Contributed by Info Guru Lindsay Shugerman

For some of us, the choice of this year’s planner has always been a big deal. But over the past couple of years, a multitude of self-proclaimed planner addicts has sprung up online. Pinterest boards, Facebook pages and even entire blogs now offer planner fans advice on which ones to choose, and how to decorate them.

And the New Year is prime time for lovers of all things planner. It means an excuse to look for a new planner, or to stock up on planner accessories and embellishments. Whether you’re shopping for yourself, or are looking for a gift for the planner-addicted in your life, here are a few must have planner basics and goodies you won’t want to miss.

Planner Refills

Keep the pretty cover, replace the inside

Yes, I know, it’s not the cool, fun side of planners. But if you’re like me and you have a planner cover you absolutely LOVE, finding a new planner insert is your number on priority as the old one gets towards the end. I personally love the Franklin Planner refills I get. An office supply store is a great source for a bunch of different brands, in multiple sizes and I can usually order online and pick up in store.

Washi Tape

Little rolls of color and design

There is no such thing as having too much washi tape! At least not when it comes time to do your pretty planning! These little rolls of patterned tapes are a must have for edging pages, blocking off squares or rolling down the vertical lines between dates in a planner. Take a look at the great selection at a scrapbook store, including wonderful sets like this 20-roll beauty!

Stickers and Stamps

Highlight items for prettier spreads

Beautiful stationery supplies are another “yes, I need that!” when it’s time to style my planner pages. Green stickers for soccer practice, gold stickers for kids’ school events, red stickers for work obligations… you see where we are going here. Actually, you really will SEE, because it’s easy to flip through the pages of your planner and spot bright stickers and color-coded labels next to those key events.

Pretty pocket planners

Because sometimes you just can’t carry the big one!

As much as we planner addicts would LOVE to carry our full-sized, decked out planners everywhere, there are going to be times when the big book is just too much. But a plain old note pad just won’t do!

That’s why planner lovers need a second, pocket-sized planner like the ones to jot down those on-the-fly appointments, make a few notes, or scribble a moment of gratitude.

The Organized Bride Wedding Planner

When planner addict meets bride!

If you’re a planner addict AND a bride-to-be, one planner is not going to work for you. Trust me, I did this four years ago…planning a wedding takes a planner all it’s own.

You COULD try to turn a regular planner into a wedding planning book and HOPE you’ll get everything covered. Maybe. Or you could save the stress and just get an Organized Bride planner from Exclusively Weddings. Look at it this way…it’s a chance to get an extra planner to decorate! That’s a plus right there!

Custom stickers

Embellishments that match your life

Lots of planners come with sheets of stickers, but if you’re anything like me most of them are useless to you. (Who goes to THAT many parties???) Thank goodness there’s a simple way to have the stickers you need for your planner, without all that waste. Custom sticker printers will let you upload your art work or text, and order the right stickers in the right sizes for your planner with no fuss and no waste. (And in many sizes, you can order as few as 50!)

The perfect pen

Sometimes, school supplies just aren’t good enough

For planner-lovers, it’s more than just an appointment book or a calendar. A planner is a work of art in progress. So it only makes sense that a pretty planner needs a pen worthy of all that investment of time and creativity. I like using a fountain pen in mine, but any of the fine pens from a specialty stationery store or fine jeweler would work as an inspiration for a planner masterpiece.