Alternate Economics of Bartering

Throughout history during hard times such as war, runaway inflation, rationing, or just plain scarcity bartering becomes a way of life. After WWII when America occupied war torn Japan for example, soldiers could trade soap and cigarettes for thousands of yen. In addition, many people choose to barter in good times to do business off the books to avoid IRS harassment. Another excellent example of a barter culture is a prison. Here you see can see inmates trading food, legal advice, commissary items, favors, and contraband using the common currency- cigarettes. Anything vital for survival or is mass produced and cannot be made easily without industrialization is valuable. Those in need of an important item will have five choices- do without, make it- if they can, buy it- but pay through the ass for it, steal it- dangerous in the long run, or barter for it. The one whom hoards barterable goods can in a crisis literally make a killing. Some ideas are listed below but the list can be unlimited depending solely on the demand of the market.

FOOD- This is numbero uno! You can't do shit on a empty stomach! This includes most non-perishables like grains (rice,beans, popcorn, nuts); canned fruits, vegetables, and soups; gardening seeds, peanut butter, dry milk, yeast, flour, salt, spices, vinegar, sugar, candy, coca-cola, cocoa, koolaid, tea, coffee, honey, syrup, cooking oil, vitamins, soy sauce, canned tuna (in oil), vitamins, chewing gum, and even cheesecloth and coffee filters.

AMMO- I listed ammo before weapons because they've been so many manufactured we aren't likely to run out for years. However, ammo gets used up. The most valuable calibers are .22LR for hunting, 9mm Parabellum for handguns, 5.56 and 7.62 NATO for assault rifles, 12 gauge buckshot for shotguns, and various other calibers (.38, .45, 30.06, .308, etc.) in case someone needs them. Also rifle bore cleaner, spare parts, web gear fit in this area. A warning with trading ammo- trade with people you trust only. The stranger you trade with today could come back and shoot you with it tommorrow.

FIRST AID ITEMS- People are always going to get sick and injuried. These items include bandaids, antibiotics, ointments, gauze, first aid tape, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, aspirin, ibuprofen, burn cream, antacid, anti-diarrhea pills, insulin and lindane (very important!), diagnostic gear (thermometers, stethoscopes, blood pressure meters), and surgical gear (sutures, forceps, hemostats, scapels, scissors, syringes, IV bags).

TOOLS- This would include hammers, screwdrivers, ratchets, chisels, punches, saws, crowbars, nailguns, wrenches, pliers, vices, bolt cutters. Power tools such as drills,circle saws, screwguns, and chainsaws would be priceless. Hardware like nuts, bolts, washers, wire, screws, fuses, and nails (!!) would be very valuable. Ever tried making a nail? Unless you were a blacksmith it's nearly impossible and still it ain't easy.

FUEL/ CAR PARTS- Remember that movie the Road Warrior or the recent Gulf War? Fuel is GOLD! This would include gasoline (with preservative added), kerosene, white gas, propane and cylinders, lampoil, naptha, ethanol, methanol, lighter fluid, charcoal, firewood, motor oil, auto fluids (brake, transmission, anti-freeze), and axle grease. Also frenquently replaced parts like fanbelts, air and oil filters, and spare plugs.

BOOKS- Try to keep a well-stocked library with reference books on survival, cookbooks, maintenance manuals, how-to manuals, medical texts, radio frequency guides, bibles (don't laugh-it's still the world's best seller), topographical maps, and even good fiction- it's entertainment that needs no electricity.

SKILLS- Knowledge is a very valuable commodity! First- once you have it noone can take it away. Second- when dealing with hostiles it can make you more valuable alive than dead. Offer to share your skills in exchange for things you need. Gardening, farming, medical, mechanical, trade, or electronic skills may be worth more than gold in many areas.

HOUSEHOLD GOODS/ SUNDRIES- This is the biggest list we have and while some may deem it unnecessary we'll remind them prior to industrialization most of these items didn't exist and even today in many third world nations this shit is very hard to come by. Try finding a 7-11 in the middle of Mongolia! Well here's the list- toilet paper, tooth brushes, toothpaste, tampons, disposable razors, dental floss (which can double for thread), baking soda, paraffin blocks on candles, butane lighters, pencils, paper, matches, batteries (very important), mirrors, soap, shampoo, deodorant, light bulbs, bleach, sew ing kits, wool socks, wagons, cots, reading glasses, handpumps, cold weather clothes (thermal undies), old clothing (make shit with fabric), trash bags, condoms, grain grinders, latern wicks, can openers (very important!), mousetraps, road flares, scissors, fire extinguishers, flashlight bulbs, extension corsd, wind up clocks, duct tape, aluminum foil, solar calculators, insulated ice chests, cast iron cookware, detergent, canning supplies, pesticide, utensils, carbon monoxide and smoke alarms, baby supplies (diapers, formula), and bicycles and supplies (tires, tubes, chains, pumps).

CAMPING GEAR- This would include tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, blankets, rain gear, propane and folding stoves, water filter, iodine, gas masks, sunglasses, snake bite kits,lightsticks, snares, flints, hatchets, knives, fishing gear, parachute cord, bug juice, space blankets, canteens, binoculars, locking carabiners, etc., etc.

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS- This would include windows, doors, motar, tarps, sheet metal, sheet plastic, tar paper, workboots and belts, goggles, work gloves, hardhats, pad locks, pvc pipe, plumbing solder and flux, butane torches, caulk and glue guns, awls, rope, cords, lumber, paint, window screen, sandbags, light fixtures, heavy gauge wire, bricks, outlet and switch boxes, breaker boxes, etc., etc.

ELECTRONICS- This would include shortwave radios, cb radios, field telephones, am/fm radios, tape/ cd players, electric guitars and amps, vcr's, monitors, and computers.

POWER SOURCES-Extremly valuable! These would include gasoline generators, hand cranked generators, solar panels, and RV deep cycle batteries.

DOGS- Yep man's best friend himself. Well I personally like cats better, but for useful ness in cases of hunting, protection, and early warning system the dogs win out. Some of my friend's favorites are German Shepherds, Rotweillers, Huskies, Dobermans, Golden Retrivers, and the big bad Pitbulls.

LIVESTOCK- I don't know much about this since the doktor is a city boy but I imagine chickens, rabbits, and goats would be the best. Chickens can provide meat, eggs, feathers, and fertilizer. Even here in NYC you find chickens walking in yards (ever vist a Puerto Rican neighborhood?). Rabbit reproduce very quickly and are easy to care for. I used keep a rabbit when I was young for a pet though not food. Goats can produce hides, meat, and milk. In addition, a lady I met in Arizona kept guinea hens and a peacock because she said they were good burglar alarms.

WEAPONS- You know the usual- guns, knives and their shrapening stones, pepper spray, dynamite but I wanted to emphasize the more exotic ones like crossbows and blowguns. This is because they're silent require skill over strength which can make someone as young as 8 or 9 a very deadly opponent.

LIQUOR- You'll be surprised what people will do for a drink (especially if there's a national emergency going on). Throwing in a pint of whiskey, vodka, rum, or better grain alochol can do wonders in any barter deal. If you homebrew you can bottle your own and trade with that.

TOBACCO- In Poison Pen #1 I mentioned this but I wouldn't advise it for a long-term trade item as tobacco has a short shelf life. But again many desperate nic-fiend's will smoke any kind of tobacco.

ILLEGAL DRUGS- Most survivalists won't touch this area but I will! Drug use is high enough in this country now. Imagine how it will be after the crash when the present non-users start freaking out! My best suggestions would be marijuana and mushrooms because it can be grown naturally without use of chemicals. Pills such as barbituates, amphetamines, and tranquilzers would be my second choice. If you know chemistry well you could manufacture crystal meth, LSD, PCP, mescaline, or ectasy provided you could find the chemicals which may be difficult in bad times. Cocaine and heroin would be quite a prize! If you do barter in drugs, try to barter in something you don't do lest you get high on your own supply.

PROSTITUTION - Again no respectable survivalist would consider this but again I will, as if I couldn't stoop low enough already! It is after all the world's oldest profession next to soldiers, spies, and assassins. Short of a worldwide plague- sex is one commodity that won't disappear anytime soon. Those sleazy enough to get in this 'business' will probably have customers bring them supplies in exchange for a night or two with one of their callgirl/guys ('I'll give you a night with her for a case of beans!'). I one time heard a survivalist on the internet joking about getting a gun for his wife and it was the best trade he ever made. Yeah, sounds pretty fucked up right. If the shit hits the fan, it CAN get this bad!