In a post collapse world, barter would be essential. Currency may have little value, while the value of certain things like sawing needles and matches for example, could increase dramatically. Put back what you will need for your own survival first, then and only after ensuring you have enough supplies such as food, water, water filters, first-aid, fuel, weapons and ammunition etc, to meet your own needs should you worry about stocking up on trade goods.
Skills
Develop your survival skills and knowledge. Your skills and knowledge may be your biggest asset when it comes to trade during an economic collapse or societal breakdown. Medical skills are the first to come to mind. Doctors, EMT'S, nurses and other medically trained individuals will be in high demand. Other related skills include: dentists, herbalists, homeopaths and veterinarians.
The ability to build shelters, garden, set up and run a distillery, hunting and trapping, collecting and purifying water, gun repair, reloading, blacksmith, butcher, baker and candle stick maker. Any skill filling a need for a number of people would be an asset and a valuable trade commodity. Having useful skills maybe the best barter item you could ever have, and it is a renewable resource!
Gold and Silver
There have been a lot of authors over the years suggest putting back gold and silver to use as barter items after an economic collapse. I personally don't see much use for such items, at least in the early stages, yes it's rare, but you can't eat it, it's not really good for anything besides its current monetary worth.
There will be a much greater need for basic life essentials like food, clean water and medical care. Even with that said I put back every pre-1965 junk silver quarter and dime I come across. This takes very little effort on my part, besides looking at my pocket change and sorting out by date, and placing the coins in a plastic 34.5 oz Folgers coffee can.
Ammunition
Some think ammunition would be a great barter item after the crash. If you can keep from being shot with your own wares, then ammunition would be a great trade item. The thing is people are a selfish lot and could decide it would be more productive for them just to shoot you and take what you have. Robbery and murder are common place during normal times; one can only imagine how bad it would become in the days after a major social break down. If you decide to cache away ammunition for barter purposes, my advice is to put back .22 rimfire rounds and trade only with people you know and trust.
Hand Tools
Hand tools such as saws, hammers, drills, knives, ax heads and handles, shovels, garden hoes and other tools will be in great demand after a collapse, the problem becomes the financing. Tools cost money; even the cheaper quality items will set you back a hefty amount if you try laying back a significant quality.
Whiskey and Cigarettes
Whiskey and Cigarettes would become very valuable items if the normal supply were suddenly stopped. You would have little trouble trading these items for just about anything needed. Just don't get busted by the BATF, don't think for a moment that the government will go away because of an economic or peak-oil collapse, no way. The powers that set on the thrown will only strengthen its grip on the population, becoming more suppressive in order to stay in control.
Things you don’t Need
This is not a complete list. It mostly is a short list of items I have often seen suggested by other writers and on survivalist forums that I feel would had little or no use a barter item after a collapse. This includes; pots and pans, clothing, parts for cars, dollar bills, wire, nails, iron, boards, hinges and other raw building materials. Anything that will be easy to scrounge will not be a valuable trade good.
The little packages of needles that dollar stores offer are good, if limited in use. I suggest that people go to fabric stores and buy heavier-duty needles to use on thicker/stiffer fabrics, leather, and to darn socks with. At least get enough for yourself.
You can sign up for JoAnn's monthly mailer and get at least one 40% off coupon to use on any one item each month. This month, there's one one-on-anything coupon for 40%, one for 50%, and there are nine 40% specialty coupons (for use on crafts, floral, fabrics). You may not want to buy silk flowers, but how about some wire? Jewelry-making tools (needle-nose pliers, cutters, including at least one kit with a variety)? How about some heavy-duty shears? Those are more expensive ($45-$50 for quality, but they'll last), so they're prime items for that coupon. Trade beads? Okay, I'm half-joking about that one, but they have a lot to choose from. Oh, and you can order online if you can't or don't want to go to a store in person. (I don't know if you can use the flyer coupons online--haven't tried it, but there's a 40%-off coupon code offered on the homepage http://www.joann.com/joann/.)
Anonymous 8:29 here again:
I agree that it's not necessary to stock up on wire, in general. The floral wire I'm referred to is not heavy-duty. It's very flexible, but strong enough to make expedient repairs to packs or clothes ("sew" on buttons or even repair seams without needing a needle), and portable (comes on a spool, of sorts).
Sundries like matches are good. Also decks of playing cards could be useful.
Great post. Bartering and even "business exchanges" have been on the growth, and I think with this economy it will just continue. If things really tank, then I would think anybody that has been prepared would have a leg up. One of the things that I think will have some value (at least shortly after a collapse) would be "comfort" items such as junk food etc... People will be looking for escapism and "glimpses" of the past.
Stock up on rolling papers and start growing a little tobacco in your garden to get some practice with growing and curing it. Post SHTF, expand your tobacco plantation and barter with smokers for pouches of tobacco and rolling papers. Anyone want to buy a dime bag of tobacco?
Z
cigarettes DO NOT STORE WELL...
tinned tobacco however does.
get regular AND menthol.
rolling paper was improvised back in the old days from the palm sized bibles that the cowboys carried...ever guessed why they did??
any rolling paper stores very well.
need to find some and the stores are shelf bare? the inner "paper" from BAMBOO sections is what people have used since time eternal,ever noticed rolling paper packages reference "BAMBOO"?
that's why..
Ammo..NEVER carry alot with you,NEVER,EVER tell them you have more,instead tell them "that's your last,of what you had"
and leave,make sure you ARE NOT FOLLOWED BACK TO YOUR STASH.
encounter them again? tell them you aquired more through a "good deal",then trade accordingly.
what to do now?
I ALWAYS barter at gun shows,some will/some wont,but those that do...it's good for all,the tax man never profits.
I made a point of aquiring/squirreling away goods then using those to get what I REALLY wanted.
example,I bought a lot of flashlights..no need to go into brand names,but it IS a major name and they are desired.I went to a MAJOR gun show,sold them off,then got what I really wanted.
MAGAZINES,of a very very good name and quantity.
you might want to start changing cash,for items that WILL be worth something long term.
Ie;long storage food,
Ammo(of all major calibers),
guns("assault",and civilian),
Fuel;PROPANE/LPG(neither ever goes stale,just protect the cans from elements),water processing equipment,firemaking items,and of course care and maintenace tools and supplies.
Figure a trip to walmart,or others,and buy a few things every week. it's less expensive and you can rotate items to tailored use programs
great post. I loiked to it from my blog for others to absorb..
keep up the good work.
Always wondered about what some people say about cash having little or no value? Just how little...example please? Next if this country cash becomes useless then just how does this government you all fear so much operate. The guys coming to get you need to be paid something for their time right? If it is cash then where will they spend it to buy food/shelter for their families? If not cash then what?
What good are doctors etc if manufacturing stops? No drugs, no supplies, nothing to work with. One will not work at the plant/factory for nothing...right? For your so called useless cash. If currency goes away and is not replaced you will be left
Most folks who can not see the value in storing gold/silver run with the crowd who don't have the wealth to do it anyway. Thus they try to justify their position. Just something I have observed over time.
Another good sign is when someone tells you to stockpile .22 rounds. Oh sure they are good to have but only as apart of a well balanced ammunition storage plan. Problem again here is most ammunition is much more expensive thus a pile of plinking bullets looks better to them than a few of other sizes.
If the Dollar goes away it will be replaced. Do any of you really expect to wake up and find it's value all gone? If so explain how that will happen overnight. Having cash on hand and instant communications with the outside world and a dose of brains can/will enable one to switch horses in mid stream so to speak. One can switch to gold, silver, euros, buy needles, drugs or whatever will be the new exchange medium.
Staying fluid and being flexible is the key to adjusting and improvising. Thinking that not saving cash for a rainy day is foolish. Spending it all on needles/bullets/food and more is just as foolish. There is also a real real good chance this country/world will ride this and other rough times out enough and you will grow old. But be cash poor and broke...but what the heck you will have a lot of stuff...right? Thing is you can not take it to the government run old persons home :(:(.
Key here is balance...
Bottomline about this site... It is Ok. But nothing more than a clearing house for subjects and ideas which have all been talked about over and over before on the hundred or so other survival sites out there.
I have visited all so many and there is only so much in the way of subjects and what to do or not to do, to talk or write about. The end result is have you prepped fully or not. Most have not or not done it well but have the time to write about it, read about it, talk about it or try to make a living doing all the above.
Like I said there is little said here that has not been said before in other forums. Simply because there is nothing new under the sun folks.
Creekmore does not wake up every morning with a God given revelation on what to write about to help save and inform you all. He gets his topic material and information by cruising other sites and repackaging it here. Nothing wrong or right with that. It is just the truth. He is also doing it to make money. His first and primary reason.
anonymous 7:21
I am sure you are right but so what? Everyone has their own way of expressing themselves. Sometimes there is even a new take on an old theme. That is why I read a lot of sites, even though I grew up on a farm and preparing for problems has been a way of life longer than a lot of people I know have been walking. I have a good job in health care and have not been unemployed in 34 years, but this stuff is still interesting to me.
Consider a supply of medications - especially antibiotics and any medications you cannot live without - literally (i.e. heart medications). Another item we also store are seeds to the garden - these may not been all that scarce but seriously, if things really are that bad, we might not want to leave our home to look for them. Just a few thoughts. Thanks for the posting...
people who always brag they have money are usually more broke then those who keep their mouth shut about it. always bragging about what you claim you have by always trashing someone else just shows very low self esteem of ones self. Jean
Hi, Jean
Please explain the amount of "money" or "whatever" we or anyone has claimed to have...be specific. Creekmore says he is almost broke all the time...figured that out when he told his sad sob story about dropping his laptop and did not have any money to replace it... then happily gathered in offerings from fools falling for the poorman claims. We don't tell sad sob stories to gather in money from others. Who is to say it even was dropped/// in the first place...other than Creekmore with not enough coin. Then please explain what we all have or claim to have...be specific. If you can not do that you are an old wind bag...dear. With a "closet crush" on Mr Creekmore.
The other poster was right on about meds...goood show!!! We stockpile pain killers and all other meds we can snag up. Working on year three right now. Don't forget some quick clot either. Web sites have fairly complete medical kit lists down to the correct needles to sew up wounds. Bottled O2 is good to have as well. Know how to use it.
I wonder how well Mr Creekmore sees after dark??? How well can you see?
Remember there are no free lunches...reading from this site is great but don't be sold the bill of goods he is doing it for you. He is doing it to stay at home and earn a living. To each his own but just be honest about it fior once.
anonymous loves your blog creekmore..he or she or maybe a she/he is always here and ready to read everything you write and is ready to respond in a heart beat. whatever you write tho seems to go right over the top of their head. I think they are here because they got one hand on the computer and the other on their dick/pussy. trying to pretend they are smart is the only way the can get off. hehe lol
coingSadly Mr. Creekmore and a few of his "groupies" have very foul mouths...a product of their hearts... for out of a man's heart he speaks....
You guys are from beneath the bottom of the barrel at times and totally low class.
"You guys are from beneath the bottom of the barrel at times and totally low class."
yo bitch! that's what my ex-girlfriends said. ha! but at least i don't owe more on my house than it's worth.........
I have read the post here and I agree with many of them. If you think that the market could not crash you are more the fool than people here. I suggest you look back to the "Great Depression". I am sure many said as you why save, or horde goods. Those where the people knocking on my Grandparents door asking for handouts years . My thought is this, why come here to this site at all. People here ,hope that things never get that bad...but they will be ready if they do. Many have money pay bills just the same as you do or claim too. Go to the shopping net work if thats your thing. Good luck to you. I love this country. Have you that question this need for this site served it? I doubt it.
Great survival piece! A company has actually already thought about a "survival economy", it's called Merchants Barter Exchange and was started back in 2000 for just such times as we are seeing.
People are fooling themselves (and being fooled) if they believe that this recession is nearly over. It's as stupid as trying to tell the passengers on the Titanic that we put a bandaid on the tear in the hull and we'll be in port for breakfast!
The crash was masterminded, and it is going to spike a little and look like an improvement, then we are going to tank even further and even worse! Learn some REAL skills, stock up on supplies, and learn to use a weapon, you'll need that more than your Xbox!
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Margaret
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