What kinds of things are folks planning on stocking for barter? I think I would be more up for barter than having large amounts of cash around. Thanks in advance.

-- barterer (newbie@preparing.now), February 28, 1999

Answers

Here's a thread from November about barter items:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000Fa5

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), February 28, 1999.

The most negotiable items in the world... 1. Liquor 2. Cigarettes 3. Cheap foodstuffs 4. Something few people I'll bet are thinking of: Personal care items (Deodorant, toothbrushes, soap, cosmetic items, etc.)

I envision a 7.5 to an 8. Thus I am planning accordingly. What does my 7.5-8 mean? 2-3 months of supply disruptions due to major dislocations within the transportation industry and very irregular power supplies in the region where I live.

-- John Galt (jgaltfla@hotmail.com), February 28, 1999.

Have you thought of all the extra work your hands will do ?? Cold weather too! Vasoline intensive care show be a must for yourself and to trade. Cheap , also, is isopropal alcohol for disinfecting purposes. Candles are a must ... NO ONE likes to be in the dark !!! Eagle (checking the nest .)

-- Harold Walker (e999eagle@freewwweb.com), February 28, 1999.

I can't believe no one has mentioned that most basic of items: seeds. We live in rural Iowa and none of our neighbors have anything but hybrid seeds. My daughter is reading the book "Seed to Seed" as her role in our family preparedness strategy, and she remarked yesterday that in the beginning of the book it talks of immigrants coming to this country "smuggling" seeds in the liners of their coats and such. I take the approach that you can give a guy a fish or you can teach him: storing food or storing seed kind of has the same connotation. The first only lasts so long - the second lasts forever in a self- perpetuating kind of way. We expect that our neighbors (all five of them) will be more than happy to trade animals for seed at some point.

Also - does anyone have a treadle sewing machine? If not, that's quite a service to offer in barter.

Speaking of service, what about grain milling? Or trading flour? Or solar water purification?

Wow... never really thought of services to trade after 2000... hmmm...

-- Brett (savvydad@aol.com), February 28, 1999.

Matches, the all important TP, Ramen noodles, all cheap.

-- Scotty (BLehman202@aol.com), February 28, 1999.

Got the seeds ( non hybrid ), and got the scale to measure them against five times their weight in gold, for all those politicians and stock broker types buying the primevil forest land that were home to the deer I planed to hunt for food, before they came. Eagle Got binoculars ?? ( Need to see "them" coming before they see you! )

-- Harold Walker (e999eagle@freewwweb.com), February 28, 1999.

Toilet paper, batteries and matches.

-- (not@saying.com), February 28, 1999.

SNEAKERS! Kids clothing and shoes in sizes to accommodate their growth.

Homeopathic medicines.

Start your Victory Garden today!!!

-- Sara Nealy (keithn@ptd.net), February 28, 1999.

Sugar and coffee...will start a coffee shop where people can come and barter for a cup .

-- (Susie@coffee.shop), February 28, 1999.

I feel skillsets like carpentry, gardening, and first aid will be in great demand post-2000. The McGyvers of the world will be the hottest commodities for bartering.

I, like my husband, feel seeds, tampons, baby supplies, and methods of natural medicines/remedies will be in great demand.

I definitely think that bullets are out of the question ("Hey, put that down - you're my best friend!").

As far as luxury items, I don't think they'll be in demand at first, but nostalgia for simple items like a Snickers bar would go for a lot in a few years.

-- Jackie (MrJabudi@aol.com), February 28, 1999.

Hand tools are a sure bet. This category can include carpentry tools, mechanics tools, gardening implements, canning equipment, and a host of others. Take a look at the Lehman's catalog or Cumberland General Store to get some ideas. Just stay away from anything that needs fuel or batteries. Sundries - thread, cloth, tape, glues, nails, et c. - might be another good direction to look.

-- Bruce Thomson (thomsonb@worldnet.att.net), February 28, 1999.

Basically, anything that you use -- especially things that cannot be duplicated or substituted for with more tech than a small machine shop or a basic chemists (pharmacists) shop.

Some things not often mentioned: Rubbers (i.e., condoms, for the PC), birth control pills, pussy lube, wet wipes (baby wipes), tampons (less bulky than pads), spermicides. Porn. Razors, razor blades (shaved pits and pubes don't hide lice).

Repair kits and spare parts for all your lanterns, generators, guns, etc.

Electrical and plumbing(?) solder, fire heated soldering irons.

Cover your basics, then think of a (some) areas to "specialize" in for bartering.

-- a (A@AisA.com), March 01, 1999.

"condoms, for the PC" Geeesh, where do you put them. On the mouse? And i thought I was a kinkmeister!

-- humptydumpty (no.6@thevillage.com), March 01, 1999.

If it's a 7 - 10 like some of us think, and depending on how long it lasts, I am assuming that none of my neighbors are prepared. If none of my neighbors are prepared, I don't expect them to be alive more than 3 weeks, some may die even sooner. I won't barter any food items because it is food that people will want and need. Most people already have tools, and as for seeds, people need to eat now not wait for the seeds to grow and produce. If there's no electricity, that means no water and if one hasn't stored water or does not have a source for water, seeds won't do them any good. As for condoms, who can think about sex when your starving to death? Lantern parts? What good are lantern parts if one has not put away fuel? Razors? Why bother to shave, do you plan on going somewhere special? ITSHTF food and water will be the biggy, and as my neighbors die off I will help myself to whatever they leave behind. That's a fact Jack!

-- Realistic (Realistic@forreal.com), March 01, 1999.

Having birth control will be rather important. It's one thing to say that no-one will have sex while they are starving, but I expect that some will. Even if you aren't starving, having kids during a major crisis like Y2k would be extraordinarly dumb.

What if you have to leave/bug out. Want to lug an infant along? Want that infant making noise and giving your position away? They require all kinds of extra care, and supplies you may not want to carry.

Kids are for post-Y2k after the hardest part has passed, and life is returning to something resembling peaceful.

-- Bill (billclo@hotmail.com), March 01, 1999.

Get a vasectomy or a tubal ligation, the earth is over populated as it is. A baby probably won't make it through Y2K if you yourself are not prepared. Diapers, medication, bathing needs, whining and crying. Most people won't be bugging out if they have children or elderly parents to care for. You may not be able to leave the city if civil unrest develops and you have no idea what the conditions are like along the way or once you get there. Most people will die in their homes from hunger and dehydration. Once the spread of disease begins others who are prepared with food and water may die from the spread of disease. If someone comes to your door asking for food or water or to barter, you do not know if they are a carrier of a disease and you and your family will become vulnerable. If you really stop to think about the ramifications of what could happen, it is not a pretty sight. We talk so friviously about bartering, there may not be anyone around to barter with after the dust settles and the spread of disease and civil unrest is gone.

-- Realistic (Realistic@forreal.com), March 01, 1999.