In addition to rotating my perishables, my current focus has been trying to think of the best items to stockpile for possible barter.

In addition to food and precious metals, what are the best items to have for a possible bartering situation? Items that are small and can be stored in bulk etc...what has everyone else been stockpiling PURELY for barter purposes?

Since you are also in So.Cal,I would suggest Good .22 Ammo,such as CCI-Velocitor.It normally retails for about $5-8 per box of 50,If...You can find it!The Pasadena,Ventura, OC&Ontario gunshows sell out of this same stuff,Usually the 1st day,though the prices are much lower than retail,$3-4 Usually.Re-loading supplies,i.e. Brass,primers,& Powder& Lead,are also Huge sellers,& tough to come by,as of late,At least in Central L.A. County!Whole Powdered milk has,Steadily been climbing in price,& quality/taste have gone down,as well as some Major brands are not to be found anymore.Nido by Nestle co. is about the only decent tasting Whole milk powder,Presently!Cream of Wheat/Rice & Malto-meal are at an All time high in price.Honey is/and will always be appealing to everyone,& is getting up there in price.Honey stores practically, Forever!Merino Wool Anything, is an Xlnt thing to have!Good Socks are Always Welcomed!Turkish Cotton Towels-400 thread count are sought by the elite.There is an active thread going right now,for Lodge Cast Ironware,of which is the very best thing going for "Precious"metals,Remember You can't eat/nor cook on Gold/Silver,well I wouldn't recommend it anyhow! Just some suggestions,Good Luck!

I don't stock anything specifically for barter. But it has to be noted that if things get bad enough virtually anything might be attractive. Food and water would be needed by everyone. Of course, if things get bad enough, at least for some initial interval, until systems find things they can trade with, barter may not be entirely practical because so many have little or nothing to trade in return. People living hand-to-mouth with little other property lack the wherewithal to participate.

Hammers, nails, tarps, handsaws for structure fixing; hygiene items (esp TP), blankets, flashlights, batteries, rope/cordage, hand-crank radios.

Plenty of these things can be had inexpensive, especially if you are getting them for the sole purpose of barter.

My $.02

I think Barter will always be practical,Rich/poor/otherwise.You don't have to have material to barter.Wits,info,intel,labor,even humor would be welcomed.Everybody has something to exchange!Think of the old tale,Stone soup.Now that's a fine piece of Bartering during Hard Times!

I have extra ammo, but it's not purely for barter. I can use some and then replace it. It's small and can serve as currency in whatever amount is right. Plus, the people that will want ammo are likely to have stock piled something of value that I may want, like maybe fuel, a generator, frozen meat, fishing supplies or whatever. That's the beauty of stock piling ammo.

Actually the story of 'Stone soup' is a object lesson in community cooperation and collectivism. The stone adds nothing other than an excuse for people to contribute hoarded food stocks.



It is possible that other people and groups might have other things stockpiled. But it has to be noted that when barter comes up on survival, preparation and survivalist boards invariably one of the first thing mentioned for barter, and the one thing most write about having in quantity, is ammunition.

If everyone has ammunition, and it is not being consumed very rapidly, its value might be quite low.

I said Practical,Not Cynical! Stone soup has Nothing to do with Community,As it is of one soldier,& one old man!Collectivism? The soldier Bartered his wit for Nourishment,in a Village ravaged by War,lol!

One of my friends is starting to stock up on scotch.

But I'm not sure if that's for barter...

Hey! Thats an Xlnt idea,Scotch gets better with age,& If you don't use it for awhile,No problem,the value is always there.Xlnt 1st Class idea!Thanx!