Planning 101: Beginner Planner Supplies — What You Actually Need ✨

Hey lovely, welcome back to the Planning 101 series here on Planner Princess 💜

Today we’re talking about one of the most exciting parts of getting into planning…

✨ Planner supplies ✨

If you’ve spent any time on Pinterest or TikTok, you’ve probably seen giant stationery collections filled with:

Hundreds of stickers
Endless washi tape
Luxury pens
Decorative dashboards
Massive marker sets
Drawers full of cute supplies

And while those collections can be beautiful and inspiring…

I want you to know something important before we begin:

You do NOT need a huge stationery collection to be a “real” planner girl.

You can start with the absolute basics and still create beautiful, cozy, functional planning systems.

Today we’re breaking down:

What supplies beginners actually need
What’s optional
What’s worth investing in
And how to avoid overwhelm when starting your collection

Let’s make planning feel fun — not expensive 💕

The Truth About Planner Supplies

The planner community can sometimes make it feel like you need:

Perfect handwriting
Aesthetic collections
Expensive tools
Matching accessories

But honestly?

The best supplies are simply the ones that make you excited to plan.

That’s it.

Cute supplies can absolutely make planning feel more motivating and comforting — but you never need to pressure yourself to buy everything immediately.

Your collection can grow slowly over time.

The Beginner Essentials

If you’re just starting, here’s what you actually need:

1. A Planner or Notebook

The most important supply.

This could be:

A spiral planner
Ring planner
Bullet journal
Printable inserts
Even a simple notebook

You do not need the “perfect” planner to begin.

Start with what feels approachable and exciting.

2. Pens You Enjoy Writing With

Good pens genuinely make a difference.

Try:

Black gel pens
Soft pastel pens
Fine liners
Colourful pens for headings

You don’t need 100 colours.
Even 2–3 pens you genuinely enjoy using is enough.

3. Sticky Notes

Sticky notes are underrated planner essentials.

They’re perfect for:

Temporary reminders
Moving tasks around
Brain dumps
Cute decoration
Quick lists

Bonus points if they’re pastel or kawaii themed ✨

4. Highlighters or Mildliners

These help:

Colour code tasks
Highlight priorities
Create visual organisation
Add soft colour to spreads

Soft pastel highlighters work beautifully for kawaii planning because they feel calming rather than harsh.

5. Stickers (Optional but Fun)

Do you need stickers?

No.

Do they make planning feel magical?

Absolutely.

Stickers can:

Motivate you to use your planner
Add personality
Mark important events
Make routines feel more enjoyable

Start small with:

Functional stickers
Cute icons
Pastel themes
Seasonal sheets

You don’t need giant sticker books immediately.

6. Washi Tape

Washi tape is decorative paper tape often used in kawaii and journaling communities.

People use it for:

Borders
Dividers
Decoration
Layering spreads
Creating themes

It’s completely optional…
…but very addictive once you start collecting it.

You’ve been warned 💜

Supplies You DON’T Need Immediately

This part matters.

You do NOT need:

Expensive luxury planners
Huge marker collections
Every trending product
Fancy printers
Acrylic storage drawers
Rare imported stationery
Perfect Pinterest spreads

Start simple.

Seriously.

Many experienced planners still use basic setups.

Build Your Collection Slowly

One of the nicest parts of planning is slowly building a collection that reflects your personality.

Maybe over time you’ll collect:

Seasonal stickers
Cute dashboards
Character stationery
Kawaii memo pads
Decorative clips
Printable inserts
Pastel pens
Cozy accessories

But there’s no rush.

Planning should feel joyful, not financially stressful.

Budget-Friendly Planning Tips

You can create adorable spreads on a budget.

Try:

Printing free planner pages
Using affordable stationery sets
Shopping seasonal sales
Reusing supplies creatively
Starting with only a few core items

Some of the cutest planners come from creativity — not expensive collections.

Kawaii Planning Starter Palette

For the Planner Princess aesthetic, think:

Blush pink
Mint green
Lilac
Cream
Soft peach
White accents

This colour palette instantly creates a cozy, feminine, kawaii vibe.

You can build your supplies around these colours over time for a more cohesive look.

Beginner Supply Checklist ✨

If you want the simplest possible starter setup:

✔ Planner or notebook
✔ 2–3 pens
✔ Sticky notes
✔ Mildliners/highlighters
✔ A few stickers
✔ Optional washi tape

That’s genuinely enough to begin.

Planning Is About the Feeling

At the end of the day, planner supplies are tools.

The real magic comes from:

Creating routines
Organising your thoughts
Building habits
Supporting your goals
Making space for creativity

Cute supplies simply help make the process feel softer and more enjoyable.

And honestly?
That matters more than people realise.

Final Thoughts

You do not need a perfect collection before you’re “allowed” to start planning.

You can begin today with:

One notebook
One pen
One small step forward

Your planner journey will naturally grow over time.

And the best part?
Your style will slowly become uniquely yours 💜

In the next Planning 101 post, we’ll talk about:
✨ How to create your very first weekly planner spread!

Planning 101: Beginner Planner Supplies – What You Actually Need