Favourite Barter Items

There are lots of possibilities from alcohol, to spices or ammunition.

I heard that after Hurricane Sandy, the most sought after supplies were gasoline, bread -$10 a loaf- (flour), candles.....
ICRCC, alcohol would keep forever and a handy barter item - even keeps below freezing temperatures (ie. in the garage).
Matches would be another good barter item, as well as disposable razors, shoelaces, leather gloves, extra can openers, candles, kitchen utensils (inexpensive at thrift stores), hard candy, medical masks....

comfort food.... chocolate and beer

comfort food.... chocolate and beer

Yes, these are the sort of "luxury" barter items that would be handy BBB, not just the usual food items & neccessities, etc. I have a good stash of chocolate and alcohol, even though I don't use either myself I figure they just may come in handy one day 🙂

I heard that after Hurricane Sandy, the most sought after supplies were gasoline, bread -$10 a loaf- (flour), candles.....
ICRCC, alcohol would keep forever and a handy barter item - even keeps below freezing temperatures (ie. in the garage).
Matches would be another good barter item, as well as disposable razors, shoelaces, leather gloves, extra can openers, candles, kitchen utensils (inexpensive at thrift stores), hard candy, medical masks....

I have all of these "everyday" supplies already in good quantities, and also quite a few other items that may become much more difficult to procure..... ie; quantity of reading glasses in different strengths (if you can't read a map how are you going to get there?) bulk cream, tincture bases, dried herbs for remedies with instructions for making your own medicinal herbal treatments, and unusual items people rely on but may not think about until they need it. Also supplies & remedies for animals. Trying to think outside of the square a little more 🙂

Comeing from a guy this will sound strange but disposable womens products
The reason I know is it was one thing the girls in Bosnia could not get

Anything like that as well ie soap,tooth paste and brushes' deodorant all stuff we take for granted and use with out thinking where they come from

I'm interested to know what others think are the best/would be most sought after barter items they have in their supplies eg, soap & toiletries, condoms, feminine items, clothing, tobacco, alcohol, seeds, etc. (aside from food, water, etc obviously)

You took the words out of my mouth and have the most common things that would be BIG barter things...I have Smokes, Alcohol, and toiletries Like Toilet paper, tooth paste, tooth brushes. these are very light things if I have to bug out fast also that I can take with me.... 😎

Comeing from a guy this will sound strange but disposable womens products
The reason I know is it was one thing the girls in Bosnia could not get

Anything like that as well ie soap,tooth paste and brushes' deodorant all stuff we take for granted and use with out thinking where they come from

Not strange at all Mule...good thinking!! 😀 There are so many women who would be absolutely desperate to get some feminine hygiene product supplies, as safe alternatives are very limited and would be very difficult to procure. They also double as first aid dressings too. For the ladies out there reading this..you may want to think about things you can clean & reuse - sea sponges for example.

Black Ops first aid kit contains pads and tampons. Pads for broad wounds and tampons for gunshots. 😮

learn to be a jack of all trades.
Become that indispensable person. Be the one that everyone needs.
Learn to do without the items that no longer exist on store shelves by creating substitutes. and above all know how to create Clean drinking water.and a home made purification source and have a good heat source, in Canada preferably with wood and an outside boiler to heat water to feed into a heating system for making biofuel and veggie oil vehicles.

comfort food.... chocolate and beer

Yes, these are the sort of "luxury" barter items that would be handy BBB, not just the usual food items & neccessities, etc. I have a good stash of chocolate and alcohol, even though I don't use either myself I figure they just may come in handy one day 🙂

One of the professors at my school has a large safe full of high quality European chocolates...

I'm interested in learning to cultivate tobacco, and storing some seeds. Although no one in my family smokes anymore, some smokers get pretty desperate without their habit. Could be some very good deals to be made if you're the only one in town with a supply. I'm assuming that, like cigars, smokes with deteriorate after time, so stockpiling your favourite brand might not work so well.

As previously mentioned, alcohol will likely be a must have. Knowing how to brew or distill will be handy. I've got a few recipes around for various alcohols from some homesteading books, including a dandelion wine.

Furs, hides, leather, and other textiles than can make clothing will become vital, after all, how many people know how to tan leather? I have a little book-knowledge, but haven't yet had the option to practice tanning. Along with that, yarn spinning, knitting, weaving, etc are skills that could put you in business.

For those who hate the dark, candles would be a great bartering item. Knowing how to make candles by dipping or cast and wicks (cotton). Tallow candles (fat) cheap, and bees wax candles, expensive. Candle holders. A person could possibly make a living in producing just honey and bees wax, and candles.

Restaurants often end up with a huge supply of food grade 20 litre or smaller plastic pails. Once the contents are empty, the restaurants no longer have a need for them. Most restaurants do not recycle, so the pails end up going out in the garbage bin.

These are food grade and better than anything you can buy in the store. They would become a valuable commodity very quickly in an emergency. Preppers interested in stockpiling plastic pails should approach restaurants and ask what they do with their pails. Some will be glad to give them for free.

Ammo