Bartering to Survive a Crisis

Jason Hartman’s philosophy is to take out a long-term, fixed-rate loan to purchase packaged commodities, such as rental property. With the current high rate of inflation, you are actually better off with the debt. In times of economic crisis, or even collapse, you may need to choose other commodities, not only for your own survival, but for the option of bartering with others.

There are a number of items that you could stockpile, which will grow in value in times of disaster or economic failure. Having cash might be worthless, but having goods will be coveted. You may have a flourishing garden. You may have stored canned goods from summers past. Perhaps you have a rain barrel with fresh, clean water. But inevitably, there will be something you need. Having something desirable will come in handy and give you the upper hand.

· Weapons: Whether you have bows and arrows, guns and bullets, or a stockpile of knives, you are sure to work out a deal to get what you need. Consider purchasing a range of ammunition for the most popular caliber guns, even if you do not have that weapon yourself. People will need weapons not only to protect themselves, but to hunt.

· Water: Store not just enough for yourself, but continually add more to use for barter. You can only survive three days without water. If something happens to the world’s water supply, you will have something that is worth its weight in gold and is ideal for trading.

· Matches: While you can build a fire without matches, many people simply won’t know how. Store boxes of matches in a watertight container, and even include lighters, candles, and candle-making supplies.

· Batteries: We take them for granted in times of comfort, but after a natural or man-made disaster, batteries will disappear from store shelves quickly. They can be used in radios, flashlights, and other devices needed for survival.

· Food: Obviously you cannot store fresh foods, but dried and canned food can be stored for years without spoiling. Be sure to rotate your supply as needed to remove and use any items that are in danger of expiring. You can also trade seeds in times of need.

· Cleaning products: Soap, detergent, bleach, and even toothpaste will grow in demand in long-term emergencies. Trading a bar of soap for fresh eggs will be a deal you won’t regret.

· Products of Addiction: Cigarettes, alcohol, and yes, coffee will all be coveted items that can be traded for a necessity.

Don’t forget the value of a survival skill. You can always barter for something you need by teaching someone a skill, such as building a fire, preparing a rabbit to cook, making effective snares, or purifying water from puddles or ponds. (Top image: Flickr | e3000)

The Holistic Survival Team