http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=102578

Here's a good start

 

Hey Mike,

Appreciate the link. I stumbled across it last week, but I was hoping to converse with others regarding a smaller list. I don't want to stockpile goats.

No offense. :/

 

The last few hundred times this thread was done, it was top 10 lists. Those are a lot shorter list.

 

I keep vodka and a friend keeps feminine hygiene supplies.

We both keep honey (neither of us eat honey).

 

my top five:

1. auto parts
2. inflatable pools
3. inflatable flailing arm man
4. 1000# salt in sandbags
5. condoms

 

Guns
Beer
Drugs
Hookers
Peanut butter.

 

John Winger: Lee ******, you are a madman. When you stole that cow, and your friend tried to make it with the cow. I want to party with you, cowboy.

What movie was that? no googling...

 

Map to camp fema.

 

Hey folks,

I gear my prepping mostly towards a financial collapse, though I have many things in place for other scenarios.

I'm wondering what others with like prepping in mind have stocked for barter should our fiat currency fall.

Here are mine, in no particular order:

- Tobacco
- Alcohol
- Seeds (an absurdly massive amount, on top of what I will use)
- Antibiotics (homemade and prescribed)
- Batteries

I am against 'seedbanks'.

Grow your own food. Do it, dont talk about it. Just do it.

Find out what grows in your area. Stock those seeds. All other seeds are useless.

Ten men, each with boxes, each filled with 1,000,000,000 seeds are all useless, compared to one active gardener.



I moved to our bug-out 10 years ago. Most of my gardening projects have been failures. There are some successes, that I am happy with. But nobody can predict which things will be the failures.

You can only learn, by doing.

A man with a seedbank and dreams, when SHTF, will starve.

 

This is truth.

I have a garden. Most of what I plant ends up dying. Maybe it's too hot where I am for much of it to grow. Romaine lettuce, spinach, string beans, cucumbers, all died after they really started to take off. Even corn. That stopped growing after 3 feet. Then died.
Tomatoes are doing great. Watermelons grow to about the size of a softball, then stop growing for some reason. Same with cantaloupes. I cut a watermelon open after it started to rot. Even at the size of a softball, it was red inside and sweet. Mini watermelons? IDK.

I'd like to grow so much more, but i'll have to figure what grows best through experimentation.

 

Thanks for the replies, folks.

Forest- I live in a rural area with lots of farmers, including myself. We all grow our own food, can and stock and repeat every year, which is why I didn't list any food in my barter list as I can produce more than enough to feed my family for many years. I appreciate your feedback nonetheless. I was thinking of the lazy folk who may have not prepared like I have for SHTF.

I also didn't list wood as I live on a lot of land and I guess I should have prefaced my post to inquire about things that cannot be grown, manufactured or made easily.

To who mentioned condoms - hadn't thought of that as I was probably thinking of things that would be of importance to survival only, but I suppose that could be a good bartering tool. Will buy some, but maybe not in mass quantities.

As far as ammo goes, I would be hard-pressed to barter any of mine, regardless of caliber. Though, I guess it could be beneficial to stock up on rounds I don't need for others that need calibers I dont. But the prepper in me would find it hard to part with any ammo unless the barter was good enough. So maybe that answers my question.

Can't stockpile hookers, they would cut into food supply. Hmmm.

 

And while water is a great commodity in a SHTF scenario, it is too precious to give away a bottle of it. I have five different ways to purify and three sources nearby.

I don't mean to shut down opinions and I am grateful for what I have around me. I'm just looking for other bartering ideas that are not readily made or obtained.

 

And while water is a great commodity in a SHTF scenario, it is too precious to give away a bottle of it.

You asked about barter items, which is not the same as "give away".

Barter, as we all know, means something received in return. One only barters if they view what they receive as being as precious or more precious, at that time, than what was traded.

When it comes to bottled water, even being in The Most Precious category, I still might conceivably give it to someone.

 

small springs--not for gun repair
TP
duct tape
cable ties
needle / thread
new underwear / socks

 

My brother traveled across Africa for 7 months. They traded writing tablets and Bic pens for food many times. The only food readily available in central Africa is often bush meat (monkeys mostly), mantioc, and bananas.

In inland Mexico, whiskey, and blue jeans will get where you want to go, along with knives and machetes.

If SHTF, maybe liquor, beer, meds, drugs, and ice.

 

I have a container with all sorts of little bottles of shampoo, soap, mouthwash, toothpaste, etc. It multiplied for years due to my wife and I traveling for work. Small free stuff like that makes good barter items, but you may want to use it yourself.

Even if we start getting accustomed to the way people actually smell again, shampoo and soap can be used to clean. Mouthwash and toothpaste are a good way to keep teeth.

My grandpa would carry those little matchbooks businesses gave away for advertisement. He didn't smoke, but always had a matchbook on him. To loan to a smoker without fire or to burn the trash. Matches and cheap lighters might be good.

 

Feminine Hygiene products
Painkillers
Toilet paper
Nappies
Soap
Salt
Sugar

Take your pick

 

Who do you plan to trade with and what do you want from them?

My biggest investment is personal water filters, to hand out to family and trade. Everyone needs clean water hourly no matter what the situation is. The greater the need, the greater the value.

 

-Medicine - especially antibiotics
-Salt
-hand tools, especially the heads and sawblades, as well as sharpeners

My theory on barter works like this: during a SHTF, you shouldn't be trading. Anyone you trust implicitly should be already with your group, everyone else is to be kept at arm's length until things shake out.

Once things have stabilized enough to allow trade safely, people will have rediscovered the means to make some simpler things that don't require a lot of infrastructure and resources. People will be making moonshine. People will be growing crops. They probably won't be making medical-grade painkillers and antibiotics. They probably won't be making a lot of tempered steel for a while. Salt has to be mined or collected from the ocean.

 

1. Anything medical / medicine / drug related.
2. Clean water.
3. Food.
4. Ammo, firearms / anything security related.
5. A place to stay long-term.

 

Pick 5.


Books on herb uses.
Books on how to survive
Booze

Canning jars and lids
Cigarettes
Chickens, Rooster and eggs
Condoms.

Disposable/cloth diapers
Female hygiene products
Kaidangku - crotchless pants like is/was used in China on babies
Diapers
Cloth to make diapers and Diaper covers
Plastic/vinyl/nylon pants
Diaper covers
Baby underpants
Baby/children’s clothing

Harmonicas and other small easy to carry musical things.

Cheep knives -including snap blade knives

Pet supplies, wormers, flea killer, and food

Pure lead

Seed for growing food Grain seeds. Wheat, barley, oats, rye, sunflower and corn. Herb seeds Culinary and medicinal.

Services making candles, milling grain, sawing lumber, repairing tires, pilot, Ect.

Tools for growing food and making shelters

Your knowledge

Wrist rockets. Very cheap now. Very handy later.

The big thing with trading stock is to have things on hand that you can live without and other can not.

So lets look at the list so far and talk about what would and would not make the best trading stock.

Brewing yeast and beer/wine making supplies- If you traded off your Brewing yeast and then others will be able to make there own beer and wine. You would be better off to make the beer and wine and trade it.

Pet supplies, wormers, flea killer, and food.- Dogs and cats are live stock AKA FOOD

Bread yeast- see brewing yeast. It would be best to make the bread and trade it.

Honey- only if you can replace what you trade off. In other words you have bee hives.

Ammo- If trade ammo to others the you could run the risk some day it will be used to take what you have away from you. Trade to get ammo.

Antibiotics. Antibacterial ointment. First aid supplies.- This is something that you may not be able to replace. Only trade it off if the person has something tat you need and can not get an other way.

Condoms- may not be the best time to start a baby they also have other uses.

Herb seeds- Do not trade off the seeds trade off dried herbs that you have grown with the seed then you control the supply.

Grain seeds- Do not trade off the seeds. Make bread and other foods from it and trade it off.

Wrist rockets- How about making sling shots and using them for trade stock.
Salt- only if you can replace it or trade it only for things you can not get any other way.

Chickens & egg.- Trade off the eggs not the chickens. As the numbers of roster that you have starts to increase then you can trade the extras for things that you can not get any other way. But ONLY trade off the rosters that way you control the source of eggs.

Candles. Oil for lanterns. Wick. Wax- Only if you can replace what you are trading off.

Water purification tablets- See Candles

Bleach. Laundry soap.- See Candles
Shampoo.- See Candles

Cigarettes, Booze, drugs & porn- Are all addictive and you can use that addiction to your advantage. This is something none of us need and we cane live with out but there are some that would pass up food for a smoke.

Female hygiene products- there are substitutes for this product that other may not know about. Use there ignorance against them to get a higher price. You could also make reusable products them and trade them off in our disposable society a lot of people will not understand the concept of reusable at least not a first. Here are some links for you all to look at http://www.naturallynhkids.com , http://urban-armor.org/urban-armor/products/index.html and http://lunapads.com/

disposable diapers- You do not need disposable diapers for a baby for that matter you do need diapers at all. And here are some links to back up what I am saying, http://www.natural-wisdom.com/http://www.timl.com/ipt/ , http://www.white-boucke.com/books.html and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eliminationcommunication/ Also see-Female hygiene products.

Baby underpants - mutable layered training pants and single layered. The single layered meant to cover diapers with a diaper 0-3 months {M} will fit a baby up to 12 M, 6M -12M to 18M and 18M up to 36M

Cloth to make diapers and Diaper covers - materials like wool, cotton duck, vinyl table covers, nylon that is rubberized or has one side fused, mattress covers, upholstery and plastic sheeting

Baby/children’s clothing - A lot of the clothing sold for babies and children is brightly colored, There will be time when the ability to blend into ones surroundings, a person can be wearing the most advance cammo in the world and it will be useless if the baby they are carrying is wearing day glow orange clothing.

Cheep knives- I have been buying cheep snap off to sharpen knives for .33c each and putting them back. I do not see them as a weapon that can be used against me to get what I have.

Tools for growing food and making shelters- If you do not have a forge get or make one then you can make tools.

Seed for growing food- only trade off seeds for things that you can not get any other way. and never trade off grain seeds. You would be better off to trade off the food you grow then you would the seeds to grow it.

Pure lead- Pure lead dose not make very good bullets unless they are for muzzleloaders. Also see- Cheep knives

Your knowledge and Books on how to survive- If you can make paper you can write your own books to trade off. You could also teach classes for a price.

Any thing you know how to make that would be useful like black powder, weapons and tools- This is why you need a forge.

 

Once things have settled down people will be desperate for things that make life seem sort of normal again. Anyone with experience with a black market during wartime, during an occupation or in an oppressive government knows that necessities are handy, but people will pay far more for luxuries. In wartime England it was things like cigarettes, nylons and perfume.

If you live in North America, think of all the things that are common and cheap that we use every day but are not produced in North America. Things like plain black pepper, coffee, tea, chocolate, and most spices. Salt and sugar are produced here but may be produced hundreds of miles from where you live.
People can grow their own grain, fruit and vegetables. They can't grow their own chocolate or coffee or tea. If they want it, they'll have to buy/barter for it. If you're in it for the long haul consider stockpiling these things.

 

... If you live in North America, think of all the things that are common and cheap that we use every day but are not produced in North America. Things like plain black pepper, coffee, tea, chocolate, and most spices. Salt and sugar are produced here but may be produced hundreds of miles from where you live.
People can grow their own grain, fruit and vegetables. They can't grow their own chocolate or coffee or tea. If they want it, they'll have to buy/barter for it. If you're in it for the long haul consider stockpiling these things.

I like how you are thinking.

However; I grow green tea (Camelia sinensis). I know how to make black tea, but I prefer green tea. I also grow: mint, stevia and ginseng, and I forage reishi [these are all things that I put into my green tea].

I also grow: Cilantro, Cumin, Thyme, Horse radish [which we substitute for black pepper], Hyssop, Marjoram, Mustard, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Savory, thyme.

 

Butane lighters for bartering.

I remember reading an article where the writer interviewed a refugee from Bosnia. He asked him what the most precious commodity there was. His answer was disposable lighters because they meant easy fire for heat, cooking, light, security, sanitation, etc. . He said that people traded them for food, women and a number of other things. People, he said, were also killed for them.
Family Dollar stores have 10 packs of them for under $4.

One thing he said about it that sticks with me still is that you never carry more than two. One for you and one to barter. He said you always say how you are bartering your only reserve because if desperate people believe you have more or plenty of something, they will follow you and that is that for you and anyone in your household.

 

Barter

IF SHTF - The Collapse!!
All you need is Guns and Ammo
Trade + Barter with your friends
Protect you Family and good friends.
Drop any one who tries to hurt or steal from you, your family and your good friends. Then take what you need and protect it.

 

1/2 pints Vodka, out of date MRE's, Catch Alls(Small jars of accumulated stuff..screws, nails, nuts and bolts, etc..you never know what someone is going to need), odds and ends of rope/string, personal hygiene items..(cheap shampoo, soap, etc)

 

Tea
Instant coffee
Butane lighters
Nip bottles
.22 ammo / maybe

 

I have other barters such as wood (live on 110 acres) that I don't necessarily need to list as it will be there should I need it.

Just wondering what others prepping for the same are piling up on.

I was thinking of the lazy folk who may have not prepared like I have for SHTF.

What arrogance!! Not all of us have 110 acres and three sources of water to live off. Nor are we lazy folk because we don't. You are fortunate to be in such a position. If I knew where you lived while in a SHTF situation, I would love to jerk your butt off your high horse and keep you from accessing any of your crap. Your arrogance really irritates me. I live on a small disability check and am unable to accumulate all your wood and water and land. Doesn't mean I am lazy!! So take your arrogance and stick it where the sun don't shine.

Sorry to the others for this rant, but this guy is just insulting to those of us who are trying the best we can to prepare. Maybe you will get disabled and understand some day.

 

This is the internet, man. You can have 111 acres if you want.

I have a large harem. I'll barter women.


;-)


Realistically, survivors will have to adapt. If you are on disability, you may be at a real disadvantage if the only labor you can barter with is fellatio.

Personally, I have enough water and food to stay put for a couple months. Beyond that, it's survival of the fittest on the streets. It would suck, but even if I had a gross of Bic lighters to trade, nobody will have anything I need (that they are willing to trade) at that point. People will have to scrounge amongst dwindling sources. So it'll be dicey until I can fold myself into a mormon colony. Ultimately, the only option is to find a niche in a functional community.

If I lived in the East, I'd wake up Amish. But since I was born on a farm in Arizona, Mormon it is... I've read the book, taken Sacrement, and have a forged temple recommend. Even got the undies...

So long elders.

 

Friends in Serbia that have lived through SHTF would tell you that Bic lighters were the #1 barter item. You'd be amazed how few could get a fire lit.

 

One thing I differ from most is that I keep some hybrid seeds for use and trade. For the first few years I want the best veggies I can get. Disease resistant, faster growing, etc.. that first few years will be the hardest.