can’t do a journal without dates. It keeps me disciplined and forces me to write daily. Non dated planners are not for me

[@flygirl2447]

Thanks for the honest video. You have perfectionist tendencies like me:) I tried the Hobo Cousin for a hot minute and it was dislike/hate for me from the start. I hated the preprinted colors, I hated the thinness of the paper, and the fact that it wasn't bright white. I hated the fact that it’s dated. I hated the shadowing and the fact that I couldn't stamp in it or add anything the least bit bulky to the pages, and the fact that it is bound. You’d think I didnt do any research about this planner before I bought it! But I really did. I saw people across YT make magic happen in theirs! I was torn but decided it’s worth a try. I have learned alot about myself in the many years I’ve been planning. That was the last attempt to make a bound book work as my everyday. I’m a rings/disc girl. Moving forward I am only spending money on undated inserts that I can remove, write on on a flat surface, stamp on til my heart’s content and re-arrange whenever /however I want. I can also throw them away without guilt if I make a huge mistake that can’t be fixed with minimal effort. No pressure if I miss a day because there won’t be a bound blank page (or 10) in a book staring at me whenever I open it, reminding me that I failed planning that (those) day(s). It’s a process. We all need to find what works for us. That’s the closest I can hope to get to planner peace.

[@Rosyrespark]

Thank you for watching! So funny when you say “you’d think I didn’t do any research” bc I felt that way about the hobo weeks 🤣 I’ve never tried the discs/rings before but you make a really good point. That if I mess up I can toss it out and you really can’t do that with bound planners.

[@javapick]

I get the love/hate, but I'm more on the love side of my Hobo Cousin right now. I totally get the paper thickness thing about the Passion Planner. I used my "PP" for a year and let it go. There was just so much in there that I didn't use. The prompts! Ugh! Don't tell me what to think about! The way I get around the thin paper in my weekly Hobo section is that the areas I want to color block, I use sticker paper and just print out color blocks. Typically, I use full sheet sticker paper, but when I'm desperate and not wanting to buy anymore sticker paper, I use my ridiculously large stash of address labels. As for the full-page dailies, when I don't have anything to say, that day becomes a memory keeper page and I slap down a bunch of photos. It's fast and leaves my page full. Boom. OR . . . I write out quotes. OR . . . I use some of those stupid journaling prompts: "What's your ideal cake flavor?" Really? So dumb. Personally, I hate undated pages. Because when I DO want to journal my days, the last thing I want to do is have to put down a bunch of dates. And LOL! I have so many of those big old honking stickers!!! And the daily pages are exactly where I've finally started putting them! I like the way the Hobo pages feel . . . that crinkly feeling and sound. The "Ex." Hahahahahaha!!!!! I know what you mean about other planner people touting their perfectly decorated and laid out pages. I applaud them and wish I could be one of them. But my issue isn't so much their layouts; my issue is penmanship envy. My penmanship is absolute crap. Even if I go really slow and try my darndest to stay within the lines - it still looks like chicken scratch.

[@Rosyrespark]

Yes about the passion planner! I loved how structured it was as a first planner but then I’m like no I’m not doing these sections anymore and wished they’d have a minimal version without all that fluff. And the undated pages.. I was even going to get dated stickers on Amazon or from Sterling ink bc I feel the same way. I like seeing it look consistent 😅

[@anya425]

I love your comment!

[@anya425]

I love the hobonichi cousin but really struggle to write neatly on that paper. I am thinking about a weeks this year, because it is so beautiful. I would use it as a fitness planner.

[@Rosyrespark]

I love the design of the weeks. I really wish the cousin would come out with them then I'd be hooked on them for sure haha.

[@darlab.702]

So funny. I am exactly like you. I use the passion planner and Hobonichi cousin. 😊

[@Rosyrespark]

Thank you for watching! Is your 2025 line up going to stay as cousin and pp?

[@mollymollie6048]

I think the Tombow pens tend to ‘spread’ on the TRP so you don’t get the squared off box with them. Mildliners don’t do that as much. Maybe get a few different types of highlighters (or watch a test video) to see which ones might work better.

[@Rosyrespark]

O is that why?? Something about it just never feels as crisp when I do blocks the way it does on passion planner!

[@mollymollie6048]

@@Rosyrespark It’s something I’ve noticed when other people have done spreads with the Tombows on the TRP (maybe it didn’t on the old version but does on the new, idk, I have no Tombows, lol.) But, I don’t have that problem with Mildliners and the boxes stay nice and square (yes, I was that kid that had to color exactly in the lines…I get the whole wanting it to be where it’s supposed to be.)

[@ChanelthePomston]

I share the same feelings. I even tried the common planner, and as you mentioned without the days written I'm not wanting to journal. I've had my common planner for over 7 months, not one entery. Despite all my issues, I still go back to Hobonichi. But I'm taking inspiration from Lindsay Scribbles and using my Cousin as an "Archived" planner (one planner to keep). I'm using my common planner as my scribble messy planner (toss out end of the year). On my down time in the evenings I'll back plan what information to keep in my archived. It is a bit of work but I don't mind and it relaxes me, I'll have tv on in the background and make my archived look pretty and yes I'm making more of an effort to finally use my stickers as well

[@InksAndPonderings]

I’m trying the common planner this year. What worries me is the undated pages…I worry that I won’t be able to keep up with daily journaling. I’m excited to use it, though. But if February rolls around and I’m having a hard time, then I’ll probably purchase a Cousin.

[@ChanelthePomston]

@InksAndPonderings It doesn't hurt to try it out. I do like the common planner, the new sizes and simplicity of her layouts 👌. I wanted the N1 and N2 for other planner needs, but my colors are sold out. I wish you the best and hope it works out.

[@Rosyrespark]

I have already got into my 2025 Common Planner and keep it on my work desk. So far it's been helping for me to journal throughout the day because it's literally sitting in front of me for 8ish hours haha

[@nolagirlplans]

The ending 😂 ME!!! 😅

[@Rosyrespark]

hahaha I couldn't help myself. Wish us luck 😊

[@dawnyWestScotland]

Excited for my Hobonichi 2025 to arrive ☀️

[@Rosyrespark]

I can’t wait to get into it 🤗

[@vanessasmith9646]

It’s definitely pronounced with the “ch” sound:) … I wonder if you would like the Papertess planner

[@Rosyrespark]

Haha thank you! I am still learning ❤

[@vanessasmith9646]

@@Rosyrespark you are good❤️

[@InksAndPonderings]

I think I would be fine if I JUST have the Cousin. But I can’t give up my Weeks and I also have an A6 Techo and I’m just repeating information on three different planners- which is exhausting on some days. For 2025, I won’t be getting a cousin (I hope! Lol).

[@Rosyrespark]

haha good luck! it's always the one I couldn't stop thinking about so I am going to really give it a go for 2025. I was so tempted to get the A6 techo bc it's the weeklies in the cousin that give me stress anyway. But I felt like the A6 was a tad too small for me

[@nadineF]

❤

[@OTommy81]

I don’t know why people just don’t go and buy a blank notebook and make it their own. This is a planner, doesn’t work if you have nothing going on with your life

[@Rosyrespark]

Hm I think it's because a lot of people don't want to create a planner from scratch? And also a fun hobby

[@OTommy81]

@@RosyresparkSo they buy an expensive one that doesn’t work for their needs and complain? 😂