This post contains the best budget-friendly journal supplies that will motivate you to journal.

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For most of my journaling experience, I was balling on a budget (and truthfully, I still am). I didn’t want to spend a crazy amount of money on journal supplies.

I went through the stage of “if I go out and buy the perfect journal, the perfect markers that everyone uses, etc. it will solve all my problems, cure my mental illnesses” and all that good stuff. Healthy right? Obviously, that did not happen.

It’s easy for journaling supplies to become an expensive investment. You’re unsure of what to get, get tempted by the shiny pretty stuff, and easily overbuy and have way more supplies than you actually need.

Daily Reflection Journal Prompts to Be Your Best Self Everyday

You don’t need expensive and fancy journal supplies to successfully journal.

You deserve to successfully journal and better your mental health regardless of the supplies you have.

That is why I have compiled my 4 tried and true journal supplies. They are a great place to start, not overspend on unnecessary supplies, and still get in touch with your creative side.

Being creative and art therapy can do wonders for your mental health. Even something as simple as coloring or doodling. I’m creative, but not exactly artistic. These 4 journal supplies are perfect for that because they’re simple and look pretty, without having to put in a crazy amount of effort to make your journal yours.

There were a few products I got in the past that weren’t my favorite (and usually more expensive than what I wanted to spend), but through trial and error, I found some of my favorites that I still use to this day.

I prefer to journal in a physical journal on paper. There’s just something wonderful about writing on paper. Plus, after looking at screens all day and the many distractions they can provide, writing on paper is a good break and helps me focus on what I’m writing about.

However, I do have a journal on my Google Drive for when I feel like typing my thoughts out (very helpful for when you need to get your anger out by typing).

My point, try out different mediums to journal and pick what is best for you! And you can have as many journals as you want.

Constructive Self-Care Journal Prompts to Better Your Self-Care Practices

When I need a simple creative outlet, I will decorate pages in my journal so that way I don’t have to worry about it the day when I’m writing the journal entry. When I’m feeling anxious or depressed, that can be overwhelming. Now, when I open my journal to the next available page, it’s almost like a nice little surprise or gift I’ve left for myself. It makes me smile and excited to choose a pen color that matches the theme of that page and write to my heart’s content.

And I want that exact feeling for you!

I want you to feel comfortable, excited, and have a sense of freedom when you journal. With these four journal supplies, I know you’ll accomplish that.

I consider my main journal a birthday gift from a close friend, so I’m not sure how much it cost, though it is the Greenroom brand I usually see at Target. Now that I think about it, my favorite pens I use were also a birthday gift a year later from my boyfriend.

Unexpected budget-friendly bonus tip: ask for journaling supplies as gifts

Self-Love Playlists to Listen to While You Journal:

**Calm Playlists from the Adventures of Self-Love Spotify to Listen to While You Journal:**

Nature Sounds ⛈️🌊☔🌄🌈 Playlist

Calming Instrumental Music 🎼🎹🎻 Playlist

The 4 Best Budget-Friendly Journal Supplies

The Best Self-Love Journal Prompts for Self-Discovery and Self-Compassion

The 4 Best Tips for Journaling as an Anxious Perfectionist

The Greatest Matcha Latte You Can Make At Home is perfect for sipping on while you journal!

#1: Felt Tip Pens

This might be more of a personal preference, but I love the way these pens feel when I’m writing in my journal. Plus, I love the variety of colors.

The brand I got for my birthday gift about 3 years ago from my boyfriend is iBayam Fineliner Pens which comes in 18 colors. He got them off Amazon, and I still use them and love them to this day. They are a great price and my go-to pens every single time I journal.

They’re also great for traveling. The pens and packaging are slim and easy to fit into a purse or backpack for when traveling, at a coffee shop, sitting outside at a park, or wherever your heart wants to journal.

Daily Reflection Journal Prompts to Be Your Best Self Everyday

#2: Super Tips Markers from Crayola

I bought these Super Tips Markers from Crayola four years ago, and they’re still fabulous, going strong, and affordable! I have the 20-pack.

They have a variety of colors and a great ink quality that does not bleed through the pages of a journal or notebook.

On rare occasions, I’ll want more variety of colors, but for the most part, they have served me just fine. They have larger packs of markers if that’s something you’re interested in!

I tried other “upscale” brands a few years ago that were more expensive, but through trial and error, I found that these were still my favorite, and my go-to markers to this day.

Here is an upbeat self-love playlist to journal too!

Constructive Self-Care Journal Prompts to Better Your Self-Care Practices

#3: Stickers

Being an anxious perfectionist, stickers are a great way to decorate my journal because they look cute, are low effort, and can be cost-effective if I want them to be (Here are some of my tips for journaling as an anxious perfectionist.)

Most of my stickers are from Dollar Tree or dollar sections from stores, old planners with stickers in them, or gifts from people. Needless to say, you do not need to break the bank for stickers if you don’t want to. Also, the beauty of stickers, they last forever.

Here is how I used some of the stickers from the coloring book stickers. I colored them in and added the blue waves with my Super Tips Markers from Crayola.

This year for Valentine’s Day, my boyfriend got me a sticker book that doubles as a coloring book. It’s the best of both worlds because it allows me to have cute doodle-type designs while coloring them with the color scheme of my choice. It’s been a game-changer for me! Here is a cute sticker coloring book option from Amazon! Good bang for your buck in my humble opinion. They are an absolute NEED for you and your journal. Here are some other great options from Amazon, as well!

#4: Washi Tape

I’ve recently gotten into using washi tape again for journaling.

I go through stages of using it because sometimes I’m not sure how I want to use it. But a month or so ago, I was shopping with my mom and found a cute pack of washi tape that was on sale for like $5 for a pack of 6. I wasn’t sure about getting it, but I’m so glad I did because I love the designs, and it’s a quick way to decorate a journal page.

Plus, the perfectionist in me loves how it looks, instead of me trying to draw it myself. And just like stickers, it lasts forever! So if you go through different phases, you can always come back to it and use it again.

Here’s another great washi tape option from Amazon that is SO CUTE! No doubt you’ll love them, endless creative possibilities.

There are a ton of low-cost options for washi tape, with a variety of colors, sizes, and designs. Sometimes craft stores or stores like HomeGoods or TJMAxx will have great options too!

And there you have it, my favorite budget-friendly journal supplies.

Everyone deserves to have a journal that they’re happy with and proud of, while also being used as a creative outlet. Journals are a great tool for bettering your mental health. You don’t have to have the most expensive or fanciest journal supplies to successfully journal.

I would not consider myself an artist, so these different journal supplies help make my journaling experience that much easier. The pens and markers make doodling a breeze, and enjoyable, when I’m feeling creative. I would qualify myself as an anxious perfectionist when it comes to journaling. Having stickers and washi tape provides low-effort creativity. Plus, it adds a pop of color to each journal page while still maintaining an aesthetically pleasing journal.

I know that these journaling supplies will help you in your journaling journey. They’re great supplies to start with if you’re new to journaling. Or, these could be a great foundation for any journaling rookie or veteran to have.

Do you have any favorite supplies for journaling? Would you add anything to this list that you can’t journal without? I would love to hear them!