How to Barter for Profit

How to Barter for Profit

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Contents

I. The dead art, resurrected again ................................................................................................... 3

1. What exactly is bartering? ................................................................................................................ 3

2. What to barter? .................................................................................................................................. 4

3. Stocking Up on Barter Goods ........................................................................................................... 4

4. Top bartering items ........................................................................................................................... 4

5. A complete list of bartering items ................................................................................................... 5

II. Top skills to barter ........................................................................................................................... 9

III. Risks .................................................................................................................................................. 12

How to mitigate risks ........................................................................................................................... 13

IV. Final Thoughts ................................................................................................................................ 15


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I. The dead art, resurrected again

Trading and bartering represented an important part of how a normal day was like for our

ancestors. Bartering involved all kinds of items as currency: furs, silks, perfumes, spices (most

notably, vanilla) and tea were some of the more traditional items of barter; human skulls and

poisons are a couple of history's more outlandish trade goods. In ancient Rome, soldiers were

not paid with money, but in salt, which was particularly valuable in that day and age, as it helped

to better preserve their food.

Bartering also took place during the Great Depression of the 1930s, after credit diminished

and bank lending decreased. Should that kind of economic collapse happen again, we could return

to the old bartering days.

If everything you own was stripped away from you, bartering could really help you

maintain your health in a good condition and even regain a bit of comfort back (i.e., some may

even trade you a bottle of Coca Cola). While some people are stocking up on precious metals, in

most situations, when you might need goods or a certain service, the people who actually have

something you want or need may not be able to make the change for a gold coin. Thus having

an item of value to exchange for another item of value without exchanging money represents the

basics of survival bartering.

Even today, on sites like Craigslist, more and more people are bartering what they have

for what they need. Stories are told about people who have bartered their way up from something

small like a cellphone to motorcycles, cars and even houses. Barter is a skill that you might

consider develop now. The first step is recognizing what barter is and if the items you own might

be of value to others.

1. What exactly is bartering?

Bartering means trading goods or services without exchanging money. If you are bartering

for survival, money will lose their worth, so you will need to place value on your items in terms

of what you need and how much the other person needs your item. Learning to barter will be a

good skill to rely on in times of need. You can practice by haggling over prices and quantities at

a flea market. However, know this: you will need to get better at making compromises, judging

an item’s value only by swiftly looking at it, all in order to have a clear idea in mind of what you

want to obtain.


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2. What to barter?

When bartering for survival, you need to get an idea of what items will become popular,

and what skills will be in high demand. In post-crisis situations, manufactured items such as soap

and toilet paper, matches and batteries will be sought for, as will ammunition and especially

medicine. In terms of skills, having a skill or ability that someone else does not possess can prove

crucial. Probably some of the most desired skills to barter for will be related to building, farming

or cooking.

3. Stocking Up on Barter Goods

When you are putting together your survival kit, consider thinking about packing spare

objects that you will use for survival bartering. These need to be objects that you will use anyway,

provided you haven’t met anyone willing to trade you for them. When going hunting or foraging

for water, for instance, it is recommended to have a bug out bag on you, in which to include a

few bartering items. You never know when luck is written in the stars. Finally, you might want to

consider stockpiling various goods in your survival retreat, or burying these somewhere in the

wild (in case your survival home is broken into and muggers rip you of all the essential and non-

essential things you might have stockpiled).

4. Top bartering items

Spare ammunition – commonly this refers to the .22 shells. Many people believe

that .22 round will become something of a standard currency in a long-term societal collapse.

This caliber firearm is very common, thus many people would be able to use the ammunition. Of

course, once it is used, it loses a lot of its inherent value, doesn’t it? Plus, I’m highly opposed to

giving ammunition to someone not part of your group to begin with. However, it is small, it can

be easily carried, and relatively inexpensive to stockpile, therefore a good choice.

Tobacco – cigarettes, loose tobacco, roll papers. I can easily see this becoming a valuable

trade commodity, particularly soon after a collapse as millions of smokers endure nicotine

withdrawal. However, unless stored under certain conditions, the tobacco can go stale. Might not

matter too much to a die-hard smoker but it is something to bear in mind. Plus, tobacco isn’t all

that cheap anymore. If you decide on stockpiling tobacco, I would suggest buying some of that

cheaper cans or tins of loose tobacco, rather than buying cartons of cigarettes.


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Alcohol – another likely valuable commodity. Even better than stockpiling bottles of

whiskey would be learning how to distill your own alcohol and set aside the necessary supplies

for doing so. If you do decide to stockpile alcohol, you do not actually need the good stuff, located

on the top shelf. In a survival situation, people will not care whether the alcohol they drink is

branded or not. But, you do need to consider how much alcohol to barter. You cannot actually

give away the whole bottle. Therefore, think about pouring a few shots into a glass or hand out

smaller bottles as needed. It is really up to you.

Food – Naturally this is something that would be highly valued and vital. However, you

need to consider that by giving away your food, you are depriving yourself and your family from

that same food, at some later time in the future, when this need will arise again, and it will. A

main aspect of bartering is giving up something you can do without to receive something you

can’t. However, if you have an extensive garden and your pantry is full, perhaps you might be in

a position to forgo that extra can of beans to receive something you can’t produce on your own.

First aid – If you start stockpiling now, you can probably manage to get a three month

supply of medicines on prescription. Fortunately, there are antibiotics you can purchase over the

counter, without actually needing a medical prescription, drugs of which you can take advantage

of now and stock up on before the hospitals are overflowing with people.

5. A complete list of bartering items

You can use almost any item to barter, but the following items will most likely be in high

demand:

Household Items:

• Aluminum foil

• Rechargeable batteries

• Solar battery chargers

• Bleach

• Candles

• Rope, string, cordage

Duct tape

• Glue of all kinds

• Rubber bands


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• Safety Pins

• Scissors

• Silicon spray

• Storage buckets with lids

• Tarps/plastic sheeting

• Utility knives

• Windup radio

• Windup or cranking flashlights

• Small metal stainless pots or bowls

• Matches

• Flint & steel

• Zip lock baggies

Clothing:

• Cloth diapers

• Baby clothes

• Flip-flops

• Needles and thread

Yarn and knitting needles or crochet hooks

• Shoes and laces

• Socks and underwear

• Winter coats and rain gear

• Boots

• Gloves such as work, garden and winter

Health:

• Combs

• Toothbrush

• Toothpaste

• Feminine products

• Nail clippers

• Tweezers

• Razors

• Soap

• Lotion

• Lip balm (chapstick)


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• Isopropyl or rubbing alcohol

• Band-Aids of all sizes

• Disposable gloves

Super glue

• OTC (over the counter) medicines

• Hydrogen peroxide

Food:

• Candy

• Canned and Dried Food

• Canning jars, lids, wax

• Coffee filters, which can be used for water filters

• Coffee or tea

• Cooking Oil

• Sodas

• Eating & Cooking utensils

• Salt, spices

• Sugar

• Vegetable seeds (heirloom)

Hunting/Food Gathering:

• Guns

• Ammunition (esp. 22lr and 12g)

Bows and arrows

• Bug repellent

• Animal traps

• Fishing line, hooks and nets

• Knives

• Snare wire

Miscellaneous:

• Hatchets, axes

• Magnifying glasses

• Mirrors

• Nails and screws


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• Non-electric hand-tools

• Pencils and sharpeners

• Paper

• Playing cards or dice for games

• Pocket knives

• Pocket-sized New Testaments

• Cigarettes

• Liquor

• Simple water filters

Toilet paper

• Eye glass repair kits

• Gold and silver

• Canteens

Look around your home for items without which you would be lost if you could no longer

make a quick trip to the corner store to buy more. Those items should then be added to your

bartering shopping list. While it is not necessary to include all the above listed items on this list,

you should be able to get at least a few items at a really good price and have room to store

them. Try using discount coupons or buy products that are on sale.


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II. Top skills to barter

Mastering a skill that will be invaluable in the aftermath of the catastrophe will not only

make you a vital member of any group, but it will give you a better position in any bartering. Also

if you barter a skill and not items for something you need, you won't run out of supplies as quickly

as someone who has absolutely no skills to trade.

Gunsmith – If you never gave this a proper thought, you really should. Debacles will

bring forward the need to keep intruders and criminals at bay, and the best method to do so is

by employing the use of firepower, possibly the most important line of defense. In time, though,

the condition of your weapon will get worse, as it will start to wear out. You may also need to

clean it, but you probably have absolutely no idea how to do that. Learning more on how to be a

gunsmith will help you better protect your family and yourself, that is a fact. You may also receive

protection from other survivalists, in exchange of you repairing their guns.

First Aid/Medical – This skill will prove vital in a post crisis situation, as hospitals will

not be able to cope with all the casualties. When access to hospitals, doctors and medicine will

be limited, people are going to turn to anyone that has basic medical care knowledge. In a world

struck by disasters, greatly reducing the possibility of us getting medical care at a moment's

notice, every cut, scratch and graze could induce death by septicemia. Learning more about this

skill will ensure you occupy a top position in your community and will give you the upper hand in

any bartering situation.


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Weaving/sewing –

When forced to live in the wild

and ensure your next meal or a

roof above your head, it means

that you will inevitably have to

work hard. You will rip your

clothes eventually. Do not

neglect the small tears, as they

can lead to bigger tears. In the

summer, it may not matter as

much, but during the winter,

you will need to maintain your

body temperature, so you will

not freeze to death. If you take

better care of yourself, you will

be able to stay healthy and

continue striving to protect

yourself and your family in the

process. Think of the following situation: it is freezing outside, and one of your gloves has a big

tear in it. You go searching for wood, but when you do find it and try to grab it, you cannot feel

your fingers anymore. Sewing might not seem terribly important, but, in fact, it really is.

Mechanical knowledge – Another

important skill to learn is mechanical

repairing. Seeing what the problem is,

fixing it and then putting it back again

where it belongs will prove to be of great

help in a world seriously affected by

mayhem. Provided you can fix different

circuits, watches, or even generators,

never forget that these are the things that

help people move on, in one way or

another. These are some of the things that people need in order to survive; if they need these,

they will also need you. Thus, you have the chance to become a greatly valued member in your

community. Cars will also be in great need of repairs so learn a couple of things regarding those,

as well.


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Tradecraft (plumbing, electrical, blacksmith etc.) – After a couple of weeks in improvised

shelters, people will start wishing for some of the basic home comforts they have grown so

accustomed to, such as plumbing and electricity. Also, even though many will still use cars, with

fuel being scarce, transportation will most likely revert back to riding horses. So, if you know how

to make a horseshoe, consider yourself lucky.

HAM radio operation – While there are a few options for post-crisis communications,

the HAM radio is by far the best one. But like any good equipment, you have to know how to set

it up, use it and maintain it.

Alcohol production/beer brewing – Alcohol is a versatile substance. It can be used

as a disinfectant, pain reliever or to help take your mind off problems. You could also use it to

sterilize needles, create a Molotov cocktail and start a fire. Regardless of how you decide to use

it, people are going to trade for it and being able to produce your own alcohol will put you in a

strong bargaining position.

All in all, this assembly of survival skills will prove invaluable. You just have to see it as a

matter of adapting to current circumstances, since you will no longer be able to simply go to the

store and buy whatever you may be in need of. Make do with what nature provides.


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III. Risks

While bartering may become the only way to trade goods or skills for whatever you need,

it doesn't mean that it is risk free. In this case, forget all about the benefit of the doubt and bear

in mind that in a bartering situation, nothing is as it seems.

In a post-crisis world, a bartering can be:

Organized (market): people from all across the immediate area will come and trade what

they have plenty of or what they don't need for things they do.

Unorganized (spontaneous): someone approaches you and asks if you would like to barter

for different supplies.

At a glance, you would think that neither could present serious risks, but if you think

carefully, they both have the potential to put yourself, your loved ones and your supplies at great

risk.

Let's take option A: the market place. You might think that being a public area, with lots

of people around who wish to trade their items, everything would be ok. The chances of you

getting robbed seem pretty low. That may as well be the case, but the danger may be lurking

somewhere.

Think about it, everyone there aims to barter, which means they brought supplies and

they are openly showing what they have and telling what they need, which is exactly like telling

robbers you do not have an alarm system in place. So let's say someone sees something you

have, that they need, but got nothing to trade, and the desperation grows. While they won't

attack you in front of everybody, they could follow you home, and try to forcefully take it. They

could also stakeout your place, wait till you're gone and rob you blind. Another thing to consider

is that if you are looking to barter for ammo, then you will advertise to everyone that your gun is

out of ammo, so I strongly suggest you never do this.

Now let’s take a look at the other possibility, which from the very beginning, implies the

fact that it will end badly for someone. For starters, there are three places in which the bartering

may take place, but you should only opt for the third one:


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1. The transaction takes place at your house. If this is the case then whomever you

barter with will know what you have and could potentially pose a threat to you, especially if it's

someone you don't know (bad idea).

2. The transaction takes place at the other person’s house. In this scenario you

might be walking into a trap, be taken hostage and forced to give up everything you have (worst

idea).

3. The transaction takes place on neutral ground. Setting up a certain time and

place for your bartering can reduce the risk factor. You might be thinking that you could get

ambushed or double-crossed, but so might the other guy, and I strongly advise to be

accompanied by someone you trust, when attending these meetings.

How to mitigate risks

Here are a few tips on how to reduce the chances of threats when bartering:

Never let them see where you have your supplies – If you have a stocked pantry

full of food, water, ammo, medicine and other important things, keep this out of site. You should

apply this right now, before the crisis arises. In survival situations people can become desperate

and if they know you have something they need, eventually, they will start thinking how to take

it from you.

Never take everything you want to trade at once – If you go to the market to barter

and you know that someone is interested in guns, don't take all of them with you. Talk to that

person, see what exactly she looking for, discuss the terms and once a deal is struck, and arrange

to meet them at some other time and place with the gun. This approach has risks too, but may

mitigate risks from someone trying to take your guns from you then and there.

Always conduct the transaction away from your supplies – Do not invite strangers

into your house if they are asking for supplies. Let's say you are willing to trade two cans of beans

for some medicine. Do not let them come into your pantry with you and see you have a year

supply of canned food. Ask them to wait while you retrieve the items. Optionally, you can set a

time and place to meet up with them.

Never take food or water from people you don't know - While food may be of great

importance, taking food or water from strangers may prove an even worst idea then starving.


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Seeing as most things will be scarce and people need both in order to survive, some may think

to poison the food and water they barter, in order to put their hands on all of that person’s

belongings, once he/she die. Barter only with close friends, if you have the chance.

Don't barter bullets unless you are in dire need - Guns and ammo will be as vital as

food and water and giving someone part of your ammo may not be such a good idea, as it may

come back to haunt you. The person you just gave bullets to may follow you home and use them

to attack you and your family. So unless there is a life or death type of situation, never trade your

ammo. Also don't take ammo from someone you don't know, they may be giving you blanks. Best

bet is to learn to make your own ammunition.

Always bring a weapon with you - Regardless of the place you barter, never go there

without some form of protection. Best idea would be to take with you a gun and at least two

knives, hidden from sight. You may be an honest person looking for an honest trade, but that

doesn't mean the other person is as well.


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IV. Final Thoughts

In a post-apocalyptic scenario, while stocking up on food, water, medicine and ways to

protect yourself and your loved ones, learning how and what to barter may prove invaluable. This

is the time when you can choose one or two skills of vital importance and turn them into your

most important survival weapon.

Over the past 5 years, I have improved my mechanical skills and I am now enrolled in a

course of medical assistance. What I have learned from these experiences is that both abilities

are extremely useful and helpful in our day-to-day lives and boosting someone’s confidence in his

own strength.

However, you need to start organizing your daily schedule and make time to get involved.

The reward will soon come. Learning new skills will give you the necessary energy to do whatever

you set your mind to and help you grow and develop as a survivalist. These abilities will allow

you to thrive in challenging environments and be on top of every situation.

Many people tend to let their age get the best of them. Most people’s mentality goes like

this: “I just turned 45, I will never learn and adapt as a 17 year-old.” Fortunately, I am here to

contradict you. Honestly, you might not have the eagerness of a youngster, but with a certain

amount of practice, you can still do anything you want and things will be looking up. Whether it’s

riding a motorcycle or building a car engine, you are bound to succeed if you put your mind to it.

Moreover, desperate situations call for desperate measures. These are the times when you

can change as a human being; you can adjust quicker and get all those inner fears out of your

system. All I’m asking is to give yourself a chance to be the best you can be.

So, let’s do it together. Go ahead and stock up on the essentials, enroll in any courses you

think are fit for your personality type and be ready to start bartering, get the most bang for your

buck and survive any catastrophe!

Documents

How to Barter for Profit