16 Items You Can Barter Post-SHTF (Plus Some Valuable Trade Skills)

As a prepper you stockpile items you think your family will need to survive a disaster. However, it is simply impossible to store enough of every item you might need for every crisis scenario for an indefinite period of time. So it is equally important to have a barter store as well.

In a post disaster scenario, or after an economic collapse that can render the dollar worthless, there will be items that you can trade for things you will need. It will be worth it to stock up some of these items even if you don’t use them yourself.

Take a look at this list of top items and skills that could have high trade value when things hit the fan.

Items to Barter

1. Water filters. Store extra water filters or learn how to make water filters using cloth or activated charcoal. Means to make water safe to drink will be invaluable in a post collapse society. You can trade your extra filters or your water filtering skills for items you might need.

2. Seeds. People will be forced to start producing their own food after things hit the fan. Even people who have no land will be wanting seeds. Store only non-GMO or heirloom seeds.

3. Food. Store extra long-shelf-life foods like freeze dried foods and MREs for personal survival use and bartering. Store a variety of flavors and different kinds of foods because you could be holding something that another person craves for.

4. Fuel. It is hard to predict how much petroleum the U.S. will be able to import or produce after the collapse, and how much of it will be available for the masses. Gasoline and oil will become even more valuable commodity after the SHTF and people will literally fight tooth and nail over whatever will be available. So consider filling as many storage cans as possible and keep them stable for longer by adding ‘gas savers.’ You should also consider learning how to distill your own alcohol and corn ethanol based fuels.

5. Precious metals. These will become the only tangible form of currency and they cannot be artificially reproduced or fabricated. Therefore gold and silver will once again become the common medium of exchange that will secure a meaningful localized commerce especially after rebuilding.

6. Clothing. The kind that can withstand harsh environments and rough wear that is. Good quality clothing will be hard to come by after the collapse so you might want to invest on tradeable good quality clothing.

7. Medicines. Painkillers and antibiotics are meds that are not exactly difficult to procure, doctors hand these out like candy. The risk of injury will increase after a disaster so having extra antibiotics or painkillers will be handy for trading purposes.

8. Cigarettes. These will be very good for bartering after the SHTF because many people will be cut off from their access to cigarettes. Store cigarettes even if you don’t smoke yourself because these have plenty of barter potential.

9. Alcohol. Like cigarettes, this leisure item has a very good barter potential. Alcohol like vodka also has some medicinal uses that can add to its barter value in case of a collapse.

10. Soap. Stock up on bars of soap because people will be trading for these in a SHTF scenario.

11. Ammunition. Store ammo for your own firearms but it is also a good idea to have extra ammunition especially for common calibers like 38, 9mm and .22 for barter purposes.

12. Fire starters. Lighters and matches will be in demand especially since many people nowadays don’t know how to build fire the primitive way. Store matches safely and in watertight containers.

13. Batteries. People will be needing batteries to power up radios, flashlights and other electronic devices.

14. Candles. Most people will want these after the collapse causes the grid to go down.

15. Salt. This will make a very good barter item because it has a lot of uses besides food flavoring and preservation.

16. Toilet paper. No one will want to keep using leaves when they can get toilet paper.

Trade Skills

Skills that most people do not possess have high trade or barter value. Individuals with these skills are valuable in a community that is trying to rebuild itself after a crisis or disaster. The following are some of the skills deemed to have the greatest potential in a barter system:

• Engine repair/mechanic
• Blacksmithing
• Firearms repair
• Construction
• Farming expertise
• Animal care
• Bee keeping
• Doctor
• Veterinarian
• Water table expertise
• Wild foods expert
• Hunting expertise
• Sewing
• Soap making
• Appliance repair
• HAM radio expert

Hat tip to shtfplan.com