First Thing, I did not create this list! I don't advocate nor totally dismiss the trading of ammo.
Four things I will note is that Selco has listed and spoke about the value of Tobacco, Alcohol, Lighters (and the ability to refil them)and Containers in SHTF situations.
Preppers’ PING!!!
Aspirin
You can live without Sugar, you cannot live without Salt.
CB radios.. Don’t count on any form of communications such as cell phones, Internet, or land lines. CB’s will work even if those media are down.
Salt. We take it for granted now that we have canned and frozen food, but not too long ago salt was a much-traded commodity.
Rechargeable batteries, and a solar charger, traded as a kit.
It’s also a good idea to get your pets nice and FAT.. They could save your life when you run out of food! /s
Canned food.
and if you are going to be a trader in that situation, you had better be able to defend your stash. At least make them think you don’t have much even if you do. Don’t show off your hoard.
pepper i read. i might also keep a couple jars of tabasco around.
Article includes Cigarettes.
Cigarettes at $50 to $70 a carton?
As you point out, Selco says “tobacco”, but not necessarily cigarettes.
Much better choice:
Pipe cut tobacco at about $15 a pound plus some Roll-Your-Own papers yields around 2 1/2 cartons of ciggys for less than $20.
Local Flea Markets have disposable lighters at 6 or 10 for a dollar.
I don’t smoke but I agree that tobacco and papers would be prime bartering items.
reloading supplies i.e. large and small pistol primers, common military projectiles for pistol and rifle and powder.
SHTF School site says the #1 thing was disposable lighters. It turned out that everyone needed them, not just smokers.
condoms
Why just limited to vodka? Cheap bourbon will be more in demand. Besides, it’s good for snake bite. After awhile, you really don’t give a crap what’s biting you.
I understand silver’s function in a precious metal currency/barter economy but why would silver have utility in the strictly barter economy envisioned after SHTF?
(Gritting my teeth while I click “Post” because I’ll probably feel real stupid when the obvious answer is pointed out to me...)
I think stocking ammo is a good thing. Once the shooting starts we’ll know who is on our side and ammo can be of great value. Those that are paranoid and think the ammo would be shot back at them, well, you’ll never survive alone.
Check your local liquor store for any special buys on miniature bottles. Small 50mL bottles will make excellent trade for smaller items, while larger bottles would be best saved for big-ticket trades.
I would think vinegar would be important as well. Necessary for canning, useful for cleaning and sanitizing.
They could be barter items in the future, especially when I have the canning pots necessary to use them too.
I've also been collecting the tools necessary for maintaining a garden...more barter items.
Also, bleach loses about 50% strength in one year.