A Pirate Life For Me
Pirates (those who steal on the open seas) have been around since the Ancient Greeks - "Where there is a sea there are pirates" (Greek Proverb) to modern day. The Golden Age of Piracy (1680s - 1720s) coincided with the expansion of the English (later British) Empire. Wealthy cargoes being carried to the Caribbean and the Americas were a tempting target. Later the trade accelerated with the capture of Jamaica from Spain in1655 and expanded to the West coast of Africa and the Indian Ocean with Madagascar as a base. Eventually the problem became so serious that governments cracked down, pirates were caught and killed.
Pirates were sometimes harsh and brutal but they lived in a nasty, brutal and vicious age. Life as a merchant or military sailor (modern day Merchant Navy and Royal Navy) was underpaid, sometimes forced (press ganged), they were beaten at the slightest provocation and lived in abominable conditions. Pirate life could look favourable in comparison
THE CHALLENGE RULES
The rules for this month's challenge are based on aspects (pros and cons) of pirate life.
1 Our Golden Age runs for the whole of April from the last stroke of midnight on March 31st until midnight on April 30th
2 DEATH Pirates could be killed during fighting with other ships or by public execution. Are your affairs in order? Do you have a will? Are you leaving a plethora of possessions for someone else to sort through?
We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
NST April 2025 A Pirate Life For Me
grandmanerd
Posts: 1,254 Forumite
Ninja Saving Turtles April 2025
3 DISEASE You probably won't get scurvy (although TB, rickets and measles are on the rise) but are you actively managing any long term health matters? Are you giving your body the fuel it needs to perform? Look after yourself as though you were a small child.
4 FAKE NEWS Pirate adventures and courtroom trials made good news stories and the often exaggerated (fake news) tales form the basis of modern pirate fiction, films and tv. Are you spending too much time scrolling through trivia or watching the news? It can be a way of turning off at the end of the day but can damage your physical and mental health and disrupt your sleep pattern. Cut back on passive intake and stop screen time an hour or two before bed.
5 ADVENTURE Some pirates found piracy adventurous compared to normal life. Are you a thrill seeker or are you risk averse? Do you need to add some sparkle to your life? Do you just want peace and quiet? Do you need to try poking your head out of the door after hibernation? Challenge yourself just a little.
6 LACK OF OPPORTUNITY 16th and 17th Century life had limited options for most people.
Taking to the open sea as a pirate was different. Do you have an opportunity to take a different path? The path to debt freedom can be a long hard slog and it can be hard to motivate yourself but sometimes fear keeps you stuck in the same old place. Examine your limits decide if you want to make changes or if you must adapt to new circumstances.
7 PLAN YOUR JOURNEY We don't know where we are sailing to or what joys and hazards we will encounter. Plan what you can, workout your financial commitments (debt repayments, budgets, your resources (food), school holidays. Do this within 7 days but once we sail you can't return for forgotten items.
8 DEMOCRACY Pirates lived democratically, usually voting for their captain and on major decisions like whether to attack a particular ship or where to sail to next. If there are issues you care about, now is the time to speak up. You don't have to join a political party or go on a march but even signing a petition, giving time to help or donating to a charity and of course voting in local elections all help.
9 'BOOTY' WAS SHARED amongst the crew., Remember it wasn't just the hunt for treasure. Food, drink and other needs had to be found. Take note of all the 'treasures' you already enjoy and give gratitude each day
10 TASKS WERE SHARED. Do you need help and can you ask for it? Are you struggling with a task and need a partner to encourage you and share the load?Can you partner with someone even if you are working separately?
11 FREEDOM The democracy of pirate life meant more freedom than ordinary sailors had, or many people on land had. We have greater freedom now (don't travel to the US - sorry WeeNancy) but even for those of us who are debt free the cost of living continues to escalate and we live in uncertain times.
12 STORMS could wreck havoc on life at sea. Natural disasters and on going wars have left many in peril - help if you can. Now that the weather is improving and it's possible to get out more do a maintenance check and start to schedule in diy repairs, after all it's our second favourite BH activity.
13 INSURANCE Pirates had an early version of health insurance/worker's compensation. Disabled pirates were well paid and the families of crew who died were also sent money. This compares to the Completion principle in the contracts of other sailors - those who died on a journey were not paid as they had to complete the whole voyage to get paid. Think of ways to make little improvements in your own life.
14 SPIRITUALITY Pirates had a reputation for piety as it was a common rule that musicians had to rest on the Sabbath. Make time for your own spirituality whether it be religious, meditation, sitting quietly watching the natural world around you or just pondering/day dreaming.
15 THE PIRATE CODE Pirates had rules which could vary from ship to ship but include fair treatment of all crew members, a system of justice for offenders, lights out by 8pm and no fighting between crew members at sea. We are all here to help and support each other.
16 DIVERSITY Pirates often had a diverse culture - all social classes and religions were represented and they included women and freed/ escaped slaves. Pirates generally treated prisoners fairly as it was easier to persuade sailors to surrender and join forces with the pirates rather than fight for their ship
(Principle sources Dr Robert Blyth, author of Buried Treasure: A pirate Miscellany. Royal Museums Greenwich)
3 DISEASE You probably won't get scurvy (although TB, rickets and measles are on the rise) but are you actively managing any long term health matters? Are you giving your body the fuel it needs to perform? Look after yourself as though you were a small child.
4 FAKE NEWS Pirate adventures and courtroom trials made good news stories and the often exaggerated (fake news) tales form the basis of modern pirate fiction, films and tv. Are you spending too much time scrolling through trivia or watching the news? It can be a way of turning off at the end of the day but can damage your physical and mental health and disrupt your sleep pattern. Cut back on passive intake and stop screen time an hour or two before bed.
5 ADVENTURE Some pirates found piracy adventurous compared to normal life. Are you a thrill seeker or are you risk averse? Do you need to add some sparkle to your life? Do you just want peace and quiet? Do you need to try poking your head out of the door after hibernation? Challenge yourself just a little.
6 LACK OF OPPORTUNITY 16th and 17th Century life had limited options for most people.
Taking to the open sea as a pirate was different. Do you have an opportunity to take a different path? The path to debt freedom can be a long hard slog and it can be hard to motivate yourself but sometimes fear keeps you stuck in the same old place. Examine your limits decide if you want to make changes or if you must adapt to new circumstances.
7 PLAN YOUR JOURNEY We don't know where we are sailing to or what joys and hazards we will encounter. Plan what you can, workout your financial commitments (debt repayments, budgets, your resources (food), school holidays. Do this within 7 days but once we sail you can't return for forgotten items.
8 DEMOCRACY Pirates lived democratically, usually voting for their captain and on major decisions like whether to attack a particular ship or where to sail to next. If there are issues you care about, now is the time to speak up. You don't have to join a political party or go on a march but even signing a petition, giving time to help or donating to a charity and of course voting in local elections all help.
9 'BOOTY' WAS SHARED amongst the crew., Remember it wasn't just the hunt for treasure. Food, drink and other needs had to be found. Take note of all the 'treasures' you already enjoy and give gratitude each day
10 TASKS WERE SHARED. Do you need help and can you ask for it? Are you struggling with a task and need a partner to encourage you and share the load?Can you partner with someone even if you are working separately?
11 FREEDOM The democracy of pirate life meant more freedom than ordinary sailors had, or many people on land had. We have greater freedom now (don't travel to the US - sorry WeeNancy) but even for those of us who are debt free the cost of living continues to escalate and we live in uncertain times.
12 STORMS could wreck havoc on life at sea. Natural disasters and on going wars have left many in peril - help if you can. Now that the weather is improving and it's possible to get out more do a maintenance check and start to schedule in diy repairs, after all it's our second favourite BH activity.
13 INSURANCE Pirates had an early version of health insurance/worker's compensation. Disabled pirates were well paid and the families of crew who died were also sent money. This compares to the Completion principle in the contracts of other sailors - those who died on a journey were not paid as they had to complete the whole voyage to get paid. Think of ways to make little improvements in your own life.
14 SPIRITUALITY Pirates had a reputation for piety as it was a common rule that musicians had to rest on the Sabbath. Make time for your own spirituality whether it be religious, meditation, sitting quietly watching the natural world around you or just pondering/day dreaming.
15 THE PIRATE CODE Pirates had rules which could vary from ship to ship but include fair treatment of all crew members, a system of justice for offenders, lights out by 8pm and no fighting between crew members at sea. We are all here to help and support each other.
16 DIVERSITY Pirates often had a diverse culture - all social classes and religions were represented and they included women and freed/ escaped slaves. Pirates generally treated prisoners fairly as it was easier to persuade sailors to surrender and join forces with the pirates rather than fight for their ship
(Principle sources Dr Robert Blyth, author of Buried Treasure: A pirate Miscellany. Royal Museums Greenwich)
6
Comments
-
Reserved for Contenders
1 grandmanerd
2 beanielou
3 apple
4 Weenancy in America
5 f0xh0les
6 Dawn W
7 Idee2111
8 abundant
9 dizzyblnd
10 Esmerelda2662
11 laura lau
12
13
14
15
16
17
18 Thrifty Taylor4 -
Me too. Thanks @grandmanerd.I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.
Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.6 -
And, the most important thing for wenches: boots first, then corset.‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.’ David Lynch.
"It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.” David Lynch.7 -
Permission to come on board, cap'n!
NST March lion #8; NSD ; MFW9/3/23 Whoop Whoop!!!4 -
Would love to join you on your pirate adventure.
Don't worry - I am suggesting that everyone vacation in their home country first. And forget coming here. My best friend wants to move to Scotland. If I had a choice I would join her there.7 -
Can I join too please @grandmanerd
6 -
-
Yo ho ho & a bottle of rum (make that peach schnapps!) I'm just going to hoist up my flag with #18 on it. Thank you @grandmanerd, an inspiring month ahead 😀Use it up, wear it out
Make do or do without!
If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours 😃
⭐⭐⭐⭐6 -
Tuesday 1st April 2025
Ahoy mateys,
Avast me hearties,
This is the month to get everything shipshape and hold on to your pieces of eight
I'll not put up with any hornswaggling
(but remember you are free to elect another captain according to our Pirate Code)
Could I have suggestions for where we should sail to first
This is your life Grab It By The Helm
5 -
Ahoy!
Sign me up. I may shimmy up the mainsail at times and be a little quiet - but I promise I'm not asleep on the job!
Fantastic challenge! 🏴☠️🦜⭐ DEBT FREE : 18/02/2025 ⭐
Follow your heart & be true to yourself always
My life is full of abundance and prosperity
NST April: Food/Spends = £240.00/£60.00 NSD = 7 /12
Be kind - Eat well - Exercise - Be mindful5
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 349.7K Banking & Borrowing
- 252.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 452.9K Spending & Discounts
- 242.6K Work, Benefits & Business
- 619.4K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.3K Life & Family
- 255.6K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards