For many people, the new year is a great time to resolve to set goals or form new habits.

Often, New Year resolutions involve things like exercising more or making healthier food choices. Sometimes, they have to do with saving money or focusing on something important.

But did you know resolutions aren’t a new thing?

According to historians, the ancient Babylonians are thought to have been the first people to make resolutions thousands of years ago.

Back then, a 12-day religious festival that crowned the king included promises to the gods to pay their debts. If they kept their word, the gods would show them favor. If not, the people fell out of favor.

In other words, if you delivered on your resolution, you were rewarded; bail on it and you’d suffer a poor fate.

Later, the Romans had a similar practice of looking ahead to the future and offering sacrifices and promises of good conduct.

In more modern times, many protestant churches host New Year’s Eve services where prayers are offered and resolutions suggested for the coming year.

But that’s all just a 25-cent history lesson.

What do resolutions have to do with auctions?

I suppose it depends on your resolutions.

Auctions can’t help you make healthier food choices.

But if you resolve to exercise more, you can probably find a treadmill or other piece of exercise equipment at auction!

Auctions can also provide an opportunity to build wealth if you are a collector.

Many auctions hold specialty sales (think model trains, sports cards, etc.) to help build or complete a collection of valuables.

And they also offer coin and currency sales for those who want to save for the future by buying gold and silver.

But that’s not all auctions offer!

Folks who plan to downsize or clean out clutter from their homes can look to auction to help them out—it’s a great way to streamline your possessions and make a little money, too.

But there are other benefits to auctions as well.

Looking to have less screen time? Come to an auction and engage in live bidding!

Need to make a few new friends? Auctions can be a great place to meet people who share common interests.

Resolved to spend quality time with friends and family?

Why not attend an auction or an auction preview? You can point out common items from yesteryear (maybe a wall phone or a Victrola) and reminisce about the good old days.

Auctions. Not a bad way to fulfill a New Year’s resolution!