I don't know what kind of situation you are thinking of. That said: I think consumable items would be in great demand; rolls of toilet paper, coffee, tea, chocolate, candy bars, snack bars, vitamins, first-aid supplies, batteries, soap, etc..

That will surely go first... after that, I think things like seeds, cloth, metal implements and hand tools and shoes will all be in high demand. I don't know if my wife even owns a pair of shoes that would last a year working outside. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Anyone able to generate electricity via solar/wind will be a king! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> (especially since diesel/gas generatorss will run out). In the past 5 years we've seen just how sensitive and fragile our infrastructure is (hurricanes, blackout, terrorist attack, bio weapons). If Mother Nature doesn't get us first, we'll do ourselves in, I'm sure.

Those with old-school skills and the ability to fashion tools and clothes will be at a distinct advantage... makes me want to take that blacksmithing course.

couple of packs of cigarettes.

Just like in high school, the guy with smokes has friends.

<img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I'm with Iron Raven. I'm too old to carry much and too poor to stock much. So my trade goods are a large collection of skills that are useful.

This might not be bad item for us to hoard- pencils, paper, and paper clips in a bundle. Getting me to fix something for you costs X, getting me to copy out the apropriate parts of the appropriate books costs several Xs.

In all honesty, if we are talking TEOTWAWKI scenarios, knowledge is going to be the greated long term resource. Ignoring the socio-political abuses of the catholic church (and I mean it, don't bring them up, please), the function of monestaries as knowledge repositories was critical during the dark ages.

i guess a variety of batteries could come in handy. maybe even a bunch of those $1 LED lights from countycomm. and of course all of the stuff others have mentioned. good ideas.

The problem with the usual stuff; gold coin, paper money, beads, etc is that people will soon realize that they need things, not money.

I lkie the idea of storing Swiss army knives and toilet paper.

TRO

Suggested by whom? My point is that in a society where survival is all that counts and getting something for free by simply taking it is moral if you can rationalize it in your mind, arming folks not in your circle is not wise. Retaining superior firepower is the goal, it shouldn't be assumed; it is rarely a given. Trading ammunition is not the way to retain superior firepower. You don't know what you don't know. $.02

Odds are, in a TEOTWAWKI senario gold and silver will retain some intrinsic value. Particularly if you can get to people who are trying to salvage technology and have a lot of know how. Other than that, I don't see anyone bartering the last of their gas or coffee for gold, but someone who needs something more portable than chickens would have a use for it.

You can also use it for dealing with people who are thinking about when the "situation" will be over.

Depends how "your circle" is defined. Bartering by definition is expanding your circle. You wouldn't trade anything to someone you might have reason to fear.