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Originally posted by NTellect
My major bartering tool if/when SHTF would be cigarettes for all you nicotine addicts. Cigarettes are hot commodity in prison, so imagine the demand when they are no longer manufacturing.
reply to post by captaintyinknots
Thanks for the list of what I can steal from you come survival time
Originally posted by Gazrok
The essence of the thread though, having an inventory of skills/goods that you could both barter with, and those you'd barter for...isn't a bad idea.
I plan to stock up on some things I don't necessarily use, but that will be in demand by others...(cigarettes and alcohol, for example). That way, I can barter with these easily enough, without giving up something essential for our survival.
Services are the real kicker though. Because people can't really "steal" these very easily, so they'll have to make a deal for them, especially if something they will keep needing. So, someone with skills that can be marketable in a post-SHTF scenario, will be pretty well-off.
Services like:
Mechanic
Construction
Plumber
Electrician (no doubt some settlements will eventually have it)
Tailor
Cobbler (shoes)
Farmer
Fisherman
Hunter
Warrior (mercenary)
Looter (by this I mean someone who can get in and out quick, enter locks, etc.)
Cook (much more valuable without foods of convenience we're used to. Someone who knows how to make things from scratch).
Doctor/Nurse (these folks will be rich, in whatever settlement they reside)