Poor Man's Barter Items

Ganado · Nov 2, 2015

Ive been collecting a list of 'poor man's" barter items. Here is my list... anyone else have ideas?

FOOD
Aluminum foil
Baking Soda
Canned food – any type
Cocoa
Coffee filters,
Coffee,
Cooking Oil
Calcium Hypochlorite (Pool Shock)
Dry beans
Flour… wheat and a grinder
Funnels
Hard candy
Honey, stevia
Kool-aid
manual can openers
Noodles
Popcorn
Rice
Spices cinnamon, cloves, allspice, sage, parsley, salt, pepper
Spirits: wine, whisky, beer, vodka, brandy
Sugar
Yeast

H / G ITEMS
Fishing line 20+lb
hooks
knives
Mason jars
multi tool
poles
sinkers
sling shot, ball bearings
snares
steel wool

GROOMING
Bars of soap
Combs, Hair brushes, hair pins
Disposable razors
Feminine products, maxi pads and tampons
Nail clippers and files
Toilet paper
Tooth paste, Toothbrushes, Dental floss
Condoms

CLOTHING & SEWING
Borax
Clothes pins Clothes lines
Dryer Lint (to use as firestarter)
Elastic-material or velcro
Fels naphtha bar soap
Garbage cans
Home made laundry detergent
needles (regular and upholstery)
Oxyclean
Panty hose
Petroleum jelly (Vaseline)
Reading glasses
Scissors, Needles, Straight pins, Safety pins, Buttons, Thread
Shoe laces
Socks – all sizes & colors
Washing/laundry soda

MEDICAL
Band aids
Cough syrup
Essential oils
Eye drops
Ibuprofen, Tylenol, and aspirin
Iodine
Laxatives
Lip balm or chapstick
Lugos Iodine
Peroxide
Vaseline
Dental?

GARDEN
Fresh garden produce and herbs
Garden compost
Garden fertilizer
Hand garden tools
Heirloom garden seeds
Herb plants

MISC
Automotive oil and air filters
Axes, saw
Baby wipes
Batteries
Bleach (or freshly made pool shock)
Brooms
Candles, wax, crayons
Cigarette lighters
Cigarettes
Copy paper
cotton balls, large with soaked in petroleum jelly
Duct tape
Dust pans
Fly swatters
Garbage bags
Insect spray
Lined notebook paper
Nails, nuts, bolts, & screws
Old newspapers
Paperback books
Pencils, Ballpoint pens
Plastic sheeting
Plastic tarps
Plastic tubs & containers
Rat & mouse poison
Rodent traps
Rope of any type
Scrap paper
Sheep sheers
Shovel
Tobacco
Tobacco seeds
Two cycle oil
Vice grips
Wheel barrow/ wagon
Wooden, strike anywhere matches
Aluminum foil

stg58 · Apr 5, 2015

Ammunition components, Powder, primers and jacketed bullets.
Hydraulic fluid.

Dunerunner · Apr 5, 2015

it would take a well healed wallet to stockpile all that is on your list. But, it is comprehensive...

I'll add the ability and facilities to filter, sterilize and package water.

Ganado · Apr 5, 2015

love your contributions and its

POOR MAN's BARTER ITEMS
@Dunerunner what items are cheap that can filter water and pack it
I have coffee filters as a bulk filter, what else would you add.?

Agreed... It's alot and it's just an exercise in thinking ahead

Dunerunner · Apr 5, 2015

To filter water and sterilize water,

Two 5 gallon plastic buckets can be scavenged and cleaned
perforate the bottom of one bucket with fine holes from a knife point, ice pick or awl
fill one third with 1/4" and smaller washed round river rock, can be collected locally (requires work)
cover the rock with 2" of sand (local resource)
fill the next third with charcoal, can be manufactured locally (requires work)
cover the charcoal with a layer of sand about 2" deep (see requirements above)
Stack into the 2nd bucket and sprinkle water over the sand in the first
collect the water and boil for 15 minutes in any suitable vessel, preferably a stainless pot or cup
boiled water can be added directly to a stainless steel canteen or thermos bottle and covered

Water must be kept covered until cooled to be contained in plastic, however the plastic container must be sterilized with water and bleach or other suitable disinfectant. The key is to disinfect with heat rather than chemicals.

This is a system, not necessarily readily available but something that could be acquired, just in case ...

You will eventually run out of coffee filters.

Brokor · Apr 5, 2015

@Ganado maybe if you alphabetized that list, it would help us find things easier -but it is fantastic nonetheless!

As for water filtration/treatment on a budget, as we have covered (somewhere) on various posts through the years, you could invest in cheap disposable Aquamira straws (run less than $10 each). Of course, there are better methods, but they cost more. Also, the cheapest method for treatment would be chlorine tablets in bulk (sodium hypochlorite) without additives. Some would stock liquid bleach, which is fine short term, but it will break down in a few years. You could also make out like a bandit if you made your own charcoal or stocked up on pure wood charcoal. The 5 gallon bucket filtration method is also fantastic, as was mentioned.

Also, if you do stock any type of noodles (Ramen, egg, etc.) or even pasta, be sure to vacuum seal the packages well. They can go bad if left in its standard packaging.

As for canned food, that's hit and miss for some foods. I would stick with SPAM mainly. That stuff will last forever.

Gopherman · Apr 5, 2015

I've been hoarding lighters lately as well as canning food. We have around 2 hundred jars of different stuff.
Bulk Tobacco and rolling papers, candy, whole popping corn, dehydrated fruit....
I think in hard times it's going to be the comfort items that will find favor!

Mindgrinder · Apr 5, 2015

Um...you dont have a knife in that list. Shame on you fail.;p

shopping cart
potassium iodide
elastic bands
zap straps
worms
hooks
lead sinkers
20+lb fishing line
fishing poles
reels
fishing net
crab trap
snares
tackle boxes
wetstone
multitool
bow & arrows
slingshot
ball berrings
funnel
solar calulator
silver - medical grade
unshielded copper wire
rj11 telephone and coax cable
battery charger
rechargable batteries
flashlight
mason jars and reusable lids
dome tent
sleeping bag
sleeping mat
rain jacket
boots
binoculars
yeast
map books
compass
saddles
horse shoes and tack
sheep sheers
railroad spikes
tea bags
peroxide
vinegar
shovel
wheelbarrel (tactical preferred)
steel wool
propane torch
vice grips
chicken wire
water pump

Makes me feel like going yard sale shopping today....

and most importantly...
Big Red Panic Button and a towel.

Ganado · Apr 5, 2015

Mindgrinder said: ↑

Um...you dont have a knife in that list. Shame on you fail.;p

shopping cart
potassium iodide
elastic bands
zap straps
worms
hooks
lead sinkers
20+lb fishing line
fishing poles
reels
fishing net
crab trap
snares
tackle boxes
wetstone
multitool
bow & arrows
slingshot
ball berrings
funnel
solar calulator
silver - medical grade
unshielded copper wire
rj11 telephone and coax cable
battery charger
rechargable batteries
flashlight
mason jars and reusable lids
dome tent
sleeping bag
sleeping mat
rain jacket
boots
binoculars
yeast
map books
compass
saddles
horse shoes and tack
sheep sheers
railroad spikes
tea bags
peroxide
vinegar
shovel
wheelbarrel (tactical preferred)
steel wool
propane torch
vice grips
chicken wire
water pump

Makes me feel like going yard sale shopping today....

and most importantly...
Big Red Panic Button and a towel.
Click to expand...

Wow I did forget sharp edge stabbing items..... real fail was fishing hooks and line... Mea culpa
1) what is a zap strap?
2) personally im getting a wagon instead of a wheel barrow... keep your hands free =)

I will see if I can organize it later this week

NotSoSneaky · Apr 5, 2015

Brokor said: ↑

<snip>
Also, if you do stock any type of noodles (Ramen, egg, etc.) or even pasta, be sure to vacuum seal the packages well. They can go bad if left in its standard packaging.

As for canned food, that's hit and miss for some foods. I would stick with SPAM mainly. That stuff will last forever.
Click to expand...

Leave pasta in original packaging, dry noodles can be very sharp and will puncture vacuum seal bags.
Believe me, I found out the hard way.

I will also add
.177 & .22 pellets for air rifles.

Illini Warrior · Apr 5, 2015

NotSoSneaky said: ↑

Leave pasta in original packaging, dry noodles can be very sharp and will puncture vacuum seal bags.
Believe me, I found out the hard way.

I will also add
.177 & .22 pellets for air rifles.
Click to expand...

you don't vac seal anything that's intended for long term storage .... the plastic wrap will keep it dry & clean - that's all ..... the plastic is air permeable and the vac starts diminishes immediately and gone completely within 6 months ....

PS .... don't get started with any trade goods until you've flushed out with your complete prep plan requirements .... those are prime items that you won't be trading for post-SHTF .....

vonslob · Apr 5, 2015

Illini Warrior said: ↑

you don't vac seal anything that's intended for long term storage .... the plastic wrap will keep it dry & clean - that's all ..... the plastic is air permeable and the vac starts diminishes immediately and gone completely within 6 months ....
Click to expand...

I must use a different type of vac sealer. I have items sealed that have remained seal for several years. I vac seal matches, have used them years later and the seals are intact and the matches very fresh.

NotSoSneaky · Apr 5, 2015

Illini Warrior said: ↑

you don't vac seal anything that's intended for long term storage .... the plastic wrap will keep it dry & clean - that's all ..... the plastic is air permeable and the vac starts diminishes immediately and gone completely within 6 months ....

PS .... don't get started with any trade goods until you've flushed out with your complete prep plan requirements .... those are prime items that you won't be trading for post-SHTF .....
Click to expand...

I have extra clothing vac sealed in my truck that's held a nice tight deal for the past five years. Sevaral roasts in the freezer for the past 18+ months as well

YMMV.

Ganado · Apr 5, 2015

vonslob said: ↑

I must use a different type of vac sealer. I have items sealed that have remained seal for several years. I vac seal matches, have used them years later and the seals are intact and the matches very fresh.
Click to expand...

Wanna barter your vacuum sealer

OK seriously... Which vacuum sealer do you use?

oldawg · Apr 5, 2015

Illini Warrior said: ↑

you don't vac seal anything that's intended for long term storage .... the plastic wrap will keep it dry & clean - that's all ..... the plastic is air permeable and the vac starts diminishes immediately and gone completely within 6 months ....

PS .... don't get started with any trade goods until you've flushed out with your complete prep plan requirements .... those are prime items that you won't be trading for post-SHTF .....
Click to expand...

The lot of beans,rice,and peas we are currently rotating out were vacuum sealed in aug. of '09 and about 9 of 10 are still tight. That's in 3.5 mil channel vacuum bags.

techsar · Apr 5, 2015

Just finished the Y2K red beans and rice, vacuum packed in '99. Still under vacuum. Maybe if quality bags are purchased, the permeability isn't such and issue?

vonslob · Apr 5, 2015

Just a regular foodsaver, purchased from Costco. I am thinking the model number is V3825 and use food saver bags, maybe some bags from www.uline.com.

Edit: Matches sealed march 2008

Brokor · Apr 5, 2015

Yes, some pasta is sharp (linguine for example) and doesn't vacuum seal well. I was thinking more like macaroni, which I have vacuum sealed for many years now and it's doing fine. I use Foodsaver bags and I have very few problems. Also, for linguine, I have dumped it all into larger sealed bins, the kind with rubber gaskets and added a couple O2 absorbers. I didn't think we would nit-pick over particulars, just wanted to point out that Ramen noodles and especially egg noodles shouldn't be kept in regular packaging because they DO go bad after a while.

Witch Doctor 01 · Apr 5, 2015

Needles including upholstery needles, Rubber bands ( makes great pendrose drains for wounds) Velcro, safety pins, straight pins, a couple of 1/4 mile electrical fence wire spools, duct tape, alcohol, peroxide, "Q"tips, gauze, bull dog clips, super glue, gorilla glue, blue tarps...

ghrit · Apr 5, 2015

And the caches will grow without bounds.

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