Not resolutions. Not goals. But maybe guidelines?

I've never been a big New Year's Resolution guy. I've always felt that if you need to make a change, you do it, and don't need the flip of the calendar to get a kick in the pants. However, I'm not against them, as I do realize some need a finite date to hit the re-set button.

I've also never been a blog/hobby goals type. I just don't need the extra pressure, and I don't want to feel like I need to grade myself on anything.

So with that, I'll give myself a few "guidelines" with no real round numbers attached. Just a few things that would be cool to achieve, and if I do, I do. And if I don't, no biggie.

1. Scale back my collection

I like having a big Yankees collection, but it has grown so large it feels really unfocused at times. Most of that is just because of dupes. I'd like to sort through dupes and move them, preferably in one large lot. I feel like a few thousand Yankees cards for $100 or so on an online marketplace will be doable.

2. Buy another Craigslist collection

Hey, that's very counter-intuitive to #1. But the hobby is about fun, and I've had a great time with the two I bought in 2019.

It was a lot of work, but I did flip the first for a hefty profit by breaking it up, and I'll flip the second for a profit once I go through it all (picture above). But it's not about that. I almost look at it as "borrowing" a book from the library, but as a collection. Basically, I buy some box boxes of unwanted cards, have a great time looking through them, keep the ones I want, and re-sell the ones I don't.

It's great fun, if you've got the time and find a good deal. And it's a good way to stay involved in the hobby in a different way.

3. Stop sending TTMs

I'm not sure how realistic this is, but I've really lost the enthusiasm for TTM-sending. Maybe I'll catch the bug again, but between dwindling spring training success rates and the recent post from Max Muncy about what he felt like was an invasion of privacy, it's got me re-thinking it a bit.

I'll still send out some 2020 Topps for my Topps Yankees Project though.

4. Get my crafts out there, and maybe start selling some of them

On Twitter, I've teased my bookmarks and coasters quite a bit, but have never really taken that next step. I did take a mini-step by sending a few bookmarks out this past December to Fuji, Rod, and Napkin Doon. Maybe I'll get that all up and running.

5. Stay focused on TCDB

It's a great place to trade, if that's something that appeals to you. It's nice to easily move excess cards for one or two I want, and I've really grown my Gleyber collection because of it. Not the blog trading can't do this, but there's less "here are all the cards of your team for all your cards of my team."

Find me HERE on TCDB if you're on it.

6. Invest in more stocks, and less cardstocks

I know that's silly and not really hobby-related, but it's also true. I have fun with some of my robo-investing apps like Acorns and Stash, and I think I'd rather put a few bucks at a time into the stock market versus the card market. So I'd like to be better about buying stocks/investing than buying $20 blasters that return about 60 seconds of fun while opening them, and then that's it.

(Tip: Acorns invests 1% of every eBay purchase into your investment account, so if you're making these purchases anyways, might as well get some of it back.)

On second thought...

Maybe these are goals. Or maybe they are resolutions. I don't know. But I won't be bummed if none of them are achieved. I guess if I'm still writing a post like this next year and the blog is still ticking, then 2020 will be a success.

TLC in '18

I'm basically recycling a post I made last January 1st. I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions. I believed then and I believe now that I can make a change in my life if needed and not because the calendar says January 1st. This is especially true for card-collecting. It is a hobby of mine, and I don't want to feel pressured by self-imposed goals.

With that being said, here are seven items I addressed last January 1st, and they still hold true.

1. Add 2018 to my Topps Yankees Project. That's the only real goal I had in 2017, and it was achieved thanks to Tyler Clippard. I haven't seen the 2018 checklist yet, but I hope there is a player who signs.

2. Continue to send out TTMs. I sent out about 150 in 2016 and 143 in 2017. TTMs are probably my favorite part of the hobby and they make me happy. I tend to send a lot at the beginning of the year and then tire during the summer and fall.

3. Organize. My collection is as messy as ever, although I did just buy a few storage items from BCW to help me tackle this problem. Still, it's daunting.

4. As it relates to the above, I really want to take another inventory of my Tino collection to make sure everything is accounted for. I also want to officially count how many unique Jeters I have. I kept up with my Tinos all year and feel good about that. As for Jeter, sounds like a good opportunity to bust out my new sorting tray.

5. Joey's HOF binder - this has been neglected. I still have all the HOF cards that came in set aside for him, but I've been bad about adding them to the binder and keeping that page up to date.

6. Stop buying $3-$5 cards that add up. I failed miserably at that last year, and already bought a card today in that price range. Oops. But hey, it landed my an autograph of 2017 Yankees first rounder Clarke Schmidt.

7. Pick up a Jeter autograph. Yeah, I didn't do that in 2017. Maybe 2018 will be the year. It's weird, but he had more autographs than ever in 2017, yet prices didn't decrease even though there are more autographs out there. Plus, he is doing a pretty poor job running the Marlins so far. Yet, his autographs are still pretty untouched in terms of value.

Lastly, I want to send out more packages. I owe a few back to collectors and I'd like to be more proactive about sending.

And if I fail at the above, oh well! These are just guidelines, not resolutions!

Happy New Year!

TLC in '17

Usually, I'm not the kind of person to make New Year's Resolutions. I like to think that I can make changes in my life whenever I need to, not because the calendar says January 1st. Although, I think I used to be better at that than I am now.

So with that being said, here are a few card-related items I hope to address or sustain in 2017. There's nothing particularly tangible, like completing a set, but I think I can make a few changes to enhance the way I enjoy the hobby.

1. Add 2017 to my Topps Yankees Project. That's the only real goal I have.

2. Continue to send out TTMs. I sent out about 150 in 2016, which is a lot more than I have in years past. TTMs are probably my favorite part of the hobby and they make me happy. I need to continue sending them out.

3. Organize. I moved twice in the past two years (I know, you're sick of hearing about it). It's been an easy excuse to keep my stuff boxed up. But this house is permanent and I need to make my collection more accessible.

4. As it relates to the above, I really want to take another inventory of my Tino collection to make sure everything is accounted for. I also want to officially count how many unique Jeters I have. While I've never formally collected him, through trades I know I have a few hundred. I'd love to know what that number actually is.

5. Joey's HOF binder - organize by player, and display them on the page above by player instead of as they come in.

6. Stop buying $3-$5 cards that add up - both in terms of money and clutter. For example, I recently picked up this Nick Swisher jersey card. It's a cool card. Huge jersey swatch. Three pinstriples. It ran me a little over $5 shipped. I keep doing this. $4 here, $3 there, etc. I know it's not a lot of money, but it adds up. I need to stop doing that, because it just creates clutter.

7. If I stop making about 25 to 30 of these random purchases, and pool my money, I can probably pick up a Jeter autograph. That would make me a lot happier than random autos and relics of forgettable players.

That's it. That's what I've got. Nothing above will make the year a success or failure, but I think it's a good starting point for my collection as it continues to grow and evolve.

Happy New Year!

Wishing all of you and your families a very happy and healthy New Year! Let's go dominate 2015!

Happy New Year!

Happy 2014 to you and your families! Wishing everyone here the best in your personal, professional, and collecting lives.

I, for one, am looking very forward to 2014. The spring training baseball season is just six weeks away, and I have high-ish hopes that the Yanks can right the ship. My Syracuse Orange basketball team is damn good and will hopefully make a Final Four (and beyond) run.

And last but best of all, my second child is due in late April! We'll be welcoming a baby girl to the family.

2014, let's do this.