$150 can be a small fortune in some countries, Ilbob. I've traded gear and even clothing in some countries I've been too.

yup, spuds

I love gold, haertig. But I have a lot of trade goods stored. OTC meds, toiletries, candies, tobacco (FINALLY my indian blood pays off, got great prices on tobacco out on the res), femini hyne hygiene (Can't tell you how manly I felt buying buying tampons, sanitary napkins and douche by the case) among other things. One thing that will be a trade good is alcohol.

True Bingley. But i still do the international thing from time to time, and I no longer have a home office to supply stacks of local currencyso it's a bit harder. Now I pack extra cash, some rands, extra mags, extra knife and spare cell.

When I was in the NAVY and on deployments over seas I wore a plain gold band ring with my name ingraved in it.I also had a heavy link silver braclet.It was always my thought to use it as barter if need be.I also wore a LARGE silver greenman ring that was a trademark of mine on ship.If it was seen on another person locally it would have meant foul play was afoot....

BOATMAN
John

OMG! They let NAVY people come here? What's next? The weekend warriors and Air Force? LMAO. Just Kidding Boatman. I like your choices in trade wear. For years I wore a silver mercenary bracelet that looked like an elephant hair one. It went out in a few trades but always found it's way back to me. What's a greenman ring? Sounds Irish? Thanks for the input, much appreciated/

My wife's grandparents bartered sewing needles and thread for food, etc. as they trekked across Siberia in the aftermath of the 1918 Russian Revolution. It doesn't have to be valuable - just scarce and desirable. Could be anything - Coors Light, anyone?

I've see that many times. Thanks izzy.

my first overseas assignment was to Japan, and it a being pretty civilized country, carried just enough money "stashed" to get a black market taxi ride home if I missed the ferryboat... on an E3's pay, stashing 3000Yen (around $10)was pretty extravagant..one of the hostesses at the EM's club wrote out phonetically and in katakana some phrases for directions to, and characters for things like hospital, police, train station etc on a 3x5 card... .when I got to the Philippines in 72, after some TDY to Okinawa and first trip to Thailand... one of the must have purchases was an elephant leather money belt...it came in handy a couple of times... a copy (color slide of my birth certificate) and a copy of my orders with a TSCW clearance got me on board a space available flight on a courier plane, and into the US Embassy in Bangkok... I stashed $20US in fives, and about $20 in the local currency as soon as I got in country... over the years, I somehow misplaced the elephant leather belt, but was given a nylon money belt by a friend... you young lady might need something like it if she gets any R&R or duty station to a non combat zone of iffy relations with the US... this one is from Aero Stitch who makes motorcycle stuff... I'm sure there are cheaper copies available

My "stash" belts both in nylon for EDC and leather for work, are very well outfitted with items for urban survival and with cash. They've never been detectected and look like ordinary belts.