Beeswax as a trade item or future currency.

[TwoDo]

ive been lucky for a number of years and not been stung , most people in my life inc the people i work with are aware of this and tend to deal with anything before it gets to me , that and i walk away quick they come and deal with it . i think i`ll mention it to the doctor next time i`m in to see her .

My understanding is that doctors don't like to hand out such prescriptions - not sure why - it may be that epipens are expensive and the NHS discourages it. However post SHTF you will not be able to rely on external assistance being available. I suggest really amp'ing up the fright and danger factor when talking to the doc. Perhaps make up some story about how you nearly got stung the other day and only just got the bee off you in time or that you are planning to go camping and hence will be some distance from help etc.

[Triple_sod]

It wouldn't be a trade commodity worth more than, say, cigarettes for a loooong time, not just a shtf, but a full on teotwawki & you'd need a lot of it to make the investment worthwhile

Probably, but there again I reckon in a major event barter/trading with some things would be a lot more trouble than it’s worth.

Nicotine’s a very addictive substance, so yeah of course addicts would pay a relatively high price to get there fix, but failing that what else would they be prepared to do.

Also you got to think like in a time of such scarcity, what type of people are going to squander what meagre resources they've managed to conserve, just so they can keep smoking.

Whereas with things like beeswax, rope, tools, nails/screws, soap that’s probably not going to be such an issue.

[badgersden]

It wouldn't be a trade commodity worth more than, say, cigarettes for a loooong time, not just a shtf, but a full on teotwawki & you'd need a lot of it to make the investment worthwhile

Probably, but there again I reckon in a major event barter/trading with some things would be a lot more trouble than it’s worth.

Nicotine’s a very addictive substance, so yeah of course addicts would pay a relatively high price to get there fix, but failing that what else would they be prepared to do.

Also you got to think like in a time of such scarcity, what type of people are going to squander what meagre resources they've managed to conserve, just so they can keep smoking.

Whereas with things like beeswax, rope, tools, nails/screws, soap that’s probably not going to be such an issue.[/quot


interesting so you think someone who is bartering for tobacco is going to do harm to you more then the other items you mentioned,its not if they smoke or not is going to tell you if they are going to harm you, it will be there mentality and state of mind nothing to do with the item.just remember winston churchill smoked and drank adolf hitler did not i know who i would rather barter with.

[Triple_sod]

Don't get me wrong I'm not for a minute saying that smoking somehow automatically makes you a worse person....I do myself.
but SHTF, turmoil, chaos…most people don’t know where their next meal is coming from,

One bloke might be interested in a bit of beeswax ect, if the price is right,
The other’s running around focusing on something quite frivolous like cigarettes,

Let’s be realistic, who's more likly to have the better mentality and state of mind?

[badgersden]

you honestly think in the SHTF, turmoil, chaos etc people would be in a good state of mind,no matter how much you prep your mind will not be the same, there will be many people with some form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder no matter what causes the shtf situation and the reaction to wheather they are bartering for fags booze or beeswax will be the same it is not the item they are bartering for that matters its if they thing they need it

[beavy69]

Thanks TwoDo that's useful stuff and I appreciate the time you took to write it. My grandad was a bee keeper, he died when I was 1 so I never knew him, but starting a hive or two is definitely on my longer term to do list. I was speaking to my dad yesterday and suddenly thought to ask a couple of questions about my grandad; Turns out he was a bit of a prepper too, so I must get that instinct from him!

With regard to the cigarettes, I think the point to note is that if a more ignorant victim of such times was to choose one thing to try and forcibly take from you, it would indeed be the cigarettes. And besides barter value alone, we all know the beeswax is more useful, so as with any investment, spreading your portfolio reduces your risk - have a stock of both! Of course, prevention is better than cure so personal security and caution should be the first line of defence.