Barter as currency

The pandemic has shown that supply shortages can lead to a scarcity economy. As a result, many items are not available on the official market. Especially during the 1920/1930s or after World War II, there was such an extreme time. Black markets quickly emerged to provide access to essential items that were not officially available. Money played a secondary role in being able to pay for the needed goods. Instead, bartering was widely practiced in such times.

In this post, we would like to list for you which products are highly sought after and thus appear to be useful.

Alcohol:
It is consumed for pleasure but also often enjoyed on joyful occasions. Spirits with a long shelf life without loss of quality include: grain alcohol, vodka, or whiskey. Variations mixed from these also keep well.

Cigarettes:
Required by smokers on a daily basis. Due to their calming effect, many do not want to do without them, which is why they are in high demand during shortages. If you stock up on cigarettes bought at a low price for trading, it makes sense to vacuum-pack them. This way, they do not lose quality through drying out and retain their value.

Coffee:
Many people enjoy drinking it and it's hard to imagine many households without it. Since it cannot be grown here, it is a product that can only be brought into our country through transportation. Rising energy costs are also driving up its price. If you want to stock up on coffee, opt for whole beans. They retain their flavor well and allow everyone to choose their own grind size. Instant coffee is also a good alternative for storage.

These are the Top 3 items that the fewest people would want to give up and are certainly the most interesting as a stock for trading.

We list more tips for you here:

Medications and Dressing Materials:
If you rely on certain medications, you should not consider them for trading. Because in the worst case, it could be detrimental to you if they were no longer available. It's good to stock up on items that are often needed, such as ibuprofen or anti-diarrheal drugs. They are very suitable for trading. Band-aids and dressing materials can also be very well stored. Who isn't familiar with the situation? A small wound here, an injury there, and suddenly you're out of band-aids. There's potential here to easily forget to restock.

Hygiene products:
Due to our high standards of hygiene, many diseases are no longer prevalent in our region. In countries where standards are not as high, illnesses such as cholera or typhoid are common. It is wise to keep an eye out for discount promotions or offers that make purchasing in bulk affordable. Bleach can be used to make disinfectant, which is always useful to have around the house.

Energy:
Everyone needs energy in some form or another. Gasoline/diesel, gas, batteries, or power stations can serve as useful items for barter. This way, you can offer your power station to someone in exchange for charging their devices for a certain period of time. With gasoline/diesel or gas, safety should be a priority. Consider whether it really makes sense to stockpile, for example, 50 cans of gas.

Vegetable seeds and fertilizer:
The current inflation shows that self-sufficiency is not such a bad idea. Everyone knows about allotment gardens. This culture emerged after World War II out of the necessity to be self-sufficient. Don't have the opportunity to use an allotment garden? Start on a small scale and plant in flower pots and boxes. This also saves you money. In times when many people turn to plant seeds and fertilizer, increased demand drives up prices and can lead to shortages in the market.

If you want to make a natural fertilizer yourself, nettle manure is very suitable. Here is a good guide*.

Items of the ordinary household:
Under certain circumstances, cable ties, duct tape, screws, wall plugs, etc. can be helpful. Who isn't familiar with the situation where you want to assemble a cabinet and maybe a wooden dowel or glue is missing. Thus, with a well-stocked supply of household items, you can also support others.

Knowledge, skills, and information:
Do you have manual dexterity or practice a craft? That's very good and offers tremendous bartering potential. Your skills add value when others are at a loss. Whether you're a hairdresser, mechanic, or chicken keeper, knowledge and skills are always in demand.

To be able to trade, do you want to expand your inventory? That's good. To help you keep track, our app supports you digitally. Why not try it out!

Another useful resource for you might be our Emergency Backpack Guide. Take a look at it right away.

In the linked video from BugOutSurvival NRS* a deeper dive is taken into today's topic. If you're interested, feel free to watch it here.

*unpaid advertising