I was thinking that eye glass repair kits and cheap reading glasses could be nice to have for trade and/or personal use. They both can be had cheaply.
Ideas for bartering
- Thread starter bairleafarm
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Not a bad idea. You can get several pairs in a pack fairly cheap from costco.
I am sure there will be a lot of people who are tired of walking into trees due to poor eyesight.
You know the lenses can also be used for fire starting as well.
you must have some bad eyes cause i have never had any luck with it. maybe its the humidity where i live
I think w are to far from the equator. I havent had any luck either.
a good stash of bic lighters is a whole lot easier for me. plus some other uses also
heh I got a sister in Adolphus, 60 acres,cave with a spring running out of it. you ought to look her up sometime.her place has lots of possibillities. surrounded by mennonites. hmmmm......
I want a cave!!!
i dont smoke but i have the small marlboro reds.
mmmmmm......Cave good...wheres my club, oh by my savage 300....lol
as i was going through my research I found that some folks are planing to use paper money as bartering iteams i cant see that a good iteam lol but I have set up my cashe all over my properties and each has a stash of bartering iteams such as food tools higyean products..... but in a true bug out situation I dont plan to need to barter much as i have planned alot and have myself good stocks safly stored
My secret weapon barter items I have all supplies for beer brewing as well as other spirits that as by law I am unable to make but in a bug out situation I for one will brew it as a bartering item
spirits will be a major barter item.
yes it will be spirits and tabacco and other green plants will be curancy agian
I dont think id wanna be in contact with anyone. Sure there may be a time when i need something someone else has, but id like to think that is a strong maybe. I dont trust people and im sure not gonna trust people in a nasty situation. Sure maybe a starving mom and her kid might be a different scenario. But when i make my decision to add to my preps, its based on me and my 2 kids.
I agree with HarrySachs, that when I prep, I am doing so my for myself and my family and am not thinking too much about barter situations. But, with that said I have started saving older coins made of silver, and alcohol. I think if I did have to barter It would most likely be with booze, water or animals.
I believe that we are heading for an economic collapse that may take many years to come out of. From my perspective, the best barter material you can have is a skill that will be needed when people come together, as our pioneering forefathers did, and form communities. Whether that skill be blacksmithing, tanning hides, farming, making fabric, building wagons, brewing beer, etc., it can be traded for other necessities. This does not mean you shouldn't prep, I'm just suggesting you learn a skill that could be used in a long term situation.
Just my 2¢
Just my 2¢
ammo & alcohol,Tobacco products. maybe some antibiotics,and if you could find a way to store it properly insulin,would be extremely valuable if one was insulin dependant
Swiss army knives (sak)
Shoes, cloth, duct tape, baling twine or wire, salt, spices, sugar, warm socks, soap, women's products will also be good bartering items. Not everyone drinks or smokes, but nearly everyone wears shoes and clothing. Shoes can be picked up by the bagful at thrift stores, even boots and other leather shoes, if you have room to store them. Not to mentions kid's shoes, a lot of people forget the kids will grow and need bigger sizes.
Soapmaking, spinning, weaving, sewing, herbal medicine, and leatherworking will also be good skills to barter with as well as many others.
Soapmaking, spinning, weaving, sewing, herbal medicine, and leatherworking will also be good skills to barter with as well as many others.
I'm not so sure bartering will work - if it really hits the fan, and someone finds out you have something to barter, you become a target. Don't forget human nature in crisis times - people will no longer be nice and respectable ( not including us here, we are all sweet and noble citizens in a corrupt society 
). If you have something, I guarantee someone out there will want/try to take it. Will I barter??? Not with strangers, maybe with a few friends, never with relatives ( with a few exceptions ). If it really hits the fan, wait for the mob mentality to take over when you try to barter with them. Sure they will barter - "Give us what you have and we might let you live". Over reacting ??? Maybe. I'll be playing the game, going house to house begging for food. Can't be seen as an isolationist - draws too much attention. Just my 2c worth.
). If you have something, I guarantee someone out there will want/try to take it. Will I barter??? Not with strangers, maybe with a few friends, never with relatives ( with a few exceptions ). If it really hits the fan, wait for the mob mentality to take over when you try to barter with them. Sure they will barter - "Give us what you have and we might let you live". Over reacting ??? Maybe. I'll be playing the game, going house to house begging for food. Can't be seen as an isolationist - draws too much attention. Just my 2c worth.
Someone earlier mentioned insulin. That never occurred to me, but will be priceless to everyone with type 1 diabetes. They will literally die without it.
Ammo is great for trading, but I'll be keeping all mine if possible. I kinda agree with those who mentioned booze and tobacco.
If I can find some women who have a fetish for fat, bald, ugly, middle-aged men...I'll get me a SHTF sugar-momma and be set !
Ammo is great for trading, but I'll be keeping all mine if possible. I kinda agree with those who mentioned booze and tobacco.
If I can find some women who have a fetish for fat, bald, ugly, middle-aged men...I'll get me a SHTF sugar-momma and be set !
In no particular order, consider accumulating some of the following items for barter purposes. And keep in mind that in a post-collapse world, the items do not necessarily have to be new, but simply serviceable.
Water purification supplies including purification tabs and filters
Hand tools including hatchets, saws, machetes and general fix-it tools
Fire making supplies, including lighters, matches, flint fire steel
Sanitary supplies including toilet paper, feminine products and diapers
Disposable razors and razor blades
Fuel, any and all kinds (gas, diesel, propane, kerosene)
Prescription drugs, painkillers, and antibiotics
First aid remedies such as cough syrup, cortisone cream, boil-ese, calamine lotion and topical pain relievers
Spirits such as bourbon, rum, gin, and vodka
Coffee and tea (instant coffee is okay)
Solar battery charger and rechargeable batteries
Standard Batteries
Reading glasses
Paracord
Bags, including large garbage bags as well as smaller zip-close bags
Plastic sheeting
Duct tape
Tie Wraps
Heavy plastic sheets and tarps
Toiletries including toothpaste, dental floss soaps, shampoo (tip: save those small sized toiletries that are provided by hotels and motels)
Condoms
Latex or Nitrile gloves in a variety of sizes
Hard candy
Fishing supplies
Knives of various types including fixed blades, kitchen knives, and box cutters.
Condiments and Spices
Paperback books on a variety of subjects
Tobacco and cigarette rolling supplies
Amusements such as playing cards, crossword puzzle books, Sudoku
Pencils & paper
Pepper spray
Garden seeds
Flashlights
Vinegar and baking soda to use in DIY cleaning supplies
Empty spray bottles and squirt bottles
Hand pumps for both air and liquids
Mylar blankets and tents
Hand warmers
Sewing and mending supplies
Knitting or crochet needles and Yarn
One thing you will notice that I have not included firearms or ammo and for good reason. In a post-collapse society, you might not know your barter partners well and may run the risk that they will use these items against you so that they can steal the rest of you stuff. One person’s opinion, anyway.
Water purification supplies including purification tabs and filters
Hand tools including hatchets, saws, machetes and general fix-it tools
Fire making supplies, including lighters, matches, flint fire steel
Sanitary supplies including toilet paper, feminine products and diapers
Disposable razors and razor blades
Fuel, any and all kinds (gas, diesel, propane, kerosene)
Prescription drugs, painkillers, and antibiotics
First aid remedies such as cough syrup, cortisone cream, boil-ese, calamine lotion and topical pain relievers
Spirits such as bourbon, rum, gin, and vodka
Coffee and tea (instant coffee is okay)
Solar battery charger and rechargeable batteries
Standard Batteries
Reading glasses
Paracord
Bags, including large garbage bags as well as smaller zip-close bags
Plastic sheeting
Duct tape
Tie Wraps
Heavy plastic sheets and tarps
Toiletries including toothpaste, dental floss soaps, shampoo (tip: save those small sized toiletries that are provided by hotels and motels)
Condoms
Latex or Nitrile gloves in a variety of sizes
Hard candy
Fishing supplies
Knives of various types including fixed blades, kitchen knives, and box cutters.
Condiments and Spices
Paperback books on a variety of subjects
Tobacco and cigarette rolling supplies
Amusements such as playing cards, crossword puzzle books, Sudoku
Pencils & paper
Pepper spray
Garden seeds
Flashlights
Vinegar and baking soda to use in DIY cleaning supplies
Empty spray bottles and squirt bottles
Hand pumps for both air and liquids
Mylar blankets and tents
Hand warmers
Sewing and mending supplies
Knitting or crochet needles and Yarn
One thing you will notice that I have not included firearms or ammo and for good reason. In a post-collapse society, you might not know your barter partners well and may run the risk that they will use these items against you so that they can steal the rest of you stuff. One person’s opinion, anyway.
act5860 , i see by your profile that you plan on bugging out . Will your barter items already be secured at a bug out location ?
Many of my barter items are in waterproof caches within a mile of my BOL. Additional items will be transported in my BOV.
What is the smallest item you have the most of and what is the most expensive item you have the most of.........just curious
zip ties, 1000; my personal medications a year supply of each
My question is how were you able to obtain a years supply of your prescription medication? That was one of my biggest concerns for myself.
Luckily, my doc is also a prepper. When the pharmacy called about the prescriptions, he told them I was going overseas for 18 months.
Thanks for letting me know this. I'll have to see if mine would be willing to do the same.
