[Ronnie]

At one time just about every good deal i would find i would buy 2 or 3 or more of the items depending on what it was. I figured I could always trade for something i needed in a EOTWAWKI scenario but then i got to thinking about if people knew that i had trade items it would make me a great big target. What are your thoughts about keeping barter and trade goods, waste of time or worth the effort?

[Ron Fontaine]

My method is to stock up on the very same items I need to survive. These will be nearly identical to what everyone else will be wanting - and willing to trade for at increasingly high rates as stocks within the community run out.

There will be a constant problem of outsiders coveting your preparedness supplies. For this reason you must always be secretive about what you have and be careful about flaunting your relative "wealth" during times of shortages.

For example, don't be boiling a big pot of beef stew in your back yard while your neighbors are starving. That is just asking for trouble.

If I were planning to stock up with trade items, I'd go with adding even more of the basic essentials I can use anyway such as food, clothing, etc. There is no telling how long a SHTF situation can last - maybe even decades.

A nuclear holocaust could result in such large scale damage to the environment, as well as social collapse, that crops may not be reliable for many years to come. You cannot eat baubles such as precious metals, tobacco.

[Cajunlady]

Ronnie, there are actually lists posted on the web of items to buy to trade if and when TSHF. I don't percieve it as making myself a target. It's not like I blab to the world I'm stashing trade items no more than I tell others besides family about my other preps.

I look at trade items in this way as others do. More than likely somewhere along the line I will probably need an item I may have used out or someone's knowledge to help me accomplish a project which would benefit me and others in my group. So yea, myself and others do add trade items to our preps.

[Ronnie]

I add to my food storage whenever i can, I have not put enough effort into the clothing however so i will need to work on that,thanks Ron. I think i may have a problem keeping enough water as i am somewhat limited on space. I hear what you are saying Cajunlady, I had always thought the same way about trading items with others until i got to thinking about it more. I would really have to be careful who i traded with as all it would take is one big mouth to tell someone I traded with them and I would have more problems than I needed.

[tjwilhelm]

Those who have read FerFal's writings about Argentina's total economic collapse in 2001, may recall his observation that a black market and barter economy evolved pretty quickly. In large part, this gave rise to open barter-market places...like flea markets, or farmers' markets, or the kinds of village markets that are seen in 3rd world countries all over the planet.

If that were to happen here, it seems that quietly taking a few things to the market each week might be a good way to barter off one's excess stores.

[John Galt]

There was a list poster here a while ago listing the first 100 items that dissapear during a disaster. I thought the list was pretty good. For barter items I would look at stuff that has a long shelf life, is compact, and will return the most on the investment.

Q-tips
Femine Products
Wire
Nails
Saw
Insect Netting
Tarps
Hammers/Axes
Rope/Cord
Toothbrush
Contact Solution
etc

[cowgirlup]

This along with Cw mentioning keeping extra clothing items on hand gave me an idea.

For a small $$ investment durable clothing could be purchased in thrift stores. You have the advantages of various sizes, low cost and if you're taking these item to "barter town" the items would not be new with tags and people would assume you are just as poor as they are and just taking items from your closet.

[Ronnie]

Yes we are a peaceful people, I think i will skip on down to the market trade these clothes for some food and skip on back to me bunker, surely nobody will bother me. LOL (kids kill each other now for a pair of shoes) I bet it will be better in a EOTWAWKI scenario.

[pocomoonskyeyes]

Ronnie as it has been pointed out By Ron:

There will be a constant problem of outsiders coveting your preparedness supplies. For this reason you must always be secretive about what you have and be careful about flaunting your relative "wealth" during times of shortages.

You will have to be careful, as all "Merchants" always have to keep an eye on their merchandise. I really liked CGU's suggestion about clothes. Or some means of "making stuff" that will be needed. What hasn't been made can't be taken.

[dukman]

I don't see bartering as any more threatening in TEOTWAWKI than having a garden. Preps are preps. In a barter society it comes down to someone has an excess of something and needs something that someone else has an excess of. I think people seeing you trading silver or gold coins in the town market is going to raise more eyebrows than trading chickens or lead.