As long as humanity has had financial systems, there have been financial crashes. Sometimes, these result in short-term suffering, but there have been times throughout history when financial collapse led to far worse outcomes.
We have yet to see a crash severe enough to destabilize the government and society here in North America, but given the fragile nature of our financial systems, it is an inevitability.
When a financial crash is severe enough to cause country-wide unemployment, hyperinflation, and the collapse of the banking sector, you’ll have to resort to the barter system to get the goods and services you need to survive.
To this end, here are several examples of items you should have on hand to use for bartering after a financial crash.
Alcohol
One unfortunate aspect of our society is the easy access to alcohol and its damaging effects on the mind and body. It is estimated that in the United States, there are almost 15 million people who suffer from Alcohol Use Disorder all of whom will be desperate for a drink. Even people who do not have a compulsion to drink alcohol will be likely to trade goods for a bottle to calm their nerves.
Even if you do not drink, having a few bottles of liquor and wine on hand for bartering is good practice.
Tobacco/Vape
Like alcohol, there are a lot of people who smoke or vape, and their addiction will have them trading all manner of things to get their fix.
A carton or two of cigarettes and some vape juice will go a long way in a SHTF situation.
Batteries
Once the supply of batteries on store shelves is exhausted, people will be desperate to get their hands on all the standard sizes of alkaline batteries and battery banks to charge their smartphones and other devices that charge via USB.
If you have a reliable source of off-grid power, you can offer to charge devices and battery banks in exchange for items you need.
Ammo
A severe financial crisis could make law enforcement overwhelmed and ineffective. This would cause a true SHTF situation where crime becomes rampant and impossible to control.
In a wide-scale SHTF situation where the rule of law becomes non-existent, ammo will be as good as currency.
⇒ The First States That Will Go Down When SHTF. Do You Live in the Red Zone?
It’s good to have a surplus of common calibers set aside specifically for bartering. Especially handgun and small game calibers. Air gun ammo is also a valuable bartering commodity to have on hand.
Flashlights
If a financial crisis is severe enough that we need to resort to the barter system, then it is probable that people will not be able to pay the electric bill or that power will simply be shut off.
Those that are left in darkness will be desperate for illumination.
You can often find packages of several flashlights for less than the price of the included batteries.
These are great for barter because they are cheap and disposable.
Toilet Paper and Paper Towels
One surprising aspect of COVID was that paper products flew off the shelves. Even in my area, where we had a factory that produced these products, the panic buying stripped every store of toilet paper and paper towels. You should always have a good supply of these products and an additional supply on hand for bartering.
Radios
Keeping in touch with friends and family is essential, especially when a financial crisis threatens to destabilize the communications grid or force people to scale back their spending on phone and internet services.
You can pick up a Baofeng radio, which operates on the 2-meter and 70-centimetre amateur bands for thirty bucks. There are also inexpensive shortwave receivers you can keep on hand to use as barter items.
These items will be worth their weight in gold to people who are desperate for reliable comms.
If you’re concerned about maintaining communication off the grid during a crisis, you should learn here how to legally turn your CB car radio into a powerful transmitter. This will probably be the only source of communication left, giving you an important tactical advantage and access to vital information.
Bottled Water
We all require water to survive, but you do not want to share your stored water supply with people. I like having a flat or three of bottled water on hand specifically for bartering purposes.
Protein Bars
Rising food costs leave people scrambling for calorie-dense food sources. A few cases of protein bars, cereal bars, and fruit bars will be great barter items during a financial crisis.
Feminine Hygiene Products
Financial collapse doesn’t cause women to stop their cycles. Even if there is no full-scale SHTF or grid-down situation, the cost of these products may become prohibitively expensive.
Over-the-Counter Medication
Like other items on this list, a financial crisis or collapse will cause supply chain disruptions and price increases, leading to empty shelves at your local pharmacy. I’ve seen certain over-the-counter medications stay out of stock for months due to manufacturing issues, and we can be assured that a financial crisis will be much worse.
A bottle or two of several common medicines in addition to your normal medical supplies will pay off when people need to treat pain, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, colds, and flu. Make sure that you have children’s medicines as well.
Antibiotics
In the aftermath of a severe economic downturn, access to medical care will become limited, and common infections could pose serious threats. Having a supply of antibiotics on hand can be a lifesaver for individuals facing bacterial illnesses without access to healthcare services.
Consider stocking up on commonly used antibiotics, such as amoxicillin or ciprofloxacin, to meet the needs of your community during challenging times. Since antibiotics are typically not available over the counter, here is an ingenious way to stockpile antibiotics without a prescription, before it’s too late.
Chocolate and Candy
Many of us, myself included, have a sweet tooth. This desire for sweets doesn’t disappear because the financial system has collapsed, and you will encounter people who will give you goods or services for a sugar fix.
I would definitely offer up some handyman or other services for a bag of two of my favorite candies.
The current monetary system had its genesis in the barter systems that humans used in the thousands of years that pre-dated the invention of currency.
In fact, we have been trading goods with each other for longer than we have been using money, and if our currency collapses, we will revert back to bartering immediately.
Part of being a prepper is preparing for what life will look like during and after SHTF, and being ready to trade goods is always a great idea.
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The money, aka cash, will be gone soon.
You WILL NOT buy or sale.
YOU and your family face certain DOOM when you do not go along with the beast system.
The weak people will go along and love you for going along with the new system OR “they will HATE you” for not going along. watch you can see it everywhere.
HELL IS GROWING, fast…
Watch you back, also.
Better get all you can ASAP. Pay with cash.
stay sharp
Remember, Trust will be everything.
we have a large supply of canning jar lids for barter. dollar general was trying to make room for christmas decorations and shot us a deal on all their canning supplies. we paid .50 a box for lids and 4.00 per case of canning jars. we have several bottles of whiskey and vodka stored away also. matches and cheap( dollar and a quarter tree) disposable lighters are good to have a large supply of.
Hello! I’m writing for Publisher’s Clearing House and wanting to come by and bring your Sweepstake’s check. May I please have your address?
joking of course. good for you. we’re on the same page. My grandson asked me, “what are you so afraid of Poppy?” I tell him “not a damn thing sonny boy”. lol
Okay,
Barter won’t matter in post Bidenomics world as your 2A is going full blast.
You will own nothing as the insurance companies raise our rates so high we can’t afford to keep a home. But our taxes go to give illegals a free house or expensive hotel room, free food, school and transportation.
Soon you will own nothing like firearms as RED FLAG laws are taking away your GOD GIVEN RIGHTS of the SECOND AMENDMENT. Congress or some pee ant tyrant wannabe to make laws against the Constitution must not be implemented.
Government agencies, healthcare, yes your personal doctor ask you how you feel with those round face emojis and record your response. To someday take your guns away.
If you stop for a moment and think small, you will see the bigger picture. Too many are going to lose everything just like you in your neighborhood. They can’t kick everyone out but they will turn off the utilities. Now it’s serious because people will have their stuff to last except for water. That will be the downfall. States have made rain collection illegal. Why? Because “they” know. It won’t be food, medicines and such, it will be water than makes people do unspeakable things to each other and be a hands off let us do it to each other. Learn to make beer. That will stretch water out a long time. Forget batteries and get solar or shaker lights. Learn how to build fire 4-5 different ways and save the matches. When a lighter is empty it still has a spark maker. I have all my electric tools I use in manual ones. Draw knives, hand drill/socket. I can build fire 5 different ways before thinking of using a match or lighter. You can too. Nothing is going to last. Wetwipes? Not very long. Essentials? Are they actually essential or nice to have? Water will be the downfall. In the 70’s people were hijacking gas trucks. Opening yours and syphoning it. That led to lock gas caps. I at 15 and a pump monkey was offered sex for gas. People will resort to whatever for them and theirs. I don’t have THE answer for how to keep water long term. I live by a river and hopefully I can get there and then purify it. That is something also. Learn how to purify rain, groundwater, horse trough water… The obvious thing to store and barter is probably what others are doing. Water. “THEY” know this.
Best thing to have prepared is your soul.
Hi, Chaplain Dan: You are so right about the water. The only thing we are most concerned about is water, as there are still canned goods on sale right now. Fortunately for us, we have a lower level toilet that is not that far to the septic tank and a “pond” of sorts out back, where we could bring water in buckets up to flush toilets with. I only plan on using our drinking water for hygiene/laundry and drinking. Will probably learn to drink all liquids from canned foods, as well.
To my mind, the best way to become totally “prepped” is to draw close to the LORD GOD Almighty and His Son Jesus Christ! When things get really bad, no amount of any preps will actually save much of anyone. ONLY GOD, and HIS EYE IS UPON YOU TO CARE FOR YOU!! Just believe and live like it!!
Always say you are fine and leave it there.
Become squatters on the bank. Padlock the fuck out of the house, make sure someone is always home to keep them out and never rent out a room to strangers. That is how the bank gets in and takes your squat place from you.
It’s time to use the democrat tools against them!
Another way they are taking away your 2A rights is by going after paperwork errors of FFA sellers and suing gun makers, blocking import of ammunition and making laws to stop all of the above from doing business anywhere without risking federal crimes.
they are also indoctrinating all our new generations coming up to hate our constitutional republic and embrace communism and the woke mind ending machine pushed by the 100% controlled MSM. It’s already over. A lot of people just can’t see it yet.
We got lawyers like Letitia James NYC and Fanny Willis attacking Trump. They can do that to Trump an he has top notch lawyers imagine what will happen to the average American with no or a mediocre lawyer to keep us out of jail.
When Trump gets the Trump tower confiscated, New York will be responsible for all the taxes and fees that must be paid by the New York taxpayers. It surely won’t be the liberal female lawyer who will get paid by taxpayers for a hit job.
Remember this 2024 presidential will be sink or swim, with Bidenomics another 4 years we will be in WWIII because of Ukraine and Russian conflict from Biden the puppet of China.
Negative Nancy’s thumbs down are liberals not wanting to hear the truth.
God bless America for the 1&2 Amendments.
Hello Red Ant. Good words from you.
Howdy jeJESS,
Good words from you also. I wish there was a pat answer for water. You just never know which event will be the one to set things off. Storing difficulties could very well be the ones living with you. Try and get your people on the same page. Denial is deadly.
I just remembered that we have 8 water storage ” water bricks” that still need filling and storing. Better get on to it, then…and after that, finish pressure canning the meats and beans I have almost ready to can! No time like the present, especially with the Eclipse coming so soon!!
Excellent Article, Mr Major!! These are all GREAT items/ideas for an EOTWAWKI situation. I realize that you were probably constrained for additional items and ideas due to limited article size. There are literally hundreds of thousands of things that we all can come up with, after the collapse. I would like to add some of my own: tI thought salt (Iodized, Rock, and Mineral Salts) would have made the list. It’s useful as a disinfectant, meat preservation, seasoning and so many other uses, never spoils, and is all natural. Isoprophyl alcohol, witch hazel, hydrogen peroxide, hand sanitizers, and calamine lotion, soaps (hand, bath, degreasers, sanitizers, and laundry) will be quite useful too. You can buy a 25# block of candle wax at hobby stores, and make your own candles. To make small, easily portable, waterproof firestarters, use paper egg cartons. Add some dryer lint, or dried peatmoss, wood chips, or crushed charcoal from briquets, and a short piece of string as a wick to each small cup then fill with melted wax. The individual cups can be cut apart and sold/traded for other items. Sewing/knitting/crochet items, like needles/hooks thread/yarn, assorted buttons/snaps etc, will be a must, as will the knowledge and skills in the useage. A case of plastic butane lighters (long and short), would sell like hotcakes. I believe that themost important things that we can carry over would be Usefull Trade Skills and Talents. Teaching of these useful skills, and useful tallents, to our prodgeny has sllackened for many reasons. That should probably be a pre-disaster scenario priority, IMHAO. After things go dark, the U-TOOB University, and for that matter the Cellphones, and Search Engines won’t be available any more. The Libraries will have been converted over to lodging for non-citizens (Sorry, “Newcomers,” lest I trample sensitive feelers) and the books will have been used up in the stalls, or burnt for heating and cooking. But, I Digress… Old pieces of leather, belts, boots/shoes for an assortment of uses, along with the tools to work it; or canvas tarps, sewing tools, grommets, and the pliers/stamps to set them. Normal work tools, saws, axes, shovels, hoes, and knives will need sharpening. An old bicycle frame with the pedals, chain, and drive gear/axle can be used to power a grinding wheel with relative ease. An old anvil, if you can find one, would be extremely useful in a post modern era. Olld chainlink, and other types of fencing can be pulled up and relocated for all sorts of things like security and animal control. Old useless vehicles are treasure chest of useful items, and can be positioned as barriers, shelters, or wind breaks. As for Monies, the U.S. Dollar, will be worthless except as firestarter, and toilet paper. The Crypto, or any digital monies, will not be available after the power goes out, and will probably be lost forever due to their engineered fragilities. So the easiest means of replacement coinage would be using pre-1964, 90% silver dimes, quarters, and half dollars, for monetary purchases, once things settle down. Even today, with the right quarters and dimes, a gallon of gas can be bought for just thiirty cents. If you are not sure what that means, then please do the homework, and get aquainted with that reality. Things will change RAPIDLY, “Like a Thief in the Night” our world will be Flipped up, and over with a couple of twists; without propper preparations you will not be ready, and it will be too late. The first 45 days after the initial Unanounced Black Swan event(s) are going to be HELL on Earth. Don’t Be Scared!! BE PREPARED!! Now is definiteitly the time to start. Read the Tea Leaves all around You. This ain’t the Ameriica that We the People all Knew just a few short years ago. Look up the Word “Democide” for starters… Then put your thinking caps on folks. It’s Real!
Barter ammunition? Only to family or close and trusted friends, never to strangers. That traded ammunition can be used to get the rest of your things. Just stock cheap bulk pipe tobacco and rolling papers or cheap pipes for barter, those addicted to nicotine won’t care by that point. Water is a very real situation, my State’s EPA has been pushing to meter private wells. No power and on a well? Do you have enough rope or cable and well buckets (DIY project, youtube), to reach that water in the event of no power? Deep well water will very likely still be good to drink in the event of nuclear war after fall out settles as long as those well buckets are not contaminated. (protect your preps)!
trusting a stranger to barter with is going to be hard to do for me. in my mind if you’ve got something to barter, then you might have other supplies or gear stockpiled. that person looking to barter with you might be scouting for a possible raid on you. trying to find out how far you will go or how desperate you are to barter for a certain item , and take advantage of your desperation. for me to barter with anyone, maybe a family member, but still cautious, or someone i’ve known my entire life, but still be cautious. if you do deal with anyone, never put all your cards on the table.
1) WATER. Without it, you likely won’t last 5 days. If you are just starting off, make this your primary 1st objective to overcome. High grade water filtration systems, water distiller for the water in the ditch in front of your house, or local stream, lake, river, etc.
2) Shelter! Exposure will kill you very quickly, or weaken you to the point of not being able to do anything else you need to be doing to ensure your survival. You’ll need proper seasonal clothing and protection from the elements according to your local weather matters.
3) PROTECTION. This includes firearms, knives, even clubs. Once people are panicked and suffering, even your once nice neighbor will kill you in an instant if you have something they need. Double this by 100% if they have children at home, and they too are suffering. Ready yourself mentally now. There may come a point where it comes down to your life, or their life. I really believe God’s forgiveness extends deeply into these matters under these conditions. Do whatever you must do for you and your families survival. You can bet others will be thinking this too.
4) Now it’s time to get on the food, medicine, and comforts train. Anyone here already knows the ropes in this matter. In case you don’t, can goods, non perishable are your primary target at this starting point. Think “Protein” and carbohydrates, at this point, never mind healthy eating, think in terms of fueling your body so you can work towards improving your diet. If you have the space to have a home garden, and you are not ALREADY doing so, you are an idiot!! The last thing you want to be facing is a learning curve, when you are hungry enough to eat the crotch out of a dead mule. That garden will not only give you peace of mind, but it can and will sustain you and others. Once established and you know the “ropes”, you won’t starve. I guarantee. One thing about a garden – if others around you can see it, it and YOU now are a target. Keep thin in mind. Without proper OPSEC, you really own nothing. Research the matter. There are more things here that you can do than maybe you realize.
5) STAY OUT OF THE LOCAL WOODS! You can bet every Rambo Hunter will be there. This will be a very dangerous place to attempt hunting and fishing!!
Many cities have “In Town” wood lots that have and support game animals. Never mind that 250lb deer, your focus should be towards small game. Almost everywhere inside city wood lots, game can be found. You’d be very surprised what .22 subsonic, CB Caps, and CCI Quiet loads can do. If you can shoot, you’ll likely have fresh meat often. DO NOT discount any and all small animals!! The trick is to boil the meat first, removing all blood, then grill, fry, bake, or continue boiling until completely done. Any animal can now be food, and supply the protein you will need. Having a very good collection of spices can make eating anything very bearable. Add Spices as an immediate priority, as you will very likely be eating things you otherwise would not. This is especially important if you have children.
6) keep a low profile in everything you do! Listen more than you talk, and you’ll be the wiser. Make sure people in your group are of the same mindset. If you are a Lone Wolf, this is doubly important for you. Keep in mind, if you are maintains your body weight, and people around you are not, it’s going to become obvious you’ve got something going on. Be aware of this, and always remain vigilant.
6) you’d be very surprised to learn of the food mast that’s growing wild around you. There is far more natural things growing wild around you that will not only fill your hungry belly, but actually enhance your overall health. LEARN what’s around you! While other people are starving to death standing on very nutritious plants under their feet, once they fall over, have your scissors ready. GOD has given us much, but he does expect you to use your head! Many will die due to lack of knowledge. Don’t be that idiot! NOW is the time to reassess your plans if any of what I’ve said resonates with you. If not, I’m sorry for wasting your time.
6) Barter and Trade? ONLY with people you know and trust. Even then, apply a very strong measure of caution. Starving, stressed people can become very unpredictable animals, family included. Trust me – love IS NOT thicker than a hot bowl of chilly and crackers!! Overall, you should be able to trust your own mother. Anyone else – beware!
Then stop posting the same comment over and over again. Seems kind of strange to me that you keep posting this, and you don’t have financial interest. Stop already! We get it.
Not sure about bartering. The problem is you don’t know who you can trust. I make wine and beer. I’ve never tried distilling anything.
In the event of shtf my motto is trust none and beware all.
Remember Circle of Trust , those who you can rely on to have a sense of morals, conscience , god given restraint
Take care of your circle , learn to read people so you will see what is coming
the natural man or woman seeks thier own , lust, desire, greed or what ever they want to satisfy the need of the moment
This is why , what ever you have can be taken by mobs or groups or idiots who have no brains
learn the lost ways so you can learn to do with out and barter what people need for what you need
barter only works for people who fear Gods judgement and try to obey Gods Ten commandments
but when a Godless society of meism , selfism, narciscism arrives
you will have to show blunt force to stop them and then they might not take no for an answer
so be prepared to hide , hide , hide what ever you have
if you look like you have nothing and are careful not to disclose hiding places , you might survive
but mankind or woman kind will do anything for food , and survival
This just the hard truth
Time is NOW , Pray , Ask Jesus Christ into your life to be your lord and savior
confess known sin to God , and profess your love for your savior jesus christ , then you will be saved , pray for God to open your eyes to see Truth
Be prepared to suffer as this is what is coming to all who live Godly and Follow the way , the truth , the life
John 1-3 , John 14 : all , 1peter , 2 peter , 1 john , 2 john , 3 john
look it up , if if i lie or am just out of this world
God s word has 10 commandments for a reason , and states that there is a way that seems right to every man or woman , but the end is Death eternal
That is true trust in GOD and His Son Christ Jesus this is the only way. But know it also tells in scripture an eye for an eye so be cautious as the people around you. It will get crazy. Keep your family’s safe from all forms of evil. GOD will stand by your side as He will never forsake you.
We thought about stock piling cigarettes for barter but seeing the prices we buy loose pipe tobacco,papers and a
rolling machine.We don’t smoke but we vacuum seal the
pipe tobacco with the Seal A Meal.
There is no tax pipe tobacco. That’s what makes the role
your own cigarettes so cheap
I think a smoker would light up a dog turd wrapped in
banana peels when things go bad.
Condoms and the day after pill will we be ion high demand
when SHTF.
I hate to talk about the things that we need to get by.It is not
the same country that I thought would never change.
I’ve heard it said that “ We can vote ourselves into Socialism
but we will have to shoot our way out”.
Socialism starts when elections stop being real. Dominion has been in every battleground state since 2003. Mountains of evidence in all formats, expert opinions, observation, testimony and sworn depositions were denied by the george soros courts city to state to federal. I put thousands of hours into researching the elections. All Americans should have. Funny how very few did.
Without free and fair elections there are no laws. There are no checks and balances. Yet everyone is more concerned about blabbering over 2A just ignoring everything else go to pot. I call those armchair warriors. America is chocked full of them by design.
Topical anti-fungals. Less bathing, less washing clothes, less A/C equals jock-itch.
Don’t barter with strangers.
Never barter AMMO people will see this and think wow he has so much lets rob him.
Already barter within local groups…. “Loaned” a 40 foot ladder to a veterinarian for Zpacs and Bactrin, traded a couple of tie down straps for a box of .45 Colt, then a knife for 6 chickens, also fed anothers livestock for a couple of days for two Boefang radios … and so on. It’s been a common practice among us for about 25 years. Get out and start now, and you’ll have established a “community” and be ready when it gets serious.
Vaseline and slickem will be a good barter tool. You cant eat, no TV, just make every strike count.
When going to barter where there are lots of people and booths, beware of those that will follow you home to rob you later.