Trading for items after shtf

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LadyLocust said:
Thought of one more thing- honey/sugar. It never rots and people are so addicted to it, it will probably be more valuable that gold.
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Yep! That and booze and chocolate!
If SHTF, society collapsed, and my life totally sucked, I'd be coming after some of that homemade 'shine and a candy-bar or 2.:)
I'd be packing some twenties and c-notes, I bet we could make a deal:D.
 
I have about 50 Bic lighters, ammo I have enough supplies and equipment that I can manufacture most common rounds if they provide the brass, some 151 proof and 190 proof vodka, enough sugar to trade some, various skills, and various other items I'm sure that I'll find expendable.

Trade and charity will be done away from home. Charity will be done indirectly. I'll give some food to a soup kitchen or food bank and then when someone comes begging I'll tell them that is where I get my food.
 
I have matches, wood and paper, lighters, Bic and Zippo, fire starters and quick light tinder, enough loaded ammo for three years and enough components for another three years so I may have to ration one round per person to make them last. I have water and might be able to share some and food that will last but I don't know if I have enough to share beyond my family.
I may need to trade for brass and certain types of copper and steel but only if there is a need to produce things to sell - like garden tools or building tools. I will not be bartering my brass or ammo for anything.
 
Count me in on the Bic Lighters, matches et al. I have a 100 year supply. Don't discount paper book matches. You can buy them by the bushel, they are cheap, and don't take up much room. Barter them one book at a time, and they will go a long way.

Another thing we hoard is toiletries. We have enough toothbrushes to last two lifetimes; plus toothpaste; soap; shampoo; mouthwash; OTC meds, aspirin, Tylenol, Alleve; Ibuprofen; Immodium; Benadryl; Neosporin. Rubbing alcohol. Hydrogen Peroxide.
 
We get semi-local raw milk. I make a special stop for this. It's actually a butcher shop. The daughter of the folks has started working there too. She is sprucing up the place and carrying things like spices, pickles, honey, etc. I asked if she would be interested in hand-dipped beeswax candles. She nearly jumped over the counter with a yes. I will prepare some wrapped with paper band etc. and take them in. Told her if any sell, I could just take it in milk if she wanted. She was thrilled and even if I only get 1 jug of milk a month from it, it will be worth it. I make them for myself anyways.
 
I skimmed this thread and may have missed if someone's already mentioned these, but:
- tampons
- condoms
- paper plates/disposable cutlery
- trash bags
- fish hooks (if you live near water)
- cigarettes
- Neosporin (or similar - honey works the same way)
- bandages
- water purification tabs/filters

...and the other stuff you already mentioned. :)

Having read Selco (his original writings, not the more recent stuff that's cleaned up), he said that sanitation was a huge concern. Clean water was for drinking, not for washing dishes! A cut could easily become infected and lead to much worse problems if you didn't have a way to keep it clean and covered.

I would trade stuff FOR ammo, but I would not let ammo go unless it was to a trusted family member or friend.
 
I just saw this on You Tube. Looks like an awfully big case to be carrying around all the time, but he has some interesting things in it. The cheap knives and cheap flashlights are not a bad idea. I wonder if he has batteries for the flashlights?

 
Morgan101 said:
I just saw this on You Tube. Looks like an awfully big case to be carrying around all the time, but he has some interesting things in it. The cheap knives and cheap flashlights are not a bad idea. I wonder if he has batteries for the flashlights?
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I wonder what he's going to use the flashlights for when batteries are no more?
 
batteries are easy to make.
 
The Lazy L said:
I wonder what he's going to use the flashlights for when batteries are no more?
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I guess I would put that in the "Not My Problem" or the "Cross that Bridge When we Come to it " category. I am helping you now. After that you are on your own. He may get stuck with some excess inventory, but it didn't look like a large investment.
 
garden solar lights, the good ones with the glass top are very good. at the end of summer i try to pick up a few extra or a set if on sale as i thought they would be good for a trade down the road. set them out during the day and bring them in at night for light, ive done that many times when the grid is down from a storm.

you can also use them to charge batteries. i know some folk prefer oil lamps but im so clumsy im afraid id knock it over nad burn my house down. i like solar lights and have a variety.

the one i prefer and i think i posted before, sorry if im repeating myself. its a shape with a small solar panel about the size of your palm, the bulb will run a good 8hrs on a full charge, but you can also charge with a micro usb cord. those i stock up on, they run ariund $10 on amazon. they may look cheezy but are the favorite of all ive tried for amount of light and # hours. ive looked for batteries to get some for back up but they turned out to be almost as expensive as the solar light set, so i just get a few extra of them now and then.
i was paying around $10.99 for one, i just checked, they are now 2 for $16.99, good price.


i tried to add a link but guess i screwed up.

Solar Light Bulb Outdoor Afoskce 130LM Portable Solar Powered Led Bulb
 
You can also distill essential oils, for cooking, cologne/soaps (rose oil/rose water) & for medical use. Like a tea garden for tea blends, one needs a cologne/medical plant garden to even use the distiller & the amount needed to get a few ml is large. But if you are the only one doing it, then you can make a living at it. Honey for food & mead, wax, the bee can live off your garden. Sassafras bark to replace cinnamon, cloves & other tropical plant parts. Copper and Stainless Steel Distillation and BIAB Brewing Equipment

Soft metals & non battery tools will be in demand & someone will need to teach people how to use them, like build a "Shave horse" & which on is best for your needs. Gardening & medical plants ID & use will be the biggest thing, a few years after the fall. We common folk today, know more about patient care than 1600 doctors did & that is still not enough to save lives. Everything will be plant based products in the medical cabinet, with a few exceptions. Hopefully we will not be drilling holes in patients heads to let the demons out.
 

yes! dadenmoss thats them, a good deal right now, ive paid up to $21 for a set of 2.

just a note--yes, they look cheaper than the expensive ones with frames on solar panel and remote---which i have a couple of too. but these inexpensive humdingers have lasted longer and produce better light than any other solar light ive tried over the years.

i think these could be a real good trade item.
 
Supervisor42 said:
Yep! That and booze and chocolate!
If SHTF, society collapsed, and my life totally sucked, I'd be coming after some of that homemade 'shine and a candy-bar or 2.:)
I'd be packing some twenties and c-notes, I bet we could make a deal:D.
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I have to add a couple items to have to barter/trade for stuff you need.
World War 2 taught G.I.'s a lot.
BKT mentioned these:
- tampons
- cigarettes
Add in booze and chocolates to trade, and you can get anything you want with those. :D
Forget gold and silver. You can't eat them, drink them, or stuff them where the sun don't shine :rolleyes:.
 
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dademoss said:
Distillation equipment and the experience to run them is often a great skillset for times when barter is involved.
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Turning an old phrase.

Times without money but with pot are better than times without pot and plenty if money.

Same thing applies to a glass of wine or a ration if rum.

Ben
 
All of my alcohol related stuff was stolen about 6 months ago. Over 300 bottles of name brand liquor and the big one...All my distilling equipment. About $40,000 dollars worth. Yes that is correct. $40,000 All built by me. Very professional. Copper and stainless. 5 vessels, 6 still heads ranging from 2" to 3' and simple pot still heads. and 4" baskets for when gin is made and other liquors with botanicals
Only the finest materials used. I can only imagine trying to buy 40 feet of 3" copper pipe and 20' of 4" copper. And the fittings?! I can only imagine. I'm going to build 1 set up to get me by. I think I might be able to afford that.
A word of warning for those that plan to barter alcohol. I am also a retired police officer in the south.
Watch trying to deal with alcohol. All it takes is a small disagreement before they go running to someone like the law. Alcoholics will rat on you in a heartbeat or even worse yet, get some buddies to come visit you at night. Don't think I'm kidding. I have seen it a hundred times over the years. You CAN NOT Trust an hard alcoholic.
My plan is to have customers already lined up. And for those of you with the skill and equipment, don't forget medical needs. Learn how to make tinctures or find someone that does and become good friends with them. It may save your life.
 
Para cord 550, leather, casting nets, traps, chains, hand tools, knives, canteens/water bottle, a clean water source. Honey bees & wax, gourds &
winter squash, onions, potatoes, turnips, beets, carrot, dry beans, nuts, jerky, because they store well.
 
joel said:
Para cord 550, leather, casting nets, traps, chains, hand tools, knives, canteens/water bottle, a clean water source. Honey bees & wax, gourds &
winter squash, onions, potatoes, turnips, beets, carrot, dry beans, nuts, jerky, because they store well.
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Traps! Thank you. I don't have any but have thought about getting some in the past. Have to have a license to use them at the moment, but SHTF situation that would be laughable. A very good thing to have available.
 
I don't see the wisdom in stocking up on something for trading that you wouldn't have use for yourself. You'll just end up spending money on garbage that will in all likelihood end up sitting around unused until you die. I can just see my kids going through boxes in my basement after I'm dead, "I wonder why dad had 50 cases of cigarettes? He didn't smoke." Stocking up on ammo for trading would make more sense for me, since I go through a lot of that myself.
 
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