What do you have for barter?

**tennecedar** · 03-26-2009, 06:13 PM

Does anyone have a specific list of items they keep extra of just for barter?
Silver? Food? Ammo? Wool blankets?
Any suggestions for any of us that always cruising yard sales and flee markets?

**Ken** · 03-26-2009, 06:16 PM

Does the ex-wife count here?

**crashdive123** · 03-26-2009, 06:19 PM

I don't keep a list, or for that matter stock up on things for that specific purpose. It would really depend on what was needed or what somebody else finds valuable. Booze? Ammunition? Rice? Gasoline? Maybe your skill to build or fix something? Vanillar Creamer? Just depends on what is in short supply and needed.

**Sourdough** · 03-26-2009, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by Ken

Does the ex-wife count here?

I'll take her...and give ya.....5 Geese and two turkeys, (I really want to get rid of the poultry, but don't want to kill them). Guessing You felt that way about the Ex at some point, so you know how I feel. The poultry is pretty much useless to me, hoping you Ex is good for something.....

**Ken** · 03-26-2009, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by hopeak

I'll take her...and give ya.....5 Geese and two turkeys, (I really want to get rid of the poultry, but don't want to kill them). Guessing You felt that way about the Ex at some point, so you know how I feel. The poultry is pretty much useless to me, hoping you Ex is good for something.....

I can't do it. I can't take advantage of a friend like that. The poultry are far more useful. This illustrates the personality changes my ex went through:

Besides, Alaska is still too close to me. And you wouldn't make me your Attorney General. However, I'd barter her to some alien from Pluto - if I didn't like the guy.

**Ken** · 03-26-2009, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by remy

Just a joke...nice and easy...

Maybe, her "personality change" came about when she realized what being married to you meant ?

Guys can be so...clueless.

Remy, what do you have to trade for my ex-wife? How about one of those matches?

**tennecedar** · 03-26-2009, 08:19 PM

OK maybe i'm the only one that does. I personally look for deals on ammo at the end of hunting season. In common calibers i may not even own. Someone will want/need them at some point. I kept a roll of tyvek from a house building job. i've traded pieces of that for things i need. More than paid for the roll and still have half of it left. I'm currently buying old traps to put up at the barn for a rainy day. Any other REAL suggestions would be a great help.

**endurance** · 03-26-2009, 08:19 PM

Seeds of all varieties.

**crashdive123** · 03-26-2009, 08:23 PM

Think about what would be of value for whatever scenario you envision. Storm related - having an extra generator may be of great value. Ammunition and firearms are always of value to somebody. The things that you would, and do stock up on for an emergency will be of value - buy more.

**canid** · 03-26-2009, 08:57 PM

the problem with yard sales, and thrift stores as well for that matter, the the nature of items. they are almost invariably the surplus of common domestic items [in often dubious condition] of which there are too many in the first place, and with which the average home is already equipped.

from this perspective, i would say that the values that last are often in the items that don't. anything storage stable, but consumable/disposable will always be in demand.

**tennecedar** · 03-26-2009, 09:06 PM

That's the way i felt too, once. In 1993 our house burned. My mom got us into a shelter house a church ran. A week there then into a rent house. We lost everything. My mom had to get a skillet from her sister to cook supper for us. I wore clothes given to me by a stranger. When a person/family/neighborhood gets displaced, those wore out items are life savers.

**canid** · 03-26-2009, 09:15 PM

yes, but there where and are plenty of them.

their lack of value holding ability, in economic terms is reflected by the enourmous discrepancy in new -vs- used pricing.

e.g. a new pair of slacks ranges from $20 upward.
a new teflon skillet of decent quality will often set you back $30.

either of these items can generally be found in a thrift store or a rummage sale for under $5, and often without respect to what condition they are actually in.

this is not to imply that those items are without value, or use, most of my posessions come from such sources, but that the more ubiquitous and durable they are, the less they will be in demand at any given time.

point: after a serious disruption in the supply of consumer goods as might follow a national or regional emergency; you will probably get more value out of a trade for a case of baby diapers than a matched set of mass produced flatware made in china by the millions, and with no shortage in supply.

**canid** · 03-26-2009, 09:19 PM

a further parallel: if you lived in coastal florida, and a hurricane has caused widespread flooding which has forced all the local supermarkets to close their doors, do you want to be one of the 5 guys standing on the same corner selling oranges, or perhaps the one guy with mangoes?

**Ken** · 03-26-2009, 09:22 PM

I hate to say this, but in a true barter situation you're probably going to be best off if you have liquor, cigarettes, and any possible drug or medication now on the market - legal and illegal - to trade.

**DOGMAN** · 03-26-2009, 09:48 PM

dogs, horses, chickens, homegrown veggies, water, manual labor, meat

**Ken** · 03-26-2009, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by Jason_Montana

.....manual labor

You mean, like, studding yourself out?

**crashdive123** · 03-26-2009, 09:53 PM

We often talk about bartering after some sort of SHTF scenario, but really there is no reason to wait. Google "how to barter" and you get millions of returns. Some people do it every day. Here's an interesting article http://www.motherearthnews.com/Natur...verything.aspx on barter.

**canid** · 03-26-2009, 09:59 PM

i used to go to Okanogan county barter fair up in NE Washington. thousands upon thousands turn out for it every year.

they get regulars out from Portland, Seattle, etc. it's surprising how far people will go for such a simple thing.