New years resolutions

[Paul]

Board here and unable to work outside due to the high winds I have Chat GPT to keep me company, sick of trying to convert it from its woke bias. I asked "can you explain to me the history of folk making new years resolutions?" 

The tradition of making New Year's resolutions has ancient roots and can be traced back to various cultures and civilizations. The practice of setting goals or making promises at the beginning of a new year has been a longstanding part of human history. Here's a brief overview:

1. **Babylonians:** One of the earliest recorded instances of New Year's resolutions comes from ancient Babylon around 4,000 years ago. The Babylonians celebrated the new year in mid-March, during the first new moon after the vernal equinox. They would make promises to the gods in hopes of receiving good fortune in the coming year.

2. **Romans:** The tradition of making resolutions continued with the ancient Romans. In 46 B.C., Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar, which moved the start of the new year to January 1st in honor of Janus, the two-faced god who symbolized looking back at the past and forward to the future. Romans would offer sacrifices and make promises of good conduct for the year ahead.

3. **Medieval Christianity:** During the Middle Ages, the Christian church adapted and integrated the tradition of New Year's resolutions. The resolutions were often tied to moral or spiritual goals, with individuals resolving to live a more virtuous life in the coming year.

4. **Watch Night Services:** In the 18th century, a Christian religious service called "Watch Night" became popular on New Year's Eve. It was a time for reflection, prayer, and resolving to lead a better life in the upcoming year. This tradition is still observed by some religious communities today.

5. **Secular Resolutions:** Over time, the tradition of making resolutions became more secular and less tied to religious practices. People began to focus on personal improvement, health, and well-being. Common resolutions include losing weight, quitting smoking, exercising more, and learning new skills.

6. **Modern Day:** Today, making New Year's resolutions is a widespread practice in many cultures around the world. It has become a time for individuals to reflect on their lives, set goals, and make commitments to positive changes. While some people view resolutions as a way to start fresh and make improvements, others may be more skeptical, recognizing the challenges of sticking to resolutions throughout the year.

Regardless of the specific cultural or religious origins, the concept of using the new year as a symbolic fresh start and an opportunity for self-improvement has persisted through the ages.

 

So, what are folks predictions for next year???

• I hope to purchase a bargain priced gold coin here on the forum before @James32
• Keep stacking tins of beans and shunning silver 
• and would like to get the 2oz gold of "whatever" is next in the Great Engravers series at launch, now I'm debt free with the Royal Mint 

Now, over to you and yours  

[silvergaga]

I want to become a better person. I am going to take the cotton wool out of my ears and stuff it into my mouth, for a refreshing change.

Need to listen more and speak less.

My brain needs a training course about control and balance. 

My body needs to be looked after in a better way than I have done in the past.

Would also like to learn how to Love my wife more, now that we have been together for 52 years, England and Scotland in beautiful harmony together. Bliss.

[Bigmarc]

I am banning myself from buying art coins. 

I might try to sell art coins. 

Well that was this year's phase so need something for next year. I am building a patio in the summer so might buy a furnace.

[RoughDog]

To be not a good person.

To wear scruffier clothes.

To miss more opportunities.

To shower less.

😁

[Wilburwombat]

With regards to Precious Metals: Learn more. I only started this journey in October so i've still got a lot to learn but I have come to the right place.

I'd love to buy my first bit of gold, but that may be a more longterm goal!

[Paul]

13 minutes ago, RoughDog said:

To be not a good person.

To wear scruffier clothes.

To miss more opportunities.

To shower less.

😁

You get asked for less and spoken to less when you lose the supposed trappings of success. Being silent is brilliant 

[dicker]

- Buy more high grade Morgans 

- Ditto Sov Shields

- Find and own at least two Sov errors that are not in Marsh

- Visit the sites of the Sydney and Melbourne mints.  
 

Best

Dicker

[AaaGee]

Pay a small debt that i owe on some gold.

Stack hard.

Lose some weight. Havnt seen my feet for over a year now. My day can literally be.... bed,sofa,car,lorry,car,sofa,bed. Not healthy.

[Shinus73]

Sell most of my silver proofs (except for 1 oz Britannias and Monarchs).

End the year with only 10 oz bars and junk silver in my bullion silver stack.

Add to my graded Crowns stack.

Add to my post 1899 MS64 Sovereign stack.

Begin a pre-1900 MS Sovereign stack.

Pick up reasonably priced RM PF70 gold.

Make far fewer impulse whisky and whiskey buys (lots of buyer's remorse in this area lately).

Do my 3-mile run once a week, every week - I forced myself to keep doing this until I was 50 (which I did), but have slacked a little, hurtling towards 51.

Continue to eat a very low carb diet.

 

 

 

[HonestMoneyGoldSilver]

My resolution is to not make any more resolutions. This is one I can actually keep .... or have I already failed?

[Silverlocks]

So, my plan for 2024 involves these goals.

• Buy two or three 1oz gold coins - something from Perth Mint, a 1oz Britannia and maybe a Maple, AGE or Buffalo.
• Average 1oz of gold per month for 2024.
• Add another 150oz or so of silver, probably including more bullion silver rather than collectibles.
• Save £10k worth of fiat.
• Clear the last of the COVID-era tax.

Longer term, there are a few things I'd like to get - 20 and 50 peso coins, a St. Gaudens $20, a couple of Machin doubles (maybe one proof), a manky old '70s krugerrand purchased at no more than 1% over spot, a 2002 quint and/or double, a $5 Indian head, a 2018 Liberty proof, some more LMU coins, some South American gold coins, and maybe a few from the middle east, an owl Tetradrachm in good condition, more nice photogenic 1/4oz and 1/10 oz gold and maybe a 50g cast gold bar.

Edited December 22, 2023 by Silverlocks

[paulmerton]

I'm hoping to get a new laptop. My new year's resolution will be 4K

[Orpster]

My stacking goals for next year:

Couple more pickups for my Young Head G&D date run 
Pick up a couple more plain edge BU SOTD top pops if they come up at the right price
Still want a couple of PF70 privy mark years full sovereigns
Maybe a couple more Viente, none restrike years

Main goal I guess will be to try and get my stack back to what it was (in weight) before I sold off a chunk this year to clear my mortgage

I don't expect to achieve all of it, but if I can tick a couple of I will be happy.  Whether I concentrate on getting my stack weigh back up or try for more bucket list coins will depend on where the market is at I guess.

Edited December 23, 2023 by Orpster

[Fenlander1]

Hi all, my resolutions are keep floating around the canals and enjoy early retirement more exploring new canals and wonderful places this country has to offer.

Keep enjoying my stacking hobby hopefully pick up the last cpl of dates for the 1oz gold brit run I am not doing. 😆 and hopefully add some more nice silver for the treasure chest.

And finally getting to know a few of you chaps and chapesses a little better.

Happy New Year to you all

[SidS]

20 hours ago, RoughDog said:

To be not a good person.

To wear scruffier clothes.

To miss more opportunities.

To shower less.

😁

Challenge accepted. 😁

[VGfine]

5 hours ago, Fenlander1 said:

Hi all, my resolutions are keep floating around the canals and enjoy early retirement more exploring new canals and wonderful places this country has to offer.

Keep enjoying my stacking hobby hopefully pick up the last cpl of dates for the 1oz gold brit run I am not doing. 😆 and hopefully add some more nice silver for the treasure chest.

And finally getting to know a few of you chaps and chapesses a little better.

Happy New Year to you all

Do you own a narrow boat?

[Fenlander1]

2 minutes ago, VGfine said:

Do you own a narrow boat?

Certainly do 15 years livaboard now

[AaaGee]

7 minutes ago, Fenlander1 said:

Certainly do 15 years livaboard now

Nice!😎

A mate of mine is saving for a livaboard at the moment. Hopefully he'll have saved enough by summer next year.

[VGfine]

28 minutes ago, Fenlander1 said:

Certainly do 15 years livaboard now

Hats off to you sir, that’s what I would like to do, I watch a lot of YouTube narrow boater channels I find them relaxing and a good escape from most of modern life’s issues, my wife having none of it though, I’ve told her I’m just going to run away and live on a narrow boat!

From what I have seen, The Pocklington canal looks stunning.

[Petra]

7 hours ago, Fenlander1 said:

Hi all, my resolutions are keep floating around the canals and enjoy early retirement more exploring new canals and wonderful places this country has to offer.

Keep enjoying my stacking hobby hopefully pick up the last cpl of dates for the 1oz gold brit run I am not doing. 😆 and hopefully add some more nice silver for the treasure chest.

And finally getting to know a few of you chaps and chapesses a little better.

Happy New Year to you all

For all sorts of reasons stay safe and don’t have a boating accident, as appears to happen on here….🤔…. but certainly not while you have any of your stack stashed on board!🤔😮⛄️⛄️😁

Edited December 22, 2023 by Petra
Spell

[JamesH]

Book as many outdoor adventures as I can and make sure I’ve got at least one every quarter to look forward to

Stackwise, keep going with the TB 1/4oz coins and keep adding to my proof 2 Sov special years

[Stuntman]

Aim to buy perhaps 3 or 4 1oz UK gold bullion coins if I can afford to next year.  The forthcoming Britannia & Liberty, and George & Dragon will be likely candidates for two of these coins, assuming the designs are decent.

Probably no sovereigns in 2024, and little or no silver.  Didn't buy any silver this year.

Maybe some platinum if one of the Dragon Tudor Beast coins gets released next year and the designs is nice.  Didn't buy any this year either.

Other than that - try to get emotionally comfortable with the idea of potentially stopping work during 2024, and see if I can live sustainably and happily using the resources I currently have. 

Find a better balance in life, I have tended to be a bit withdrawn this year because of financial and emotional uncertainties.  It might be time to step away from the world of work altogether and embrace the freedom that can provide.

Easy to say, hard to commit to!

[Petra]

🤔must buy less silver

🤔buy more sovereigns

 

 

 

[SeverinDigsSovereigns]

Get a guinea in the MS as my first guinea