A few months ago, I began to buy Silver and Gold like crazy, until I realized that in a true SHTF scenario a few pounds of metal were as worthless as money, you cant eat it or wear it and if you don't have a fire strong enough, it is pretty much worthless. I came to the conclusion that the most important things for survival were water, food and shelter, so I decided to invest in a good quality dehydrator, a vacuum sealer and a few hundred oxygen absorber packs, these three items combined will make your food last for years. I will begin buying and packaging the food in bulk so I have something to trade. Any ideas on what else to stock up on?

Originally posted by Elieser
A few months ago, I began to buy Silver and Gold like crazy, until I realized that in a true SHTF scenario a few pounds of metal were as worthless as money, you cant eat it or wear it and if you don't have a fire strong enough, it is pretty much worthless. I came to the conclusion that the most important things for survival were water, food and shelter, so I decided to invest in a good quality dehydrator, a vacuum sealer and a few hundred oxygen absorber packs, these three items combined will make your food last for years. I will begin buying and packaging the food in bulk so I have something to trade. Any ideas on what else to stock up on?

food water medical supplies and alcohol

Bottlecaps sorry had to make a joke about it. Hmm cache's to store your food. Was reading this survival book my step dad has Said buy food grade plastic barrels ( the blue ones that look like plastic oil drums. Use them for food water and bury them in the back yard. Also dried beans and rice. There was some other tips but I dont remember them off hand.

Have a trade ( service ) you can do
making stuff / fixing stuff would come in handy
people will always need something
and if you can make it , you got trade power

or if it has to be material wise

you can go for bottlecaps

I betcha smokes and booze would be more than there weight in gold!
I should go back and watch Mad Max.

Yeah, I was thinking about that too. There is only so much you can trade.
I thought even copper pennies would be worthwhile, as they can be melted and reformed
fairly easily.

My final advice:

"Store up treasure in heaven."

That means, do acts of kindness and good will. It will come back to bless you.

I can fix/invent almost anything but a computer,but no worry about that.
Going out tomorrow to stock up on smokes and whisky.
I just have to stay out of the stash,though as hard as that would be.

looks like I was beat buy bottle caps lol

You can grow tobacco plants legally ( check local laws)
For booze , well you can make you own but
if you did before what ever happens make sure you know your local laws
some things you can make but only a curtain amount of.

Heck if your in the right area trade firewood or fire starting kits ( made buy you )
I'm sure people would need that also.

Vodka and cigarettes!!! Especially here in Russia! You could take a man's wife for this here

I don't expect money to become literally worthless at any time in the forseeable future. There are plenty of reasons to invest in gold and silver without the assumption that we are headed for Bartertown and Thunderdome. It's also a good idea to have plenty of food, water, and other necessities around in case there is an interruption or another type of trouble, but this doens't imply total collapse of money either.

But even so, I'll play along for fun. In addition to much of the stuff mentioned above, I always thought contraceptives and feminine hygene products would make for good bartering. Iodine, salt, sulfur, and morphine are other possiblities.

Antibiotics? I got a huge stash of them,still good cause the wife makes me go to the doc
whenever I have a sniffle,I just don't take them.

My thinking: salt, dried vegetable resins, a skill set (services of electrical, medical, or other specialized nature)
Prostitution, of course, though you can hardly save it up, and useful items like fishing line, and perhaps even bards and storytellers will come back into fashion!

Ropes.

A lot of people will want to hang themself.

Exchange rope for food.

Magnifying glass to start fires. .

For when your flint and lighters run out.

Note to self:
add condoms to list of survival supplies
on top of the cigs and whisky
the clerk will think I'm having Gadhafi over!
Of but no Nescafe,don't want any drugs !