Here is a list of 50 items you can start collecting today to be much more prepared in any situation. Par.t 1
1. Gold & Silver
Gold and Silver are, or course, one of the first things many preppers consider when creating a stockpile for a SHTF scenario. Their worth is obvious and they will likely be the easiest items to barter with. It is wise to collect a smaller piece of gold, silver, or even platinum, often in coin, as it make them easier to trade with. You probably wouldn’t want to trade a bar of gold for a loaf of bread, so stockpiling bars might not be as useful as it first seems. If you do want bars consider Valcombi bars; they are perfect as they allow you to break off small pieces from the larger bar.
2. Water Filters/Life Straw
Water is one of the key elements of life, and proper filtration systems will be key to everyone’s survival. This makes filters and purifiers a potentially popular item for trade and bartering in a variety of survival or catastrophic situations. Water filter systems, tablets or personal filtrations systems like Life Straws, are not only great for bartering, but, like many of the items on this list, they are also important to have for yourself and your family too.
3. Ammunition
Guns are all good and well, but they are no better than a paperweight if you don’t have ammunition for them. That is why ammo is such a popular bartering item. Make sure to collect popular ammo sizes like 9mm, .38, .22, and 12 gauge shotgun shells. You may also consider Tasers, pepper spray and other defense devices as well.
4. Alcohol
Let’s not lie to ourselves, in the event of a disaster there is going to be a time when a drink is exactly what you need, and there are many people who are going to feel that way. That’s why in hard times, alcohol provides some of the best barter value out there. You may want to stick with plastic bottles to ease storage and weight concerns and also remember to think about smaller, single shot bottles; these can maximize their trade value at the lowest cost to you. Don’t forget alcohol can be used medicinally too; a person with a toothache would be happy to barter to get a little shot of whiskey.
5. Cigarettes
People are addicted to their smokes and they would undoubtedly be a high value trade item in a time of need. This one is a no-brainer,
6. Coffee and Tea
Caffeine is something that many of us need to have every day. In a SHTF scenario, not only would many need coffee and tea just to satisfy their cravings, these beverages also provide a little-needed energy that comes in handy in more physically demanding survival situations. It can also help keep you alert, ramping up its trade value even more.
7. Food/MREs
Having extra food for trade is probably one of the easiest items to acquire on your bartering list, you simply stockpile a little additional resources whenever you are adding survival foods and MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) to your collection. There is never such a thing as too much food in a survival situation.
8. Fuel
Any sort of fuel, gas, diesel, propane, or kerosene, could be the source of light and heat for some people. Fuel could even be providing power to others. Propane, for instance is easy to store, and better for trade if you buy the smaller camping tanks, which are easy to store.
9. Clothing
When adding clothing to your bartering stockpile, consider the essentials first; underwear and socks are cheap to obtain and a basic need for most of us. They also provide universal sizes to fit a larger selection of people, making them more effective for bartering. Jackets and protective outerwear, such as rubber boots, ponchos, and gloves could also come in handy, or even become even a necessity depending on the disaster or situation.
10. Medical Kits/Band-aids
First aid kits and band aids are other items that can carry a lot of barter value. The basic first aid essentials could save someone’s life in a dire situation making medical supplies of nearly any kind a potentially popular bartering item.
11. Medicines/Pain Meds
In addition to basic first aid, many people may be in need of medication. Just simple aspirin and Tylenol could be a needed item, but in extremely dire situations, medicines for a variety of pains and illnesses may become impossible to get. Antibiotics, pain medication, asthma treatments, even a roll of Antacid tablets could become an item of high value in a barter situation.
12. Portable Solar Panels
People who did not prepare as well as you did for a disaster situation may be looking for alternative sources of power in a variety of SHTF scenarios. That is what makes portable solar panels a great item for barter, as many who did not prepare will be looking for solutions to their power needs in the bartering world.