Gold and silver for Barter?

[Hamradioop]

I wonder what the group thoughts are on Barter Items like Gold and Silver, also Alcohol and Tobacco. Personally I think they are over rated and things like Tools , Knives , FAK would be better Barter items.

Thoughts please.

[hardcider]

i agree tobacco alcohol food water etc would be best for short term barter. gold and silver is more of a insurance policy against hyper inflation.

[Capa]

LOL I don't have much gold or silver so would be stuffed! I do have some diamond earrings though but would have to be very desperate to ever part with them.

Personally, I think it very much depends on the situation and what sort of SHTF scenario it was as to what was worth bartering and what people wanted versus what they had available, if that makes sense?

I would TOTALLY trade a first rate BJ for a bottle of wine if I get desperate enough! And that's BEFORE the SHTF (and yes, my kids are driving me insane this evening)... Just sayin'....

[mushroom]

I think there will always be a market for bartering alcohol and cigarettes. In a time of crisis people will see these as the only available small pleasures. They are also things people turn to in times of stress - and if TSHTF it's going to be very stressful!!
I agree with he poster above re gold and silver... they might be more of a consideration before any crisis when an economy is still functioning!

[ForgeCorvus]

Main problem with bullion is convincing the other guy that it is what you say it is, and that its worth what you say its worth..... I don't know what the price of gold is or how the purity affects the scrap value, how could you expect the guy at the hardware shop to?

Anti-inflation preps maybe, but for barter booze, tobacco, fuel, chocolate are better bets as most people know roughly what they're worth

Trade goods are another thing again

[Triple_sod]

Yeah to be honest I find the whole concept of barter post SHTF quite problematic,

Certainly flashing around sovereigns or silver bullion would probably get you attention from all the wrong people, same goes for alcohol and tobacco...
would you really want to be known locally as the bloke who's sitting on a load of cigs?

Tools ect are a lot less risky in that regard, unlikely someone’s going to kill you for a spade or spanner.

[Y2J]

I've been thinking what are the right items for trade post SHTF and what kind of items should be collected for such a scenario. I agree I don't think gold or silver is a good idea. I get the point with alcohol and tobacco having potentially dangerous consequences but if you are careful, these items could be very valuable.

I'm new to all this but I have been thinking items such as batteries, matches, lighters - all very cheap to buy and very small to store away. Batteries in particular are an item that may become very important and therefore valuable in trade. Not many people keep a supply of batteries - may well be one of the 1st things to be in short supply. More people probably have supply of matches and lighters but they won't last forever. So cheap and so easy to store.

[ForgeCorvus]

I think the ideal barter goods are stuff you'd be storing anyway (batteries, lighters, TP etc... As you said Y2J) or luxury goods that have a known value (fags, booze, chocolate, etc) .

Think about what gets cleared off the shelves first when theres a weather event predicted, now what about the stuff that gets looted/stolen first (OK..Maybe not the 54 inch plasma or the Nikes).... These are all things people want or need, therefore by definition things that people will be willing to swap stuff for.

Short term, bullion isn't going to work as most people are scared of being ripped off.
In the PAW, bullion will be (probably) worthless

[12mp82]

The very best barter item I have is me, I have skills that others are likely to need, skills that they can't take away and use without me being there.

Gold and silver are what they can add to the food and drink I can ask for payment for my skills, as maybe one day it might be valuable again

[ynotshi]

i have some silver items but its only for an insurance policy/pension fund as gold and silver have always out performed interest rates and the way banks and pension funds are going doesnt hurt to hedge you bets so to speak. but as for trade and barter if the doo doo hits the fan, i think the only people that would trade is someone who would be in the medical profession or someone who makes electronics/solar panels and if you had some jewlery you might get a trade if someone wanted to treat there partner but i think you skills and knives,fishing hooks,sewing kits and more pratical items would be a better bet .