Is a tickler file really needed? Do you use one?

[treelike]

I've never really seen the point of a tickler file, but then I've never tried it so maybe I'm losing out. I just use my trusty electronic diary (well, maybe not so trusty as files can get corrupted....).

If it's something to be done on a certain month then I put a reminder in maybe first of the month and then I can start the ball rolling on a project.

If it's something on a certain day, like the TV sale example, then I'll maybe put a reminder in the day before so that it's in my mind on that day that I want to do it the next day. Arrgh! GTD sacrilege! But, seriously, I think its important to have a rough idea in your head of what events you have planned in the following days so that you can say "no" to people when they want you to do something else less interesting that day.

Also I might possibly put an alarm in the diary on the day of the sale, it actually beeps, in case it does go out of my mind. Quite a lot does these days.....

As for the flyer, what do you need it for? I would extract any info I need from it (time, location) write/type it into the diary and then bin it (the flyer, not the diary).