Step 1

Develop your survival skills and knowledge. Your skills and knowledge may be your biggest asset when it comes to bartering in an economic collapse or societal breakdown. Can you shoot deer? Identify edible wild plants? Cut and chop firewood? Think of skills you have that could help yourself and others in dire times. Learn as much as you can, now.

Step 2

Acquire hand tools and equipment. Tools of all types, from shovels and pickaxes to ross-cut saws and clippers, will be like gold when they are needed.

Step 3

Purchase extras of essential items. Stock up painlessly by getting an extra pack of waterproof matches or case of soap each time you shop. Personal care items, nonperishable foods and medical supplies are also great barter items.

Step 4

Buy extra tobacco, alcohol and chocolate for bartering purposes. Alcohol is not just a luxury--it is used as an antiseptic and preservative in times of need. Chocolate packs energy and nutrients into a small, tasty morsel. Choose darker chocolates for the most nutritive value.

Step 5

Acquire vegetable seeds, salt and spices, sturdy footwear and other important items. Surplus military items, such as wool blankets and mess kits, are relatively cheap now and buying a few extra will give you extra bartering capacity.

Step 6

Learn the true current value of basic items, realizing that original cost may become irrelevant. Salt, if scarce, will be worth more than you paid while luxury items may be nearly worthless. Plasma TVs don't look so great when the electric grid is down.

Step 7

Recognize your weaknesses and needs so when it is time to barter in an economic collapse, you have a good idea of what services or goods you want in exchange for yours.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2218968_Barter-Economic-Collapse.html

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Please don't take my avatar to seriously. I'm really not a bible thumping armageddon prophet.

Can we start a more extensive list of barter items to acquire? Here's my list:

Essentials: common first aid items (aspirin, Tylenol, Band-Aids, etc.); toilet paper; bottled water; matches; bottled lamp oil; string/twine; duct tape; common sizes of nails; pens; sewing kit (with straight & safety pins). FOOD ITEMS: powdered milk, powdered eggs; flour; yeast;baking soda;salt; oil; Bisquick-type baking mixes; canned fruit & vegetables; canned baked beans; canned meats; pasta; rice; cornstarch; fruit juice (not frozen!); more bottled water (in order to use many of the above foods); peanut butter; jam; sugar (brown & white).

NICE TO HAVE: Candy; gum; smoking items; liquor; chocolate; feminine hygiene items; condoms;do-it-yourself books; common, but useful, sturdy fabric yardage; shoelaces; crossword puzzle books (cheapos from $ store); winter gloves, hats, scarves; condiments/spices; ready-made, shelf-stable foods; baby forumula/bottles; make-up; hair gel; hairpins; brushes & combs; plastic sheeting; batteries (all sizes); cheap flashlights with the batteries;board games/puzzles; motor oil; pet food; paper plates, napkins, cups, plastic cutlery; XL, unisex hoodies, sweatshirts, sweatpants; socks; tissues; oral thermometers; garden tools; vegetable seeds; wire of common sizes; trash bags; kitty litter; plastic buckets; pots/pans; firewood; camping stoves with the heat source required. Also, you could barter cuttings from fruit plants, etc. that you grow. Vegetables/fruit you have grown; jerky you have dried. May be problems with legality at first, but I think that'll go away after awhile--nobody will care. Maps of the locale; Swiss Army knives; bullets of all calibres; Popcorn; dish detergent; bleach; soap; hand sanitizer; paper towels; pots to start seedlings in; tarps; funnels; firestarters; propane (grills, heat, emergency heaters); tea/coffee, powdered creamer; cocoa.

ALSO: I'd get ahold of silver, gold and copper bullion. I buy mine in 1 gram bars, and troy ounce bars. Reason: you can "make change" with the smaller ones (why buy a dozen eggs with an ounce of expensive gold, when 1 gram or 2 of silver would do?). Also keep some sterling silver and real gold jewelry on hand, following the same principle--earrings, pins, rings, then larger , more valuable pieces.

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WTSHTF: Gather it up, and use it for a GREAT fertilizer for your survival garden!

Check out a previous post from this site:

The first 100 things to run out in an emergency

http://www.emergencypreparationforum.com/the-first-100-things-to-run-out-in-an-emergency-50.html

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Please don't take my avatar to seriously. I'm really not a bible thumping armageddon prophet.

My thoughts on barter and trade

Never show more than necessary for a given trade.
Never let on like you have more.
Only trade alcohol, weapons, and ammunition to those you know will not be a problem for you later.
Try to barter skills and knowledge rather than goods. They don’t run out.
Try to barter the use of tools and equipment rather than trading them away.
Try to make trades in neutral areas or a designated barter/trade meeting. Make sure you aren’t followed back home.
Not all the items/skills listed will be of much value early into the event. It could be three to five years or more for some of the items to become valuable.

Some of what I'm acquiring for barter (No, I don’t have all of these items. Yet.)

Scales to get agreed upon weights of items
commercial scale (±500#)
commercial scale (±100#)
commercial scale (±10#)
commercial scale (±16oz)

small containers for measured out items (spices, meds, etc.)(really small zip-locks)

1.0 oz gold coins
0.1 oz gold coins
40 count rolls silver quarters
50 count rolls silver dimes
blank barter slips

200ml bottles 190 proof Everclear
smokeless tobacco
2 oz boxes tobacco
booklets cigarette papers
smoking pipes
small boxes matches
butane lighter fuel
Zippo lighter fuel
lighter flints
lighter wicks
disposable lighters
straight razors w/strop, soap, & cup
shaving soap
Q-tips

playing cards
dice

candle/oil lamp wick
Coleman lantern mantles
Crank flashlights

2 oz jars instant coffee
16 count boxes teabags
2 oz jars bouillon cubes
tubs add-water-only drink mix

1 pound boxes sugar
various spices
2 oz boxes salt
2 oz cans pepper
5 oz cans milk
4 oz cans cocoa
2 oz bars chocolate candy
8 oz bags hard candy (individually wrapped)

4 oz cans Vienna sausage/potted meat
12 oz cans roast beef
7 oz cans Spam (or 12oz)(or Treet)
6 oz cans tuna
10 oz cans soup (heavy on the meat types)

16 oz bags rice
16 oz bags beans/lentils

aspirin pain killer
acetaminophen pain killer
multi-vitamin
OTC reading glasses
OTC UVA/UVB resistant sunglasses
Cheap wide-brimmed straw hats

small boxes tampons/sanitary napkins
reusable sanitary napkins

reusable cotton diapers
diaper pins

clothes pins

wooden pencils/ink pens
small note books
legal pads

50 count bottles water purification tablets

6”-12” candles
boxes strike anywhere kitchen matches

rolls toilet paper
bars soap (Ivory, Lava, Fels Naptha laundry soap)
hair combs/brushes
disposable razors
toothbrushes
boxes baking soda
shoe and boot laces

packets safety pins
packets of sewing needles
spools of thread

mousetraps
rat traps
fly swatters

jersey gloves
cotton/leather work gloves
insulated gloves
socks

tubes silicone sealant
tubes Shoe Goo/Goop
tubes JB Weld
duct tape
mechanic’s wire
electrical tape
friction tape
rubber tape
sheet plastic
divided buckets with a variety of nails, screws, bolts, nuts, and washers
sealed cans of welding rods (6011 and/or 7018 1/8”)
variety of brazing rods
cans of brazing flux

regular canning lids
wide mouth canning lids
Tattler reusable canning lids
Tattler reusable canning lid rubber rings
P-38/P-51 can openers

1-lb propane cylinders
10-lb bags charcoal briquettes

solar 12-volt battery chargers
solar AAA, AA, C, D, 9-volt battery charger
rechargeable batteries 20 each AAA, AA, C, D, 9-volt


#10 cans heirloom seeds
Coffee plant seed
Tobacco plant seed
Tea plant seed
Poppy plant seed

Biodiesel production chemicals
Soap making chemicals

500-round bricks .22 LR RF cartridges
5-round boxes .410/20 GA shells
single units M6 Scout/Savage 24F/Remington SPR-94 O/U .22 RF/.410 or 20 gauge combos


Here are some examples of Tradesman’s Tools that could be stockpiled and either used and the product/service bartered, or their USE bartered out. One wouldn’t barter away the tools that bring in the food. (Again, I don’t have all the items or skills.)
±500# scale
±100# scale
±10# scale
±16oz scale

Tailor/Seamstress tools
Sewing machine
Serger
Sewing basket (needles, thimbles, thread, measuring tape, seam ripper, scissors, shears, marking chalk, straight edge, pins, neck magnifying glass, etc.)
bolts of cloth, patterns, spare needles, pins, chalk, thread, buttons, zippers, snaps, etc)
Treadle type sewing machine (Janome 712T)
weaving looms
>1,000 watt generator


Food processing tools
Grain grinders, solar dehydrators, butchering tools, manual meat slicer, manual meat grinder, sausage stuffer, stuffing tubes, jerky shooter, meat smoker, water purifier


barbers tools
scissors, combs, hair brushes, dusting brush, broom, dust pan, chair, neck apron, razor, shaving cup, shaving soap, towels

ammunition reloader’s tools
Dillion progressive tool w/primary caliber dies
RCBS press with common caliber dies
Bullet casting equipment
lead
black powder making tools & screens

laundry tools
Staber washing machine
laundry soap
bleach
clothes lines w/poles, stakes & clothes pins
water heater (kettle w/tripod)
water tank
12v pump & battery
drain line
James washer w/wringer
2+ washtubs
>1,000 watt generator

entertainment tools
band instruments
projection TV
TV projector
Lap-top computer
DVD disk player
VHS tape player
Chairs
Karaoke machine w/cd-g’s
Lighting system
Sound system
>1,500 watt generator
Battery bank, solar panels, and inverter
protective bullet resistant face for TV’s if used
Classic books for storyteller to read

home canning equipment & supplies
firewood cutting tools
knife/edged tool sharpening tools
printer’s/newspaper publisher’s tools
butcher/meat cutter’s tools
meat processors tools (sausage, etc.)
tanner’s tools
milk processors tools (cheese, etc.)
baker’s tools & supplies
bath house/shower room tools
candle maker’s tools & supplies
gardener’s tools
mechanic’s tools
machinist’s tools - Smithy Granite 1340 Industrial Max metalworking all-in-one machine
woodworker’s tools - Shopsmith Mark V woodworking all-in-one machine
blacksmith’s tools - Oxygen accumulator, acetylene generator
plumber’s tools
lumber making tools - portable sawmill
electrician’s tools
carpenter’s tools
roofer’s tools
stonemason’s tools
primitive building tools
cobbler/shoe maker’s tools
soap maker’s tools
brewer/wine maker’s tools
distillery tools
miller’s tools
spinner & weaver’s tools (looms)
teaching tools and supplies K-12
smelter/foundry/metal worker’s tools
sheep sheering tools
papermaking tools
rope, cordage, and net making tools
millwright’s tools
farm tools (prepare, sow, cultivate, harvest)
biodiesel equipment & supplies
wood gas generator equipment & supplies
charcoal making tools
black powder making tools
reference/do-it-yourself library (books/magazines/CD-ROMs/DVDs)(never let the media out of your control)


Here are the skill sets I think most likely to be needed. (I only have a few of them myself)

Alternative energy specialist
Ammunition re-loader
Appliance repairman
Assayer
Baker
Banker
Barber
Basket maker
Bathhouse/shower room operator
Beekeeper
Bicycle Repairman
Biodiesel maker
Blackpowder maker
Blacksmith
Botanist
Brew master
Brick maker
Bullet caster
Butcher/meat processor
Candle maker
Carpenter
Cartridge maker
Cartwright
Chandler
Charcoal burner
Cheese maker
Chemist
Chimney sweep
Cobbler/shoe maker
Coffin maker
Cook
Cooper (barrel maker)
Coppersmith
Dentist
Distiller, drinking alcohol
Distiller, fuel alcohol
Doctor
Dog trainer
Electrician
Electronics tech
Farmer
Farm hand
Farrier
Firewood purveyor
Fisherman
Food canner/processor
Furniture maker
Gardener
Gatherer (wild plants, useful rocks and minerals)
Glass maker
Goatherd
Goldsmith/silversmith
Gravedigger
Gunpowder maker
Gunsmith/gun maker
Handyman
Harvester/picker
Heavy equipment operator
Herbalist/mineralist
Horse trainer/wrangler
Hunter/trapper
Ice purveyor/harvester/maker
Knife maker
Knife sharpener
Knitter/crocheter
Laundress/laundry room operator
Leather worker
Librarian
Logger/forester/sawyer
Lumber maker
Machinist
Mechanic
Metal worker
Metallurgist
Midwife
Milk maid
Milk processor
Miller
Millwright
Miner
Mulcher/composter/manure collector
Net maker
Nurse
Optician (eyeglass maker)
Orchardman/arborist
Paper maker
Peace Officer
Pedi-cab driver
Pest control specialist
Pharmacist
Plumber
Postman
Pottery maker
Primitive building specialist
Printer/newspaperman
Radio Operator
Rancher
Ranch hand
Repairman
Roofer
Rope/cordage maker
Sail maker
Sailor (Boatswain)
Salt maker
Salvage specialist
Security guard
Shake/shingle maker
Sheep sheerer
Shepherd
Shipwright/boat builder
Shoemaker
Skill At Arms instructor
Small engine mechanic
Smelter/foundryman
Soap maker
Soldier
Spice purveyor
Spinner/Weaver
Stonemason/brick layer
Sugar maker
Surveyor
Tailor/seamstress
Tanner
Teacher
Thatcher
Tinker
Tire repairman
Tool & die maker
Trader/Wagoner
Trapper
Truck driver
Undertaker
Veterinarian
Watch/clock repairman/maker
Weaver
Welder
Well driller
Wheelwright
Winemaker
Wood gas equipment maker
Woodworker


A few skills that won’t be in high demand, but would be a good secondary skill

Artist
Bookbinder
Candy maker
Comedian
Dye maker
Entertainer
Historian
Ink maker
Judge/arbitrator
Karaoke operator
Maid
Massage therapist
Musician
Physicist
Scribe
Secretary
Storyteller
Toy & game maker


Some things I probably won’t get for barter for this reason: If there is a large die off the items will be available to pick up all sorts of places. If there isn’t one, they will still be available through normal channels.

Knives, especially ‘Cheap’ knives
Clothing
Tools (Yes, have a really good set for yourself, and possibly one to barter the use of, but keep the tools)
Cooking equipment
Fishing gear

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Jerry D Young