Stationary or office supplies under $20. What are your favorite pens, pencils, papers, filing systems, planners, etc?

Question

Daniel Garcia · Answer

.7 mm Zebra Pens F-301: These are my go-to office and journaling pen. Its the best writing experience and fits for small writers

Jess · Answer

Erasable pens: Muji has the best when it comes to fine point pens (.5mm), but these Pilot brand are easy to find at many stores and lots of color availability.

Lisa · Answer

Campus Notebooks: Great paper and also cheap.

Katieee · Answer

Five Star 150ct Fashion Journal Soft Petals: I am a paper snob. The paper in this cheap target notebook is everything to me. Super thin but not see through. The notebook lays flat. Can cleanly tear pages. It’s my favorite work notebook since it’s so cheap and I don’t care what my work notebooks look like.

Mari · Answer

Lifelines Scented Lava Pen 5-Pack - Brights: The ink is scented & watching the oil drift around is mesmerizing.

Emilie Bienvenew · Answer

Papier Tigre stationery: This Parisian stationery shop has incredible design and best quality for a reasonable price - you can also shop online (but if in Paris, go check their lovely store)

Spend time browsing through their website : notebooks, diaries and other accessories - it's hard to choose (my extra tip: great shop for presents also !)

janjira · Answer

Velos Metal Pen Case - Flat: my favorite pen case– fits about four pens, an eraser, a bunch of page flags, and my worry stone :)

Vivian · Answer

uni-ball signo dx 0.38 in black: so smooth.  my handwriting always looks neat—refillable. I’ve been using these pens since middle school

Clara · Answer

Muji’s Grid Sticky Memo Pad: I really love these large-scale gridded sticky notes from Muji. I find them large enough to include a full-on to-do list (some smaller pads are too short to have every item on a single sheet), and the grids themselves are easy to convert to checkboxes.

laure albouy · Answer

big big fan of all things penco: and their website is just 🤌

Leanne Citrone · Answer

Gel Ink Ballpoint Pen 10 Piece Set: Never found a better pen 🖊️

Valerie · Answer

I’m completely smitten with this affordable cartridge fountain pen.: I like being able to see how much ink is left in my cartridge and it’s such a comfortable pen to use (daily!).

AT · Answer

Blackwing Pencils & Sharpener: These pencils are great quality and feel good in your hand. The eraser extends up for longer life. The starter pack is a great way to figure out what firmness you are most comfortable with which seemed excessive at first but once you try them all there will be a clear winner.

imo they look very professional for those that prefer pencils over pens.

Their sharpener is also worth it. I held out originally thinking it wasn’t necessary but decided to go for it after my cheap one was destroying the tip more than sharpening. It’s a smooth, fast sharpener that requires minimal effort.

Sharon · Answer

Hahnemühle Sketch & Note Booklet - Cerise/Paprika - A6: These little sketchbooks are an absolute steal at two for $6! I originally switched to them from leather Moleskines—which are gorgeous, but at $30 a pop, just too expensive for everyday sketching. More importantly, using an inexpensive book means I don't feel the need to be precious about it. If I make a mistake, who cares? It keeps the focus entirely on the drawing itself, rather than stressing over perfection.

Christina Simon · Answer

jetpens.com: This website has every paper and every pen and every tape and eraser and pencil you would ever want. They teach you about each product, they show you how ink reads on certain papers so you can dial it all in just right. Watch the videos- dive deep and let them help you find out who your pen really is.

kelsey · Answer

Zebra Pen Mildliner Assorted Colors Dual Tip Highlighter Set (15-Pk): I use these in my planner day-to-day more than my fancy Tombow markers. You can find them in a lot of different size and color combos!

Melanie Bell · Answer

Sunflowers Decomposition Book: Lined and spiral notebooks from Decomposition are THE BEST. Must be spiral. Must be lined.

amy groome | mid-flight · Answer

Signo DX Gel Ink Pen | Uni-ball: To be very specific, it's the .38 Uni-ball Signo DX UM-151 Gel Ink in Blue-Black (navy) ink.

I know .38 is not for everyone, but architects, for one, will like.

Pair with navy Leuchtturm 1917 B5 softcover notebook with dotted pages (see rec) for analog list-making and note-taking to your heart's content.

Megan Huntz · Answer

MUJI USA: They have the best notebooks, sketchbooks and pens! Best design for the best price.

Daniel Day-Louis-Dreyfus · Answer

Notebooks by And Here We Are: I adore pretty notebooks, but I’m also a perfectionist 😣 — most of my notebooks stay blank as I wait for the mythical day when I have something worth writing AND saving. Not so with And Here We Are’s letterpress notebooks. The patterns are so charming that I reach for them non-stop. I’m currently keeping to-do lists in the small spiral 🫐 notebook. Once, a delivery company marked an 🦪 notebook received but it wasn’t in my mailbox. Founder Meghan Hopkins Sorokai immediately sent a replacement from her Ohio studio, no questions asked ✨

Sarah · Answer

Uni-ball Jetstream 3-Color Ballpoint Pen: My favorite every day pen - 3 pens in one! Blue ink for my work to-dos, black ink for my life to-dos, red ink for crossing off the boxes when tasks are done (immeasurably satisfying to do this in its own color)

Haley James · Answer

Ticonderoga Pre-Sharpened Black Pencils: I pretty much exclusively use pencils unless I'm writing a card. I keep a pencil in my laptop bag (and a lil sharpener), my car, whatever book I'm reading, etc. I love that these are available in black (for aesthetic purposes). I love pencils. I know there are fancier. These work just fine.

Whitney · Answer

Daily planner: This one is so easy and actually helps get me together.

Jules · Answer

Pilot Frixion Ball Slim Biz Black Ink Pen: It’s so beautifully slim, perfect for writing and drawing and the erasing actually works unlike many other erasable pens that leave marks or damage paper. Also come in multi packs with plastic case but this metal one feels more elegant and elevated.

Emily · Answer

The Paper Bar at The Paper Source: Although I will always go to my local stationer for ~nice~ or ~special occasion~ stationery, I like mixing & matching colors of A2 flat cards and envelopes for everyday use.

Melinda · Answer

MUJI Gel Ink Pens: I get these in blue-black by the fistful. The perfect rollerball.

rory · Answer

MD Notebook: my favorite

Susan Brinson · Answer

My little shop: I’m a stationery love and have some items in our shop. Adding a lot more and leather journal kits for the holidays.

travis duong · Answer

zebra sarasas in the vintage colorways: the dreamiest colors!! slide across paper like a breeze and dry immediately. great for annotating and note taking. i always keep em in my purse.

Maribeth · Answer

A secret stash of Field Notes notebooks: Perfect little notebooks in a joyful mix of colors, prints, typically ruled and 48 pages. My husband and I have drawers full of them (oops!) and I have about 4 going at all times. Some for lists, some for medical notes, some for musings, some for doodles, some tucked away in purses I haven’t used in months for me to find next time around and continue where I left off. Great for gifts.

Xavier · Answer

Zebra F-301 Retractable Ballpoint Pens: Quite possibly one of the best pens I’ve ever used.

Space Camp · Answer

Vintage MCM Chrome Mail Holder: Don't let mail pile up on your desk. File it in this handy spiral holder until you have time to get around to it.

Gloria · Answer

Moleskine cahier journals: They come in lots of sizes (I use the pocket and the XL personally) and they also come in blank and ruled pages (I like plain because it gives you freedom). I've been using them for ten years now and will never change.

Zoe · Answer

MUJI grey highlighter: a grey highlighter??? a grey highlighter. if you get it you get it.

Dylan · Answer

The Cutest Desk Memopads: make mundane tasks more fun with these cute memo pads!

Dylan · Answer

Vintage Plastic Pink Tube Tidy Pen Holder: the perfect playful piece to put on your desk!