Editors Note: I would like to draw your attention to the last video in this article, it is chalked full of good advice. 

 

 

(N.Morgan) In the current economic environment, many people are facing the unexpected reality of becoming homeless due to the increases in property taxes, loss of jobs, the rising cost of food and utilities and a failing economy.

 

 

People’s thoughts are now turning to how to survive these sorts of emergencies and unforeseen events and are beginning to look into ways to make the properly adjustments and preparations for such occurrences.

 

 

Where I grew up, bartering was and is still practiced to this day.

 

 

An example, I know a guy who has never paid cash for a car.

 

 

He simply trades his car for another one.

 

 

Another example of the bartering is when I bartered some computer services for a day trip to the local spa.

 

 

The lady I made the trade with was trying to locate a cousin and I was able to help her.

 

 

In exchange, I received some services at the spa.

 

 

In a simple barter, you look for someone who is looking for a particular kinds of goods or services in exchange for goods or services that you may want.  

 

 

When you are thinking in terms of survival however, you must have things people will need in a time of crisis.

 

 

 

 

I’ve included a list of the top 40 barter items to keep in your prepper’s hoard.

 

 

 

 

• Water purification supplies including purification tabs and filters

 

• Hand tools including hatchets, saws, machetes and general fix-it tools

 

• Fire making supplies, including lighters, matches, flint fire steel

 

• Sanitary supplies including toilet paper, feminine products and diapers

 

• Disposable razors and razor blades

 

• Fuel, any and all kinds (gas, diesel, propane, kerosene)

 

• Prescription drugs, painkillers, and antibiotics

 

• First aid remedies such as cough syrup, cortisone cream, boil-ese, calamine lotion and topical pain relievers

 

• Spirits such as bourbon, rum, gin, and vodka

 

• Coffee and tea (instant coffee is okay)

 

• Solar battery charger and rechargeable batteries

 

• Standard Batteries

 

• Reading glasses

 

• Paracord

 

• Bags, including large garbage bags as well as smaller zip-close bags

 

• Plastic sheeting

 

• Duct tape

 

• Tie Wraps

 

• Heavy plastic sheets and tarps

 

• Toiletries including toothpaste, dental floss soaps, shampoo (tip: save those small sized toiletries that are provided by hotels and motels)

 

• Condoms

 

• Latex or Nitrile gloves in a variety of sizes

 

• Hard  candy

 

• Fishing supplies

 

• Knives of various types including fixed blades, kitchen knives, and box cutters.

 

• Condiments and Spices

 

• Paperback books on a variety of subjects

 

• Tobacco and cigarette rolling supplies

 

• Amusements such as playing cards, crossword puzzle books, Sudoku

 

• Pencils & paper

 

• Pepper spray

 

• Garden seeds

 

• Flashlights

 

• Vinegar and baking soda to use in DIY cleaning supplies

 

• Empty spray bottles and squirt bottles

 

• Hand pumps for both air and liquids

 

• Mylar blankets and tents

 

• Hand warmers

 

• Sewing and mending supplies

 

• Knitting or crochet needles and yarn

 

 

 

Maintaining a good hoard of bartering items, along with working your way towards debt freedom are a couple of ways to ensure your family’s future.

 

 

Simple steps to take to be ready for anything that may come your way.

 

 

Self sufficiency is the key to freedom.

 

 

Many will have to take  certain steps to be able to survive the economic collapse or personal financial crisis they may face.

 

 

Many are faced with choices of paying their bills or eating. 

 

 

How prepared are you to face such unfortunate circumstances? 

 

 

A wise man recently explained it best this way: 

 

 

It’s great to be prepared for an end of days scenario, but what happens when you’re faced with a foreclosure or the possibility of living on the streets?

 

 

Is that not a survival situation?

 

 

To be truly prepared for the worst, we must also think of our financial security.

 

 

Learning trades or learning to barter is also a key element is surviving an economic collapse.

 

 

That means paying off debt, living within your means, and starting an emergency fund.

 

 

Becoming debt free is another step to ensuring you and your family will be able to survive and maintain your basic needs in an unexpected financial emergency.

 

 

 

 

To quote an article by by Off Grid Survival: Did you know that the average American family has over $15,000 of credit card debt, and a staggering total debt of over $75,000.?

 

 

And if that’s not scary enough, when you factor in the $130,000 that every American tax payer would have to shell out just to pay off the national debt, our situation starts to look pretty bleak.

 

 

I know in the state I live in now, another part of this financial issue is property taxes have sky rocketed in the last few years and many citizens  have lost their homes due failing to pay their property taxes.

 

 

These are the sort of financial issues that can come up unexpectedly and can have devastating consequences.

 

 

Here are 5 ideas on how to begin to pave your way to a debt free life.

 

 

 

 

 

1.) Establishing and sticking to a budget

 

 

Many people may not realize how much money they are wasting simply by not having and sticking to a budge.

 

 

Limiting your spending and keeping good records of it can help eliminate over spending or wasteful spending. 

 

 

Establishing a written budget will help make sure that every dollar you make works for you and not against you.

 

 

At the end of every month, you should have a written plan for every dollar that you will bring next month.

 

 

Establishing a budget can help you to realize how much money you spend on things that really aren’t necessities.

 

 

2) Use the Envelope Budgeting System:

 

 

 

 

This is one way I use myself. 

 

 

This idea is for those who may find it intimidating to keep written records, so the envelope system may be the right solution for you.

 

 

To put it simply, you put your  monthly budget into various envelopes with labels such as; food, gas, utilities, rent or mortgage, entertainment, preps, etc….

 

 

This can help you make sure you’re not spending more than you should be on a certain category (like entertainment).

 

 

3) The Cumbersome Debt Snowball

 

 

 

 

Paying off all of your debts can be overwhelming, but in some sound advice from Dave Ramesy’s Baby Step #2, The Debt Snowball, is a great way to get started.

 

 

For those of you who are not familiar with Dave Ramsey, he is basically one of the top debt free living advocates in the country.

 

 

In his book, The Total Money Makeover, he outlines 7 baby steps to living a debt free life.

 

Baby step #2, the Debt Snowball, suggests that you list your debts from smallest to largest and then start with the small debts first.

 

 

The rational is actually pretty simple; the motivation that you obtain from paying of these small easy debts will create a snowball effect that will help you stay motivated when the going gets tough.

 

As Ramsey points out in the book, personal finance is 20% head knowledge and 80% behavior.

 

 

When it comes down to it, we all know what we should be doing; most people choose not to do it.

 

 

So basically, taking it a brick at a time, rather than the entire building, will help ease the feeling of being overwhelmed and drowning in debt.

 

 

Be sure to pat yourself on the back once in awhile when you get one of your debts paid off.

 

 

You’re making your way to a free life without debt looming over you any longer.

 

 

4) Stop going in debt by maintaining a high credit score

 

 

 

In this new world of technology and internet commerce, credit card debt has become one of the main reason people are in debt.

 

 

Many families are finding themselves in tons of credit card debt with the interest rates making the total 3 times what you would have paid, if you had waited until you had cash to purchase the item.

 

 

I haven’t had credit cards for many years, living by the thought if I can’t pay for it outright, then I can’t get it until I am able to.

 

 

I’ve seen too many people go down the road of insurmountable debt due the credit card scam.

 

 

One of the biggest scams that the financial institutions have managed to pull on Americans is the myth that your credit score somehow equals your financial security.

 

 

Nothing could be farther from the truth; in fact, keeping a high credit score only ensures one thing.

 

 

It guarantees that you will constantly be in debt!

 

 

 

The only way to maintain that high credit score is to continually borrow money, pay that money off, and pretty much live in debt for the rest of your life.

 

 

The only thing that having a high credit score means is that you are good at borrowing money, not good at making it!

 

 

 

5) Work Harder and make more money

 

 

 

 

In the current economic climate, perhaps considering working more than one job could help you in this en-devour for financial freedom.

 

 

Growing up in Missouri, I used to help farmers and gardeners with their harvests and planting.

 

 

I would then be loaded down with fresh fruits and veggies for my family.

 

 

This is another wonderful example of bartering.

 

 

Everyone walks away happy and with their needs met.

 

 

It was also a way I found to save money and still keep our bellies full.

 

 

A couple of other suggestions by Off Grid Survival is to go into business for yourself.

 

 

Whether you’re a mechanic, a car salesman, or even a factory worker you have talents that can be taken outside of the workplace.

 

 

Figure out what your good at, and find a way to make money off of it.

 

 

Let’s take the mechanic example.

 

 

Instead of making your boss rich, why not buy some old clunkers, fix them up, and then sell them? 

 

 

Even if you do one every couple of months, imagine what you could do with that extra income.

 

 

 

References:

 

http://offgridsurvival.com/livingdebtfree/

 

http://www.backdoorsurvival.com/41-items-to-barter/

 

http://alt-market.com/articles/146-top-post-collapse-barter-items-and-trade-skills

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Stories Contributed By N. Morgan, Click Here!